16%
of the homes in
the United States have a built-in pool. If you're reading this
article, we're willing to bet that you'd like to be a part of that
percentage.

The
summer heat certainly has a way of bringing out pool-building
aspirations.

Here's
the thing, though. While pools are great, they also cost a lot of
money and can bring about a variety of lifestyle changes that might
not be worth the fun that they'll add to your life.

If
you're curious to know whether or not a pool is really right for you,
we challenge you to ask yourself these 7 questions before hiring a
contractor and getting to work.

1.
Why Do I Want a Pool?

This
is the most basic pool-building question that you're going to want to
pose to yourself. If you don't have answer for it, you'll definitely
want to put a halt to your pool project until you can come up with
one.

Any
time you're going to spend thousands of dollars on something, you
need a solid "why".

Your
why shouldn't just be, "Because pools are fun." If should
be something more meaningful like "I want to make my house more
of an entertainment destination so my kids will spend more time here
and less time elsewhere."

Having
more family time is a solid "why". Is yours as good?

2.
Do I Need a Built-in Pool?

If
the summer heat is bearing down and you're desperate for relief,
there are cheap and non-permanent ways to find it.

For
example, you could buy an affordable above ground pool. You could
also go to your community pool.

If
there's a reason why you need to have a built-in pool as opposed to
either of those simpler solutions, make sure that you know what that
reason is. A lot of people jump towards the most expensive solutions
to basic problems and skip over better, easier ones.

3.
How Often Can I Use My Pool During The Year?

In
many parts of the country, using a built-in pool during the winter
and fall is an impossibility. Sometimes, even spring can be difficult
due to rain.

Is
the area that you live in conducive to pool time or is your weather
going to hamper how much joy you can get out of your investment?

If
you live in a "sunny all year" area like Southern
California, a built-in pool might be a no-brainer. If you live in
South Dakota, you've got more to think about.

4.
How Much Will My Pool Cost Me Per Usable Month?

Now
that you have an idea of roughly how many months out of the year
you'll be able to use your pool, think about how much your pool is
going to cost you per usable month.

You
can learn
more about
average pool payments online but for example's sake, let's say your
pool costs $20,000 and you can only use it 3 months out of the year.

For
your first 5-years of pool ownership, your pool will cost you over
$1300.00 per month. That doesn't even take into account maintenance
expenses.

Is
that number worth it to you?

5.
Does Having a Pool Present Risks?

Built-in
pools are dangerous. They create the risk of drowning on your
property which can be a huge liability.

Just
think of what would happen if your child or somebody else's got into
your yard and fell into your pool. What if that child drowned?

This
might seem like a far-fetched possibility but in reality, children
drowning in pools happens all too frequently.

Consider
these risks, how you'd mitigate them and if having a pool is worth
incurring them.

In
many cases, taking out a larger insurance policy is a must if you
bring a pool into the mix.

6.
Are There Talented Pool Builders in My Area?

Building
a pool is tricky business. If you hire an inexperienced builder, they
could strike gas lines, ruin your yard or otherwise complicate your
project.

That's
why it's very important to consider if your community has experienced
pool builders that can help you with your project.

If
you live in an area that's generally hot, pool builders shouldn't be
hard to find. If you live in an area where pools aren't common, it's
going to be a lot harder to attract somebody that can get the job
done.

In
these cases, you might want to gamble on hiring a general contractor
or better yet, might want to pay for a long-distance builder to come
out and manage your project.

7.
Is This Where I Plan on Living Forever?

If
you're installing a pool in your forever home, you don't have to
think too much about what it might mean for your space long term. On
the other hand, if moving in the next 5 to 10 years is on the docket,
you've got some stuff to mull over.

Pools
can limit the number of buyers that your home will attract. That
could bring your property's price down.

Talk
to a real estate agent and pick their brain regarding how pools
affect property values in your area.

If
they predict a decline in your sales price, take that number and add
it onto your pool's cost since that's technically what it's going to
run you.

Closing
Out Our Questions to Ask Yourself Before Pool-building

The
pool-building bug bites a lot of people when it gets warm out. This
article hopes to give those people a reality check so that they can
be 100% sure that splurging on a pool is right for them.

If
you've asked yourself the questions above and have determined that a
pool is the way to go, have a blast!

We
wish you the best of luck with your pool-building project and invite
you to keep reading the content on our blog.