A Swimming Pool Isn’t Always a Goldmine

An aerial photograph of an in-ground swimming pool.

© Justin Paget - DigitalVision

Pools can be a selling point for some homes—but sometimes they can be a detriment. Many American homeowners may find owning a pool a little too risky and expensive, according to a new survey from ValuePenguin, an insurance resource.

More than one in 10 Americans who have a pool on their property now say it’s not worth the trouble. Their biggest gripes are the expense and liability; homeowners say they spend nearly $1,500 a year to maintain their pool. Safety around the pool—such as from slipping and falling on the pool deck—is also a big concern. Thirty-two percent of pool owners say a safety-related incident has happened at their pool.

“It’s important to identify potential liabilities and make necessary improvements to your pool,” says Divya Sangameshwar, ValuePenguin’s Home Insurance research analyst. “Alarms, for instance, will notify homeowners if someone is trying to access their pool unauthorized, or if a child or pet fell into the pool, and allow them to render aid in a timely manner.”

A bar chart showing ways homeowners practice pool safety.

 

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