In some parts of the country (Florida and Arizona), a swimming pool is a must have. However, in the Triangle, a pool does nothing to increase the value of your home and can potentially drive away potential buyers.

I have had several clients in town recently from Florida, Texas, and Arizona. They are all used to having pools.  I thought I'd write about the drawbacks of having a pool in North Carolina.

A small pool in the Raleigh/Durham area is going to run you a minimum of $10,000 to install. However, comparitavely, there is little value that is added to the home as a result of this "improvement."

In addition, if the potential buyer of your home has small children, the pool becomes a liability. Parents of young children consider swimming pools a risk. At the same time, the insurance companies consider them a risk and the rates will be higher.

Put that on top of the costs associated with operating a private pool, and the monetary impact is just too much to consider building one in the back yard.

To add a little more fuel to the fire, keep in mind that many communities these days have their own swimming pool. Also, there is an abundance of "members only" pools where a family can purchase a membership, so the need for a pool in the back yard is not as great as it once was.

For information on your particular market, consult your Realtor.