Lifestyle and Leisure
The pool comes as standard!
Keeping up with the Joneses in the UK doesn’t often require splashing out on a swimming-pool for your back-garden
But in some parts of the US pools come as standard in most neighbourhoods, writes Jo-ann Hodgson.
Reserved for the rich and foolhardy in the UK, domestic pools aren't a sight we're familiar with on British shores. But in North America it's a different story. In many areas of the country, particularly in the south, houses are built with pools included as standard and for British emigrants they often form part of the American dream they are in search of.
The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals estimate that there are around "8.5 million pools – above ground and in-ground," in America. "This is about 8 per cent of all US households and 16 per cent of those households that are considered primary targets socio-economically," they add. Jill Diamond has owned two second-home properties in Florida – both built by Clearsky – her first between 1992 and 1996 and the second since 1997."When the family are over then our pool is used constantly," she says "If the children are there then its probably in use for about six hours a day. Even if we are not actually in the pool we spend most evenings and days – when not working – sitting around the pool enjoying the whole experience. Most meals, breakfast included, are eaten by the pool. "Could I live without my pool now? Not a chance."
Most builds at the upper end of the property spectrum include swimming pools and spas within the property price and as most overseas buyers desire pools, overseas sellers also tend to include them as standard. In fact, if you are looking to rent out or sell a property in popular southern destinations such as Florida, then a pool is essential. "Our house didn't have a pool when we purchased it, as we bought it new-build and a pool was an 'option', so you could have one or not," says Elaine Osbond who moved to Florida 13 years ago to work as a real estate broker and also owns a Clearsky home. "However, we chose to have a pool as it's pretty much expected with single family homes (detached houses) when they come to be re-sold that they have a pool." She continues: "From memory, our pool package was about $35,000 – that was for the pool (standard size is 12 x 24 feet, ours is a bit bigger) and a screen cage round it." "The price range of swimming pools in the US will depend a great deal on the state, size and extra features," says Dick Covet, Executive Director of Master Pools Guild in America. "A basic concrete pool can be purchased in the west of the south for under $30,000. The reason has to do with the soil not freezing. The thickness of the walls can be less, requiring less concrete. When you start adding features such as waterfalls, fountains, kitchens, rock work, swim up bars or other features desired the cost can start to run up. I know of one pool a member built that was $2.5 million. It is all in what you want."
Members of the Guild have been enjoying a successful few years in the domestic swimming pool industry. "Sales are up over 300 per cent since 2000 for the organisation as a whole," says Covet. He puts this partly down to the effect the 9/11 attacks on the USA had on the country's residents. "After 11th September, 2001 a lot of people decided to stay home and enjoy their property so a lot of pools were build and those in the ground were upgraded," he says. Covet believes that cost is also an issue: "Maintenance costs are coming down for various reasons. The equipment being used is much more efficient than in the past. More natural products are being used such as salt generator and UV equipment. Pumps are being designed to use less electricity. "The cost will also vary with the amount of heating used and where the pool is located in the country," he adds. "Energy in Virginia is a lot less than energy in California but less heating is needed in Southern California."
Osbond pays a pool company $60,00 a month to look after her pool, this price covering a weekly visit where they skim the water and check the chemicals that keep the water clean. "We vacuum it ourselves, to clear the dust off the bottom," she says. "The running of our pool isn't really expensive," Osbond continues. "However, we don't have a pool heater, they cost about $4,000 or so and you need them if you want to swim in the winter months. They are usually electric so they can be costly to run." The cost of heating for Diamond is also minimum as her pool is heated by solar power. However, she says that "there is probably a small part of the electricity bill that relates to the pool, but as this is mostly for the pool pump it does not amount to much."
And what of the tales of crocodiles setting up home in you pool overnight? "Coming from Texas we had mostly field mice and snakes," says Covet. Okay, so they are slightly easier to deal with than crocs but animals that stray into swimming pools can often create a threat to humans, and the pools, in turn, can create a threat to animals. "Most states and cities have a law that you must have a fence around the pool so few stray animals get into the water," says Covet. "Virginia, where I live now, has a law that every pool must be either fenced or have an automatic cover to keep it safe from children and that would protect it from animals that would stray into the garden." Many people also opt for a glass cage around the swimming pool, protecting it from bugs. Forget the paddling-pool in the garden of your British semi, a move to the US means a move towards more exotic garden features.
Register for your FREE emigration starter pack