My wife always wanted me to put one it. I am so glad I did not. A hot tub was a much better investment for us. The pool wood have gotten a few years of good use and then I would still be dumping money into it and taking care of it while no one used it.

This house has a hot tub, but they filled it in and are using it as a planter. I would much rather have the hot tub than the pool!

We are on our second Tiger River Spa. Holds 6 people and 8 if you really wanted to get cozy. Our first one lasted about 9 years with a few motor changes. We expect the same out of this one. Forget the pool.

I'm with you guys on the hot tub. I'd rather have a big patio and a nice hot tub, than a wall-to-wall pool in the backyard.

We put a pool in when we built this house and we love it. Our kids love it. Lil Lookout was a year old when we moved in and swimming with a couple months. 2.0 is 21 months now and he was really really swimming by the end of this past summer. Mrs L takes him to swimming lessons.

If you learn how to do your own pool chemicals it is very inexpensive to maintain and not that much work.

If you're really worried about the kids getting out then you'll put in dual door handles. Your normal handle stays but the second is above 5' - both must be turned to open the door. If you have room for the fence that is also a good idea and our magnalock has worked like a dream for years.

You will love the family fun in the pools gentlemen, keep them.

If you decide it's going to make you nervous, couldn't you drain it and deck it over until the kid is older? Cheaper than demolishing and replacing in a few years.

I want a pool. And a pond. A pond would be good for me.

That hadn't occurred to me. It might get ugly down in the pool during the years we have a deck over it, but we could worry about cleaning that up later I guess. I'd be scared an animal might crawl down there and die. The smell would be awful. But if it's tight enough to the ground, I doubt anything big would get down there.

keep the pool
fit some door locks
buy a pool cover
maintain it yourself
get the extra insurance

that's my advice (well, you did ask :p )

When can I come and visit?

if you build a deck over a dry pool you'll have a few problems.
1) plaster and concrete will dry out and crack
2) pipes and seals will dry out and crack
3) rainwater will gather in pool and then here come the skeeters
4) you will inevitably watch as your wife drops her wedding ring through the crack and you have to tear up your deck to retrieve it.

Wives don't need wedding rings.

some wives don't believe husbands don't need testicles either. let them have their rings and keep your jewels.

My real estate guy just called and told me there are 18 offers on the house. He asked me what my best and final offer would be. I bumped it up to 400k with 20% down. I can't go any higher. Man, I hope someone doesn't take this house from under me.

Good luck Radar.

18 offers? In this market?