The end of winter seems to be the time of year when homeowners start thinking of installing swimming pools. The beginning of warmer weather gets kids and adults looking forward to more daylight and entertainment while swimming and playing games. While the perfect swimming pool can translate into a great summer, choosing if and what to install can be difficult.

It is not uncommon for swimming pools to be costly in time and money so we suggest several things to consider when contemplating whether or not a pool is right for you.

1. Potential Use: Consider your family’s true enjoyment of swimming and how much they will actually use it. Also weather plays a big part how usable a pool really is so consider the climate when deciding if a pool is right for you.
2. Cost: Pools are expensive to install as well as maintain. Whether it be chemicals, covers, toys, heating, cleaning, filtration etc. Talk to friends that have pools and ask them to share how much maintenance is for the summer months to give you a better idea of the extras you will be paying.
3. Logistics: Is your yard set up to accommodate a pool? Is there room for the deck and fence requirements in your area? Will your kids still have room to play outside if there is a pool?
   Make sure you map out your yard with a pool in it to get an idea of what areas will need to be landscaped after the pool is installed.

These are just several things to think about if you are looking to install a pool. It is important to get 3-4 different bids as well before making any decisions; don’t jump into the best deal right away!