Rhonda-

Isn't it great to get expert advice from pros all across the country about the benefits of a pool for your Arizona home? Judging by all the thumbs up/down, there seems to be some strong sentiment here by people reading the responses. But I digress.

I'm a professional REALTOR in Scottsdale and a father of 2 girls. I live on a very nice 3 acre view lot that overlooks the city. When we had our home built 7 years ago, we had a pool fence erected around the pool. The fence definitely hurt the view. However, my girls couldn't swim, and my wife and I were very concerned for their safety. That was more important than the impact on our million dollar view (quite literally).

5 years later, our girls could swim quite well, so we decided to take the fence down. It's still a concern for us when the kid's friends come over, but that's not nearly as frequent a concern as day-to-day usage.

I think a pool fence is a very practical answer to a very serious problem. In all likelihood you'll feel like you need it only for a few years, and then you'll feel comfortable taking it down. It's not free, but the piece of mind is more than worth it.

On the flip side, I had as a tenant, a woman who's child was in a near drowning accident. Her son now needs constant medical supervision from a full time nurse. The result of that accident drove the parents to divorce. So while I haven't had to endure the impact of poor pool safety, I've been close to it...as close as I ever want to get. I honestly can't imagine how I'd feel if something had ever happened to one of my girls, because I had decided I didn't want to hurt my view.

Great answer Jay. We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto (couldn't resist :). Pools in Arizona are very common, and generally desirable on resales.

"Even in Arizona, from a re-sale standpoint it is very rare that people are looking for a pool"

Very rare? That's certainly not my experience. But I work in Arizona, not Kansas. I'd say about a third of our buyers won't look at a home without a pool. But there's also a third that won't look at one with one. So that's about a wash.

It is very expensive to fill in a pool, and if you do it, make sure to properly landscape over and around it so you don't walk out in the back yard and say "there used to be a pool there". (happens a LOT)

As for resale, there is a lot that goes into that. Size, condition, style, number of homes around you with one, location of nearest community pool, etc. I wrote a blog post about the very topic last summer. It's linked below.

Good luck with whatever you choose!! (and be SURE to use a reputable company if you decide to fill it!!!)

Great question that I will address primarily as a Realtor: the safety aspect of pools can be found elsewhere. The short answer is that pools typically add value to a home during the resale process. A typical pool might add $10,000 to $20,000 to the value of a home. A simple play pool will add closer to the $10,000 range while the more elaborate pools can be $20,000 or more sometimes depending on the setup. Every appraisal I have viewed completed on a home in the Valley will account for a pool and add value to the homes with pools, unless of course the pool is in such poor condition it is unusable.

I would have to say that for the clients I have dealt with for 10 years in the Southeast Valley a vast majority of them are fine with a pool and many require a pool. Only a small percentage have said they do not want a pool.

Summary: In my opinion pools provide monetary value to the home during resale. Your decision on safety, personal use etc. is yours to make.

Rhonda,

A pool is crucial for selling in the summer here anywhere in the Phoenix area. When the murcury hits the 100 degree mark+, buyers have their sites set on a cool pool. Plus, the summer months are the most active for our resale and new home markets. Listings with pools typically always get more play.

The cost of filling in the pool is expensive as well. You can deck it, or "park" your pool, but this is expensive as well. When you fill in the pool, you technically need a permit, hire someone to bust a drainage area in the bottom so water doesn't seep in and have no where to go, then bring in a lot of fil dirt, bust up the perimeter edge of the pool, cutting any exposed rebar, and then putting in a landscape system over top.

All in all, it might be worth investing in a temporary fence that extends around the pool and can easily be pulled out and rolled up. It rests in small sleeves sunk into your cool deck. Put the fence out when your children are playing, then pull it out easily when your husband comes home and wants the view.

I have been selling for the past 22 summers so I do have some first hand experience with pools and buyer's desires.

Hope this helps.

Successfully,
Randy Courtney
Broker/Owner, CRS
Courtney Valleywide Properties

Keep the pool; put the fence up--if you loose a child (or both) in that pool, you'll have a hard time remembering the sense of distaste you once had for "pool fences". Teach the kids to swim; don't take your eyes off of them around the pool. Resale in Arizona generally demands a pool...no one likes the expense of putting one in, especially AFTER the home is already built. It is tough trying to sell with no pool--we tried it!

There are pool barriers available that are attractive and for real sale purposes you may want to keep the pool, however it needs to be safe immediatley for you family.

Removing an inground pool can be expensive to do, if it done completely. The most common inexpensive method that I have seen, when doing an appraisal inspection of properties, is to just have it drained and filled in which does leave tell-tell signs of a previous existing pool. Demand for private pools are high, especially in the valley, except in neighborhoods with community pools. By removing or filling in your pool for what ever reason will reduce the value of you property by the amount it contributes to the overall value and the market demand in your area. You could also use the lower value to protest your tax assessment by acquiring an appraisal to submit in with the protest forms to the assessors office. Property taxes are determined by mass appraisals and reassessed every 2 or 3 years and protests usually fail without creditable proof of correct value.

Jay,

thanks for educating me, I had no idea that most victims could swim. In Europe there are about 195 victims p.a. at a populaton of 300 Millions, and in the US about 1,500 p.a. at 200 Millions. That made me think.

Interesting enough: At the mediterranean coasts they have practically no drowned children. They feel home in the water basically from the day day of their birth.

As for your example: I sometimes think that those mechanical safety devices keep you in a false security like in that terrible, tragic case you mention. I fully agree: Constant supervision is the secret, unfortunately Mom was asleep, who would blame her for that?

In Anthem they had a house for sale with a split pool: One side is a few inches deep with a slide - children's quarter. The other side is a diving pool, access through master bedroom only, door lock 4 feet above ground. From what I have heard, acceptable costs, because they use same equipment for both pool sides.

But then I learned that children drowned in water 10 inches deep...!

Edenliving -

No question that every child should learn to swim. But the fact is, most drowning victims know how to swim. Swimming lessons aren't a foolproof prevention measure by any means. An effective safety barrier is a far better solution.

(though sadly, kids drown every year in pools with fences/barriers. Someone leaves the gate open, the kids climb up and unlatch it, whatever)

The only fool-proof answer is to watch your kids around water EVERY SECOND of EVERY day.

Last week here, a one-year old was napping with his mom. He got up, wandered outside (because the door was left open so the dogs could go in and out) and fell in the pool.

He's dead now.

I am baffled why having a fence around your pool isn't required by law. I have an inground pool here outside of Buffalo, NY. and although pools are not that common, a fence is required and the inspector comes to make sure you have it up and it is the right kind. I almost had to put up a second fence because my neighbors fence (which was acting as one of the boundaries to my pool) had a little over 2 inches between each slat which was not up to code. Who can squeeze through 2 inches? Anyway, get a fence! Wrought iron is nice or there are other attractive fences, it doesn't have to be ugly.

I am a European who lived in Phoenix for several years and was always mad at the parents who let their children drown. Why don't you people do what everybody does in Europe: TEACH YOUR CHILDREN HOW TO SWIM! It is cheaper and safer than technical staff like fences and covers. And it is more fun! Classes in Europe take less than two weeks, two hours per day, 5 days a week. Yes, it goes that fast. Most classes are during school vacation, children love it. By the way: The youngest are 3 years old...

Rhonda -

One possible solution to the "ugly fence problem" might be a pool safety cover. They can be a bit of a hassle to put on and take off (though automatic versions are availble - $$). I've seen several and they look very nice.

The link below is just one example. Try Googling "pool safety covers" for more options.

Forgetthe look. Safety is the most important and all buyers will know that. You'll recoup approx 30% of original cost

Hi Rhonda:
I live in Massachusetts. My home had an inground pool when we bought it. We enjoyed it for many years, but recently we had not been using it very much, so last summer we had it removed. Total cost, including relandscaping was around $9000. In the northeast, having a pool hurts resale value, particularly if the pool takes up a lot of your back yard. Also, in Massachusetts, if we want recreational water, we can go to Cape Cod or the lakes of New Hampshire & Maine in 2-3 hours. In Arizona if it's hot all the time, it may help resale value to have a pool. Real estate market conditions are local, so consult a broker in your area. I'd look for a broker who's had a pool for a number of years and can give you the benefit of their hands on experience.

Here's my long term pool experience. It's a lot of work to keep the water looking fresh and clear. Evaporation and water loss through buried pipes means you're going to be adding water and that'll increase your water bills. When you're not at home, you have to worry about neighborhood kids sneaking in and using it on hot days. The legal term is "attractive nuisance". That means if you don't make a reasonable effort to keep people out, and they trespass, hurt themselves in your pool, you could be liable. If you're going to keep the pool, you should have a fence around it and keep it locked when you're not there.

Does everyone have a pool in your area? If they don't, on hot days when you're going away on vacation, what'll you say to a neighbor who asks to use your pool while you're away? You have to weigh liability vs being a friendly neighbor.

On the other hand, having a cool pool to come home to in 90 degree + weather is wonderful.

pool's kill more children per year than guns in the household statistically speaking....if that is why he wants to move it than your mommy instinct will probably be okay with that. Even in Arizona, from a re-sale standpoint it is very rare that people are looking for a pool and a nicely done back yard will break even with a home with a pool. For me, I would not deal with pool maintenance and I am sure other home owners will agree....I would get rid of it!