Pool guide: How to make your dream of a house with a pool come true

With your own swimming pool in the garden you can bring vacation flair home. On hot summer days it offers you a refreshing cooling and for children it is anyway the greatest to splash in a pool landscape in the garden according to desire and mood.

Who would like to fulfill itself and the family this desire, can either immediately buy a house with existing indoor or outdoor pool or build such a pool afterwards (let). What to think about in both cases and what special features to consider, we have summarized for you below.

What awaits you in this article:

1. You will learn about the different types of pool.
2. You will learn about the approximate costs you can expect for which pool type.
3. You will learn what is important when buying a house with a pool.
4. You'll get tips on self-build and maintenance.

Pool is not equal to pool. There are different types, associated with different costs. Which one is right for you depends on your personal needs, the available space and ultimately your budget. For initial orientation: so that you and at least one other person can really swim comfortably in your private pool, it should - as long as we are not talking about a natural pool - have minimum dimensions of 7 m in length, 4 m in width and 1.20 m in depth.

Tip: A depth of 1.40 m usually proves in practice to be a good compromise between "suitable for swimming" and cost-efficient.

These pool variants are available:

1. The classic - an outdoor pool. This is permanently installed and is mostly (50 - 75%) sunk into the ground. Important here: appropriate water and power lines must be present.
2. The oasis - an indoor pool. Mostly it is built in the basement or first floor. The decisive factor here is sufficient ventilation, since indoors usually a high evaporation prevails.
3. The flexible - a pop-up pool. Many hardware stores offer inexpensive variants that can be quickly set up and dismantled again on flat surfaces. Particularly practical: When moving, the pop-up pool can be easily taken along and also a small, integrated pool on the terrace or a balcony are so quickly feasible.
4. The natural version - a natural pool or swimming pond. Whoever wants the "natural" variant of a pool, should opt for this. The great advantage: The cleaning of the water is done by plants and rocks or by a biofilter - so in an ecologically safe way, without chemicals.But you must not forget: natural pools usually take up much more space and are more complicated to plan, because they also consist of a plant zone. Furthermore, they are usually a recirculating bathing water, that is, the pool water is cleaned through a filter and fed fresh again, which makes it in a natural flowing movement. This has two effects: No water change is necessary, but the - usually anyway not heated - water is thereby also again cooler.You can find a detailed article on natural garden pools in issue 1 /2022 of our BESTE LAGE magazine - here it goes directly to the article.

The approximate costs at a glance

The costs vary partly very strongly. It becomes favorable especially if you decide for a simple installation pool. This is already from 200 euros to have. Outdoor and indoor pools, on the other hand, can - depending on the size - quickly cost several thousand euros, whereby the choice is whether you want to buy a rectangular or an oval pool.

The price differences usually result from the choice of material, for example, because plastic structures are often more expensive than steel structures. Another decisive factor is, of course, the size.

You can roughly count on these prices for the purchase (plus excavation, assembly, delivery and operating costs, if applicable), whereby the smallest price in each case refers to the already mentioned minimum size of 7 x 4 x 1.20:

Steel-walled pool: from approx.000 EuroPrefabricated plastic structures (GRP): from about 5,000 EuroNatural pond: from about 10,000 EuroWalled structures: from about 25,000 to 30.000 EuroStainless steel pool: from about 30,000 Euro

In addition, heating costs, but modern solar technology make it possible on the other hand, the current expenditure for it again to reduce. With the right insulation material, you can also prevent rapid heat loss - well insulated should be both the floor and the side walls, for example, with special rigid foam such as extruded polystyrene ("XPS"). Here you can learn more about this material.

Properties with pool are in high demand. Therefore, a pool in a house can be accompanied by an increase in value of about 25,000 to 50,000 euros. If you have found a beautiful house with pool, which corresponds overall to your ideas, you should give your new private pool in any case your special attention.

We have compiled a checklist of what you should look for when buying a house with pool. We have divided our tips into location, condition and cost criteria.

These criteria are important in the location of the pool:

1. Check the compass direction. Who wants as much sun as possible while swimming in the pool, should choose pools that are located in the south. For those who like to swim their laps in the morning, a southeast position is ideal. It also makes sense to pay attention to the wind direction, since leaves can often blow into the pool if the pool is located in a frequent wind direction.
2. Be aware of open spaces. Large trees and shrubs near the pool can cause a lot of leaves and pollution in your pool. Basically, freestanding installations are easier to keep clean and open up many design ideas for a backyard with a pool.

These criteria are important in terms of pool condition:

1. Take a look at the interior lining. Of course, you can not just briefly dive into the pool during an inspection appointment to get an impression of the condition and age of the pool "from below" - but: to recommend it would actually be. Based on discolorations on the tiles or the pool liner, you can at least roughly estimate the age and also check the intensity of care in recent years.
2. Inspect the pool technology. Pumps, filter system, filter boiler, heating: no conventional pool gets along without additional technical equipment, which in turn take up space. You should be shown where these facilities are located and how accessible they are designed.
3. Inquire about the degree of modernization. A pool is like a small property in itself. Therefore, inquire about what technological level, for example, the filters are - and consult a specialist if necessary. If the plant is older, you can immediately set a necessary extra budget for this.
4. Look at the top of indoor pools. This tip may initially surprise, but is very important. Inadequate ventilation can cause mold stains on the ceiling due to evaporated water. You should also check the walls closely in this regard.

These criteria are important in the cost analysis of the pool:

1. Let you show operating cost statements. Insist on this point quiet full transparency, so that there are no nasty surprises afterwards, for example, higher heating costs due to older oil heating.
2. Calculate with the pool costs. A house with a pool you have to be able to afford. For a pool, among other things, repairs, maintenance, chlorine or Desalgin and care accessories (landing net, cover sheets, cleaning robot) strike.
3. Planning with really every cost item.Consistently include all expenses for the pool in the cost of the purchase and subsequent financing.

And most importantly:Don't be dazzled by a fancy pool alone. Your attention should ultimately be on the entire property.

As an experienced real estate agent, we are happy to stand by your side to maintain the important objectivity when evaluating a property with a pool. In any case, we are very happy to support you in finding a small or even large house with pool that exactly meets your expectations. To do this, you are welcome to contact us.

If you are handy and follow some basic things, you can also build a pool yourself. We have compiled tips that you can use to plan this project.

Our tips for pools "brand self-build":

1. Clear the topic "building permit". In each state there are their own rules on this, including the size of the pool. Usually outdoor pools up to 100 cubic meters (11 m long, 6 m wide, 1.5 m deep) are permit-free. Indoor pools, on the other hand, usually require a permit.It's best to check with your city or town building department to find out what is allowed and what is not. Also a swimming pool specialist company will know the regulations in your region.
2. Check the soil condition.If you want to let the pool into the ground, it is inevitable to check the soil beforehand. If the soil is very earthy or sandy, the excavation is usually not a big problem - with dense root system, many larger stones or even rock you may need special tools and have to plan more effort and time.
3. Guarantee ground level. Even if it is not always obvious to the naked eye: many garden areas have a slope. To this end, it can be stated that a slope of more than 1% must be straightened before building the pool. How this works in detail, you can read in this guide.
4. Sure water and electricity access. Both are basic requirements for the operation of a pool, and especially in the outdoor area not generally given. Let these topics best advised by professionals in this area.
5. Consider minimum distances. Whether indoor or outdoor, most likely there are specifications regarding structures that are located near your neighboring property. Before breaking ground, you should definitely clarify this and for this, among other things, also take a look at the land register.
6. Choose a wind-protected, sunny location. Your pool should be placed on your property as protected from the wind as possible - but still be oriented so open that sufficient sunlight is guaranteed (keyword glazed wall indoors). Additional tip: Choose the location for an outdoor pool also so that in the garden theoretically also a subsequent roofing would be possible.
7. Attention to stability and dryness. A pool needs a solid foundation. Therefore, hard earth is highly recommended as a foundation. It is also important to use a base plate when building a pool. This must first be poured from concrete before the pool is installed. When laying the walls of the pool, care should be taken to ensure that the plate has a thickness of at least 20 to 30 cm.Also note: Before installing the base plate, drainage is necessary. Otherwise, it may come to waterlogging, which could cause cracks in the bottom plate in winter.

Steht your pool once in their garden or on your terrace you want to enjoy him of course as long as possible. The good thing is: this is largely in your own hands with proper care.

Our tips for proper pool care:

1. Replace the water regularly. At least once a year, you should completely replace the old water with new. By doing so, you will avoid clogging filter systems and getting dirt stuck to the tiles.
2. Have your filter system serviced regularly. This will help keep the water in your pool clean. Information on proper maintenance can be obtained from the respective supplier of your filter system.
3. Check the PH value regularly.It should be in the neutral range between 7 and 7.4 if possible. By adding chlorine, you can regulate this value accordingly up and down. Alternatively, this can also take over a so-called "dosing float"; this gives over a longer period of time evenly a lot of chlorine via dissolving tablets into the pool. In this way, you can prevent stains on the bottom, which can occur if the chlorine dosage is too high.A timely tip: As a natural alternative for chlorine, the use of Desalgin is recommended. It is a liquid concentrate that effectively curbs the growth of algae and bacteria. It is not only free of chlorine and sulfate, but also removes so-called turbidity from the water as a welcome additional effect, making it appear clearer. Extra tip: simply attach the dosing float with a cord to the pool ladder.
4. Choose a UV-resistant cover.This way you can prevent penetrating sun rays from promoting algae formation in your pool.
5. Apply a suction robot. Leaves on the water surface should be fished out as quickly as possible with a landing net. For debris that is already on the bottom, it is best to use a vacuum robot.

The bottom line is that a modern house with a swimming pool does not have to remain an unfulfilled plan. With a few tips and mindfulness, as well as sound financial planning, almost anything can be realized. Anyone who feels more comfortable with an expert at their side during this particular real estate search should work with an experienced real estate broker like VON POLL IMMOBILIEN.