After
Before
Remember when having a pool in your backyard meant you were the most popular kid on the block?
Back in the not so distant past, private pools were seen as a luxury among homeowners who flocked to fill their outdoor spaces with swimming pools ranging in size and grandeur. In fact, you could usually judge the status of a neighborhood based on the number of pools - and the nicest neighborhoods always had the most pools.
Fast forward to today, and private pools simply aren't the status symbol they once were. Smaller families, bigger utility bills, and a preference for low-maintenance properties have all led to a decline in the demand for homes with pools - and an increased interest in pool removal services.
Think Your Swimming Pool Is An Asset? Think Again
While there's still plenty of people who see owning a private pool as a real plus, it's important to understand that you probably won't recoup the costs of installing a pool when the time comes to sell your home. This is especially true if you live in an area like Maryland where outdoor pools can only be used a few months out of the year.
Bob Ripp, a certified real estate appraiser in Fort Collins, Colorado, says, "There are several instances where pools detract from the home", such as situations where swimming pools require a fair bit of maintenance when compared to the length of the swimming season. He explains that while there's nothing wrong with installing a private pool, homeowners need to be realistic about the fact that they likely won't get the price of the pool back when they sell their homes.
In fact, having a pool on your property can mean your home will take longer to sell, and even sell for less money than comparable low-maintenance homes.
Pools Can Be Big Money Pits
It's not just the lack of marketability and lack of returns that are driving the trend away from backyard pool ownership - the ever-rising costs associated with pool maintenance are another big factor as well. After all, it takes an awful lot of water to keep a pool filled up, and when combined with the heating, cleaning, and maintenance expenses, simply owning a pool can add thousands of dollars to your annual household budget.
HomeAdvisor reports that homeowners spend an average of $1200 to $5000 annually on pool maintenance - and that number doesn't include big-ticket repair costs like redoing the pool liner, replacing the heater, or upgrading the pump system. And those expenses also don't factor in the extra insurance premiums and surcharge on property taxes that usually come with owning a pool.
Many families are opting to spend the money they might otherwise use maintain a pool on family vacations, summer camps and upgrades to their homes that deliver a return on their investments instead of adding to their expenses.
Homeowners Are Worried About Safety & Liability Issues With Pools
And there's another factor driving people to remove their private pools - safety.
Everyone knows how dangerous open water can be. Each year thousands of accidents happen in and around private swimming pools, and unfortunately, a high percentage of these accidents are fatal. Worse yet, the vast majority of drowning victims are young children, and many perish in backyard pools.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Unintentional (Accidental) Drowning" was the leading cause of unintentional injury death among children aged 1-4 in 2017, and among the top nine causes of accidental death for all Americans from 0 to 54 years old.
Not only are accidents involving swimming pools often tragic, but they can be exceptionally costly as well. In some cases, homeowners can be held responsible for injuries or deaths that occur in their pools, even if the victim was a trespasser - that's why insurance companies and litigation lawyers are increasingly advising against private pool ownership.
Already Own A Pool? You Have Options
If you happen to already have a swimming pool on your property that you no longer want, the best option is to contact a company that specializes in pool disconnection and demolition for help - this isn't one of those home improvement projects you want to tackle by yourself or leave in the hands of a general contractor.
In the DC/Baltimore Metro area Remove A Pool is the Maryland swimming pool removal company that stands out in terms of experience, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. They've been in the pool removal and site restoration business for over 25 years, and they take care of the entire project for you to ensure all the work meets or exceeds local, state, and federal building codes and environmental standards. In fact, Remove A Pool backs all their work with a lifetime satisfaction guarantee.
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