Anyone put a pool in lately?

7,987 Views | 66 Replies | Last: 6 days ago by Corps_Ag12
Proposition Joe
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8:33p, 4/16/26
I've always understood the "it's a pain in the ass" argument.

"You won't get your money back" I've never understood. Your home is where you live, it shouldn't be a financial investment.
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ChoppinDs40
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In reply to Proposition Joe • 9:09p, 4/16/26
AG
My thought too. I hope

We built this house. I picked the placement of power outlets. Toilets. I designed my patio on graph paper to scale for the architect.

God willing, we're here 20 more years, at least.

And I wouldn't mind getting rolled out of here in a coffin.

That being said, I'm still a cheap ass and am waiting to put one in.

Opportunity cost, you know?
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YouBet
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In reply to Proposition Joe • 1:31p, 4/17/26
AG
Proposition Joe said:
I've always understood the "it's a pain in the ass" argument.

"You won't get your money back" I've never understood. Your home is where you live, it shouldn't be a financial investment.

I haven't either for pools. I've now sold two homes with pools, and it was never even a discussion item that really factored in the sell price we came up with. IOW, I agree with the saying but I also think it's irrelevant. You have to look at it as an entertainment expense and not an investment.
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ChoppinDs40
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In reply to YouBet • 1:48p, 4/17/26
AG
right it doesn't necessarily come up as a like "extra square footage" line item. I think it instead moves the home up a list or off/on a list.

For example "we want a house with a pool" - your buyer pool has now expanded vs. not having one. But from a pure "I put a $100k pool in and it increased my value by 75k" - I don't think that really works. If anything, you just try and get a comparable price/sqft as other similar homes with pools around you.
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bco2003
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2:09p, 4/17/26
AG
Quote:
For example "we want a house with a pool" - you're buyer pool has now expanded vs. not having one

That certainly works in the other direction, too. I filtered out all houses with pools in each of my home purchases.
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East Dallas Ag
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2:25p, 4/17/26
AG
Last year homes with pools sold on average 15 days faster in our neighborhood, so far this year it's 51 days.
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Absolute
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In reply to Proposition Joe • 2:53p, 4/17/26
AG
Proposition Joe said:
We're not hot tub people, but from all the research/word-of-mouth we've heard, the kids absolutely love them so we're putting one in.

Bought a house with pool and a separate above ground HT. Can absolutely confirm that the teenagers used the HT a 100% more than the pool.

HT was getting a little long in the tooth and i got rid of it after the youngest went to college. She was not happy with me when she came home and saw it gone.
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akaggie05
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2:55p, 4/17/26
AG
I use our hot tub 10x as much as I get in the main pool. It's a true year round capability but my main usage is on the coldest nights of the year.
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Corps_Ag12
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In reply to Absolute • 9:57p, 4/17/26
AG
Absolute said:
Proposition Joe said:
We're not hot tub people, but from all the research/word-of-mouth we've heard, the kids absolutely love them so we're putting one in.

Bought a house with pool and a separate above ground HT. Can absolutely confirm that the teenagers used the HT a 100% more than the pool.

HT was getting a little long in the tooth and i got rid of it after the youngest went to college. She was not happy with me when she came home and saw it gone.


This is my recommendation as a pool builder. Don't get a heater on the pool and get an above ground hot tub.

But from a buyer's perspective people seem to think the integrated spa is better (it's not) and it seems to help sell better. You'd be amazed at how much people have paid me to ADD a hot tub to their existing pool.
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MASAXET
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2:42p, 4/18/26
AG
Are there opportunities to negotiate on an outdoor living project? I'm planning to skip a pool and instead do a patio, hot tub, and upgraded landscaping, which I expect could total around $75-100k. Since a general contractor would likely subcontract most of the work, I'm wondering if their markup might be in the 30-40% range and if that's something I could realistically negotiate down.
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Corps_Ag12
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In reply to MASAXET • 9:59p, 4/18/26
AG
Always depends on how hungry and busy they are.

They could be open to it or they might see it as "this is going to be a pain in the ass project since this guy is already asking for a discount so I'll mark it up more"

Also asking someone to cut their fee because "they subcontract all the work" isn't really grounds to ask them to make less money. The amount of money contractors pay in insurance alone would make most of y'all sick to your stomach.
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Seven Costanza
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3:39p, 4/19/26
AG
There are a lot of ways to try to calculate this with maintenance costs, resale value, and a dozen other factors, but at $150k, even with 50 uses per year, you are looking at $150-300 per use over a period of 20 years.
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ChoppinDs40
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In reply to Seven Costanza • 5:33p, 4/19/26
AG
True but you can't simply pay a lower fee to go and do the same anywhere else.
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Corps_Ag12
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In reply to ChoppinDs40 • 1:46p, 4/21/26
AG
ChoppinDs40 said:
True but you can't simply pay a lower fee to go and do the same anywhere else.


Actually, you can.

Swimply - Rent Private Pools, Courts, and More by the Hour - Pools Near Me
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ChoppinDs40
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In reply to Corps_Ag12 • 6:45p, 4/21/26
AG
Not the same as walking out your back door and jumping in your own pool. Drink your own drink. Listen your own music.

That's why people put pools in and build lake houses. Renting and community pools are similar but they are not the same.
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Teslag
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In reply to Corps_Ag12 • 4:31p, 4/22/26
AG

Quote:
This is my recommendation as a pool builder. Don't get a heater on the pool and get an above ground hot tub.


When we built our pool every builder said the same thing. And they were right. Built in spa/hot tubs made out of plaster and gunite aren't near as comfortable as an above ground fiberglass one. Glad we listened to them.
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Teslag
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In reply to ChoppinDs40 • 4:51p, 4/22/26
AG
ChoppinDs40 said:
Not the same as walking out your back door and jumping in your own pool. Drink your own drink. Listen your own music.

That's why people put pools in and build lake houses. Renting and community pools are similar but they are not the same.


Couldn't agree more. Our pool was expensive and a massive purchase. But it wasn't an investment. Can't be looked at that way. Also can't break it down and price it "per use". It's great looking out your back window and seeing it there. It's fulfilling and it looks great. It's nice to know you can get in whenever you want, even if you don't. It's nice to hear the water features on a cool late fall day watching football, even if it's too cold to swim. It's nice to do some yard work, get hot as balls, covered in sweat and then just jump in clothes and all (right before you place a cold beer on the coping for when you come up). The swimming all day with your kids is a bonus. The swimming at night with just your wife is a bigger bonus. A lot of people think "if I don't swim every day it's not worth it". But that's just not true.

I will also add, don't go cheap on the plaster. Get the primera stone or whatever the equivalent your builder has. It looks like pebble but feels smooth and doesn't snag swimsuits/hurt feet.
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Bird Poo
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12:21a, 4/23/26
AG
Bought a 9' x 11' above ground hot tub the second week of Covid. Basically the biggest one you can buy before a swim spa.

Low balled the hell out of the Master Spa rep. They were just trying to get inventory off the floor. I paid $12k for that thing, installed.

I came back a couple of years later to get a part and a different rep said I was famous around there. I stole that thing from them.

Someone in my family is in it every day. Great for the back and sore muscles. We'll always own a hot tub, but never a pool!
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Corps_Ag12
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In reply to Teslag • 12:11p, 4/23/26
AG
Teslag said:
ChoppinDs40 said:
Not the same as walking out your back door and jumping in your own pool. Drink your own drink. Listen your own music.

That's why people put pools in and build lake houses. Renting and community pools are similar but they are not the same.


Couldn't agree more. Our pool was expensive and a massive purchase. But it wasn't an investment. Can't be looked at that way. Also can't break it down and price it "per use". It's great looking out your back window and seeing it there. It's fulfilling and it looks great. It's nice to know you can get in whenever you want, even if you don't. It's nice to hear the water features on a cool late fall day watching football, even if it's too cold to swim. It's nice to do some yard work, get hot as balls, covered in sweat and then just jump in clothes and all (right before you place a cold beer on the coping for when you come up). The swimming all day with your kids is a bonus. The swimming at night with just your wife is a bigger bonus. A lot of people think "if I don't swim every day it's not worth it". But that's just not true.

I will also add, don't go cheap on the plaster. Get the primera stone or whatever the equivalent your builder has. It looks like pebble but feels smooth and doesn't snag swimsuits/hurt feet.


The polished finishes are nice, but they're proud of them. The caveat is you can always get it re-polished if it gets too rough from chemical imbalance. Just have to drain it then re-balance it

If you want something smooth, I prefer a colored plaster with microglass added in the mix to fortify it. Microglass helps protect the finish from chemical imbalance, which colored plasters are very susceptible to if not cared for properly.

Pebble is easy for a lot of people because honestly you don't have to take care of it, just make sure it's not green. That is of course unless you get one of the lighter colors, then you'll still see some staining.
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Absolute
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In reply to Teslag • 3:43p, 4/24/26
AG
Teslag said:
ChoppinDs40 said:
Not the same as walking out your back door and jumping in your own pool. Drink your own drink. Listen your own music.

That's why people put pools in and build lake houses. Renting and community pools are similar but they are not the same.


Couldn't agree more. Our pool was expensive and a massive purchase. But it wasn't an investment. Can't be looked at that way. Also can't break it down and price it "per use". It's great looking out your back window and seeing it there. It's fulfilling and it looks great. It's nice to know you can get in whenever you want, even if you don't. It's nice to hear the water features on a cool late fall day watching football, even if it's too cold to swim. It's nice to do some yard work, get hot as balls, covered in sweat and then just jump in clothes and all (right before you place a cold beer on the coping for when you come up). The swimming all day with your kids is a bonus. The swimming at night with just your wife is a bigger bonus. A lot of people think "if I don't swim every day it's not worth it". But that's just not true.

I will also add, don't go cheap on the plaster. Get the primera stone or whatever the equivalent your builder has. It looks like pebble but feels smooth and doesn't snag swimsuits/hurt feet.

Great take really. If you can afford the expense and think you will use it, you buy it for you and your family. It is not an investment. Honestly, many upgrades in the home should be looked at this way. We have been guilty in the past of waiting on things until we were getting ready to sell and regretting we didn't do it earlier.

I get a little grumbly about the pool and don't use it all that much, but my wife does and the kids do when they are home or visiting. The cost of upkeep and work are minimal for the enjoyment.
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East Dallas Ag
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4:28p, 4/24/26
AG
A plug for a pool with a heater (which probably means you have an attached hot tub, which we do and use all the time) at 4:00 I looked at our pool app, pool was at 77* which is a little chilly for swimming unless its really warm outside, turned on the heater, set it to 84* and I'm at 80* right now. So in a few minutes when I shut work down will be able to go out and start the swim season and watch baseball/draft from the pool this evening. A swim season from April to October really helps to get your $$$ worth.
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ChoppinDs40
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In reply to East Dallas Ag • 5:24p, 4/24/26
AG
I want that.
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BillyPilgrim
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10:38p, 4/24/26
AG
We put in a pool when we built our house three years ago. My three kids (12,10,7) and their friends swim in it literally every day during the summer and a whole lot of the rest of the year. Until they are grown, I wouldn't want to live in a house without one.
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Corps_Ag12
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In reply to ChoppinDs40 • 12:13p, 4/27/26
AG
ChoppinDs40 said:
I want that.


I can help
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The Collective
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In reply to East Dallas Ag • 12:36p, 4/27/26
AG
East Dallas Ag said:
A plug for a pool with a heater (which probably means you have an attached hot tub, which we do and use all the time) at 4:00 I looked at our pool app, pool was at 77* which is a little chilly for swimming unless its really warm outside, turned on the heater, set it to 84* and I'm at 80* right now. So in a few minutes when I shut work down will be able to go out and start the swim season and watch baseball/draft from the pool this evening. A swim season from April to October really helps to get your $$$ worth.


You have a heat pump? I have propane for the hot tub, but I can't imagine how much $ I'd burn if I turned it on for my pool.
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Yesterday
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3:30p, 5/7/26
AG
We just sold our house with a pool. Buyers specifically mentioned the pool being a selling point.

Just bought a house with a pool. We will never buy one without one so long as we have kids. It's a must in the summer time.

And yes they're all north of $150k for anything but a basic square. Had our pool remodeled two years ago. First quote for complete resurface, coping, outdoor kitchen and patio was $180k. lol. Ended up just resurfacing and coping.
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FightinTAC08
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In reply to Yesterday • 8:14a, 5/8/26
AG
Yesterday said:
We just sold our house with a pool. Buyers specifically mentioned the pool being a selling point.

Just bought a house with a pool. We will never buy one without one so long as we have kids. It's a must in the summer time.

And yes they're all north of $150k for anything but a basic square. Had our pool remodeled two years ago. First quote for complete resurface, coping, outdoor kitchen and patio was $180k. lol. Ended up just resurfacing and coping.

my friend just got a quote for similar. same thing but add synthetic turf to their little shaded area. $130k. blows my mind.
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rwhitlock3
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1:45p, 5/8/26
AG
Currently having my 16,000 gallon pool with an attached hot tub re-plastered with Pebble Tech, new Coping and new tiles around the edge and it is going to cost just around $18K
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FDT 1999
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11:08a, 5/9/26
AG
We just started putting one in. Got 3 bids from Emerald, Selah, and Foley. We decided on Foley and have been very happy with them so far. All of our bids were pretty close, but our Foley bid was most turn key and inclusive whereas the others had significant change order risk (Selah) or significant contract language concerns (Emerald).
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@NFLPlayerProps
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5:55p, 5/9/26
Bought a house with a pool a year ago. Ate the ****ty interest rate to move to better schools + better house. The pool becomes the centerpiece of the house from late May to early September. We absolutely love it. I do the chemicals myself, I take a sample to Pinch-a-Pennny pools about every other week and they tell me what to do. Highly recommend if you have kids, its great.
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akaggie05
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In reply to @NFLPlayerProps • 6:13p, 5/9/26
AG
Next step is to do the testing yourself and not have to mess with taking in water samples. Get a Taylor K-2006C test kit and profit!
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Corps_Ag12
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In reply to akaggie05 • 7:38a, 5/19/26
AG
akaggie05 said:
Next step is to do the testing yourself and not have to mess with taking in water samples. Get a Taylor K-2006C test kit and profit!


Then after that, download the Orenda app and use it to LSI balance your pool.
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