The price of pools
By Melanie Chambers • Bankrate.com

Whenever Heather Clark looks at the warm steam rising from her backyard pool, all she sees are $20 bills floating into the air. And no wonder -- the Clarks spend $600 a month on gas to heat their pool, which is considerably more than their monthly winter gas bill.

When Clark and her husband were house-hunting in London, Ont., six years ago, she says her initial response to the pool was not good. "It's costly and there's cleaning and sweeping all the time," she says. But today, despite the maintenance and heating costs, she loves it and says it has given her years of great memories.

Some of her kids learned to swim in the pool, and she never worries where her kids are -- most times, they're in the pool, where she can watch them. She says it's also a great spot for entertaining her friends -- nothing beats a hot summer night spent poolside, sipping mai tais.

Love it or leave it
It used to be a pool was a status symbol that tacitly meant you were rich. Today, though, swimming pools are more affordable and available to a wide range of family incomes. But whether they're an asset depends on whom you ask.

"There are those who don't mind paying for a pool as a lifestyle addition," says Craig McIntyre, a managing broker with Riverside Century 21 in Kamloops, British Columbia. He says pool lovers typically have children or like to entertain. People who have always dreamed of owning a pool, or those who have previously owned a pool, are also attracted to homes with them.

Those on the other side of the debate don't want pools because of liability reasons or maintenance issues. "I had one baby boomer couple love this house -- it was a single floor, in a great location, but it had a pool," says George Georgopoulos, senior sales associate with Sutton Group Select Realty Inc., in London, Ont. "That was the stopper because they didn't want to maintain it."

But when it comes time to put your house on the market, a pool can increase the value of your home. But that means nothing if the buyers are not pool fans. Your chance of turning a pool hater into a pool lover all depends on the condition of the pool and its operating costs.

There are many fly-by-night pool companies, says Georgopoulos, so when you're installing a pool, choose a company with a solid reputation and a warranty. And if you really want to impress potential buyers, pay for a pool inspection. That way, you can sell your house in the winter, if need be, and the inspection assures the buyer the pool is free of flaws without having to see it in action.

Pros and cons of pool types
The cost of maintenance, heating and chemical treatments can make a potential buyer turn on his heels and run. In the past six years, the Clark family has spent upwards of $4,000 on operating costs. But depending on what type of pool you buy, a buyer might think twice before running.

There are three main types of pools. An above-ground vinyl pool is considered the starter model for most homeowners. A 24-foot, above-ground model costs about $5,000, not including deck around the pool. Buyers often spend another $1,000 on options such as step ladders, better filtration systems and toys. Above-ground pools last a maximum of 10 years.

On-ground pools, made of a steel weave with a vinyl liner, are great for uneven landscapes -- half of the pool can be sunken into a hill while the other half sits on the ground. A 24-foot pool starts at around $3,300. Both on-ground and above-ground pools are shallow -- about four to five feet deep -- which means no diving. However, larger on-ground pools have deeper pools for diving, but they're more costly.

In-ground pools, available in concrete or vinyl, are the most expensive but can add the most cachet to your yard with the right landscaping. Vinyl is the most popular and least expensive option. A concrete pool measuring 16 feet by 32 feet starts at about $30,000 (add another $10,000 to $15,000 depending on your options). Vinyl models, on the other hand, cost about 50 percent less and are the more popular choice.

Typically, vinyl pools last 15 to 20 years, whereas some concrete pools will last double that time. And because concrete is more resilient, if someone's lawn furniture blows into the pool, it will be fine. But if that happens in a vinyl pool, the vinyl may tear.

Concrete models also hold heat longer and may feature bench seats or dual pool/hot tub systems, which can't be had with vinyl pools. However, one major drawback to concrete is the cost of replacing tiles. Clark spent almost $10,000 replacing her concrete pool and the job took a month to finish. Vinyl liners are less expensive, starting at around $500, and take about a day to replace.

Cut your operating costs
To keep your pool's operating costs as low as possible, consider the following tips:

• Buy a pool cover to reduce heat loss and keep your heating costs down. For a couple hundred dollars, a nighttime cover can help reduce evaporation and retain heat.
• Invest in an automatic cleaning system. Depending on whether you have a concrete or vinyl above-ground pool, you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $6,000.
• Take advantage of solar power. While somewhat costly in the short term, it can mean big savings over the long term. A sun-powered system will cost between $4,000 and $5,000, but once installed, the heat is free. The downside is that it can be slow and some houses may not have enough roof space for the solar panels.

How much value a pool adds to a home is in the eye of the beholder -- one person's dream is another's chlorinated nightmare. But experts agree: If you install a pool, try to make it awe and amaze -- a beautiful kidney-shaped pool surrounded by well-trimmed bushes and flowers is hard for anyone to resist.

Melanie Chambers is a freelance writer in London, Ont., but she learned to swim in the ocean.