Some families love pools, but for many, a pool is a liability or a nuisance.

Is a home with a pool a worthwhile investment for your family? Pools can be great fun for a family, and they can be a relaxing way to begin the day. However, they also involve maintenance and safety concerns. What do you need to consider as you buy a house with a pool?

1. A Pool Is a Lifestyle

Having a pool is a lifestyle choice for your family. If you love swimming in the summer and you don't want to leave your house to do it, a pool is very convenient. If you enjoy entertaining and having pool parties, a pool will be exactly what you need. You may also like to go for a quick swim in the morning. Pools can provide an excellent place to exercise, if they are large enough.

However, with this lifestyle comes responsibilities. For example, you need to check the chemistry of your pool to make sure that it is a safe place for you to swim. You also need to ensure that you vacuum the pool and avoid getting leaves and debris in the drains. If you're closing the pool or opening the pool for the winter, you need to do so in a way that's safe for you and the pool. Having a pool mains that you will have to spend time and money handling maintenance and repairs. For this reason, you should consider a pool to be an investment of time and money, not a bonus when it comes to selling your property in the future.

2. Pools Involve Liability

A pool is also a body of water sitting in your yard. For this reason, you need to consider the liability of this before you decide to take on the responsibility. If you have lots of neighborhood kids who love to use the pool, how will you supervise them? What happens if someone gets sick or hurt? How can you ensure that people do not use the pool when you're not home or not watching? Pools typically make your homeowner's insurance rates rise to offset this extra liability.

3. Pools Can Be a Safety Concern

In addition to the liability concerns, a pool can be hazardous to your own family as well. If you buy a home with an open pool and you have small children, you will need to ensure that your children cannot access the pool when you are not watching. You may need to add a fence around the pool.

A pool can be delightful for children, but you need to make sure that everyone is safe, including visitors.

4. Pools May Not Add Value to Your Home

Where your property is located influences the value that a pool adds to your home. Can you actually use your pool year-round? If you can only use your pool for a portion of the year, this may be of concern. After all, a pool takes up a large part of the yard, which a potential buyer might not appreciate. When you buy a house with a pool, think about the fact that it may actually be harder to sell, not more desirable, depending on your location.

At Open for Homes, we want to help you choose the right home for your family. Visit the blog at Open For Homes to learn more about your housing options and to help you buy a house that's right for you.