The prospect of buying a home with a pool may bring you excitement. However, you must be sure that you understand all aspects of pool ownership before you choose the right home to buy. Here are some recommendations to help you make the decision to buy a home with a pool.

Determine Pool Inclusions

Just as with any home accessory or feature, you will want to find out the details about a pool and what it includes in the home purchase. Find out what types of pool accessories it comes with, such as a pool cover for winter and its condition, a diving board, ladder, or slide that are removable; and any pool floats, skimmers, or cleaning tools. The seller's agent or your realtor can disclose these inclusions to you so you know what will be provided with this investment. This is especially an important detail when you look at the cleaning of the pool. Does the pool come with an automatic pool vacuum that you can run with the pump to clean off algae and other buildup? This accessory will greatly improve your ability to keep the pool clean between uses.

You may be interested in a pool fence for the safety and security of the pool. Some homeowners insurance will require you to have a gated fence to have pool protection, so if there is not a fence installed, you may need to look at installing one. In addition, you should also find out if the pool home comes with lounge chairs and pool chemicals to keep the water clean.

Ask About Pool Maintenance

Another concern you may want to ask about pool ownership is how much it is going to cost for you to keep the pool clean and maintained. Find out how old the pool is and when it was last repaired, if at all. This will give you a good idea of how soon you may need to have it relined with a new liner. Then, make sure to inquire about the condition of the pool cover. If the home is in a northern climate, you will need a pool cover to keep it clean during winter.

The cost to clean the pool on a weekly basis can vary depending on if you want to do it yourself or hire a pool professional. You could ask the seller's agent for a cost disclosure on the seller's monthly maintenance and cleaning costs, including chemicals. Fortunately, there are many pool suppliers who can provide pool maintenance training to teach you how to keep your pool clean and how to test the water for the needed chemicals.

For more information, contact a company like Roberts Real Estate.