Installing a swimming pool with salt can be a huge cost. An average in-ground pool will usually run around $30,000. That doesn’t even count the landscaping,fencing,and accessories like thermometers and nets. It’s also possible that you are just looking at buying a home that already has a pool,and you’re not sure what the costs will be in keeping the pool up. However,the continuing maintenance of a swimming pool is also going to eat up your yearly budget. The most common costs are going to be maintenance,both weekly and monthly,usually involving balancing the chemicals necessary to avoid too much chlorine or to keep your pool from turning green.
It’s recurring fees involved with cleaning equipment and chemicals that can be very easy to underestimate. These typically run from $500 up to $800 each year,even when you do the work on your own and buy the things you need from discount suppliers.
Doing it yourself means skimming your pool multiple times a week,cleaning the filters,and vacuuming up the bottom,as well as much more. You can outsource nearly all of this to an area pool cleaning service,but the prices for that will vary a lot based on where you live. Pool service can be as low as $50 a month to as much as $120 a month.
You probably won’t have to replace equipment in the first year,but you’ll have to be ready for it. New pool filters and various small items might run $1,000 per year,with $600 eventually necessary to replace a pool vacuum. After a decade,you might have to spend $2,500 for a pool resurfacing. Also,if you live pretty much anywhere north of Florida,then you likely won’t have a year-round pool. It can take $500 to have professionals open and then close your pool each season. Electricity is another recurring bill,too,as the heaters and pumps might eat up $100 worth of juice each month.
Also plan on paying more for your homeowner’s insurance,since insurance providers look at backyard pools as attractive nuisances. They’re likely to draw teens and kids into your backyard where they might injure themselves and put you at risk of lawsuits. Insurance rates will vary based on your region. It might not cost so much in the South where pools are more common,but it will be more in the north where not so many people have pools. Depending on your region and the specific add-ons,you might be looking at anywhere from $50 up to $300 added to your premium.
In general,your ongoing costs for a pool are likely to wind up being between 10 percent and 15 percent of the original cost of installation. If you paid the previously stated average of $30,000 for a pool,then you’re likely to be looking at anywhere from $3,000 up to $4,500 per year in maintenance and upkeep costs.
If you’re not sure what the costs could be in your region or market,it might be worth consulting a real estate professional who can tell you more.