One amenity that has the ability to generate a great deal of excitement and ensure that a new home will be a gathering place for friends and family is the swimming pool. However, there are a lot of added responsibilities that come with managing and maintaining a pool. Whether you’re a homebuyer looking at a property with a pool, or you’re a homeowner who is thinking of making a dynamic addition to their home, here are a few things to consider before getting a pool.

The Effects on Your ROI
Maintaining a swimming pool either means dedicating time or setting aside money to hire out for its upkeep. Due to the commitment, some homebuyers might be immediately turned off from any homes with a pool. Additionally, if the climate limits the use of a swimming pool throughout the year, or pools just aren’t as common in the neighborhood, chances of a strong return on investment for a new installation are further dampened. For these reasons, homeowners should go into the notion of installing a pool with expectation of a net neutral impact on their ROI.

The Costs of Installation and Maintenance
An in-ground pool will be substantially more expensive than an above-ground pool. While above-ground generally will cost a few thousand dollars, in-ground pools average around $35,000. From there, considerations for materials (either the customizable but more expensive concrete pools, or less customizable but more economical fiberglass), or added features such as lighting, fountains, and decking will add to overall costs. Homeowners should also be aware of the costs associated with maintenance. Some liners require replacement periodically, chemicals need to be balanced and safe for swimmers, and there are also costs associated with annual start-ups and shut-downs.

The Importance of a Pool Inspection
Pool inspectors check into local safety standards to determine whether a swimming pool is in operable condition or whether repairs are needed. For example, a common standard includes perimeter fences of at least 5-feet high with self-closing doors and automatic locks. Cracking and staining are also common in swimming pools. With an experienced pool inspector, these small issues can be pointed out and evaluated to determine whether they are signs of deeper, structural issues. Swimming pools can be an exciting addition to a home, but prospective buyers should have a realistic understanding of what pool ownership realistically looks like for them.

With every issue of The Inspector, we feature an interesting find from the field—our inspectors have thousands! While there’s nothing wrong in the picture below, this roof could still present some maintenance issues.

Pictured above is a roof with T-lock shingles. These shingles were very popular from the 1930s through the 1990s, especially in areas prone to high winds and extreme weather conditions. T-lock shingles speak for themselves by name, the idea being that interlocking shingles are less vulnerable to wind rippling. Makes sense and sounds great, right? There’s a catch, of course: T-lock shingle production stopped in 2004. That means that any roof that still features these bad boys could be old-old and overdue for replacement. Since materials are no longer manufactured, there’s also no repairing this roof, and insurance likely won’t cover it. This new homeowner will want to budget accordingly—a new roof is almost inevitably just around the corner. 

Ventilation refers to the systems a home uses to cycle out pollutants and carry in fresh air, while also regulating a comfortable indoor environment. Older homes were able to get by with natural ventilation through windows, doors, and natural air leaks in walls and ceilings, but current systems are more sophisticated. The modern home has become much more air-tight, but the side effects of these building philosophies have led to many new maintenance issues and even health problems for families.

Why is Ventilation Important?
Poor ventilation leads to problems throughout the home. A home has two key contributors to pollutants and condensation: the bathroom and the kitchen. Due to baking, washing, and showering, these rooms experience much more temperature variance and moisture accumulation than other rooms.

What are the Signs of Poor Ventilation?
Many maintenance issues can build up overtime, unnoticed by homeowners. However, there are a few signs that point towards a home with poor ventilation:

How Do You Improve Your Home’s Ventilation?
A home inspection can point homeowners towards any maintenance issues in their new home. With mold inspections and indoor air testing, many certified inspectors can key in on specific concerns. Most new homes rely on either Spot Ventilation systems in key rooms like kitchens and bathrooms, or on Whole-House Ventilation systems. Many older homes need their ventilation systems upgraded based on modern understanding, and newer homes often need to find a better balance between their insulation and ventilation.

To better prepare for unexpected build-up of toxins in the air, homeowners should always make sure they have a Carbon Monoxide detector installed and working properly! While ventilation improvements will make your home look and smell better, your health should always come first.