So you are thinking about buying a home that has a pool? What should you do?

www.rickrobinsonhomes.com

So you are thinking about buying a home that has a pool? What should you do?

I hear these questions often and here are some of my suggestions:

First thing you need to do is get a professional to do a complete pool inspection that includes a pressure test of all the plumbing lines. When they do a pressure test they will fill all the lines with water and get the pressure in the lines up to 10-15 lbs and they will watch to see if the pressure starts to drop this could indicate a leak in one of the plumbing lines.

An inspection will also give you an experts opinion on the condition of the pool equipment it's possible age and if there is any repairs they feel should be made right away, the biggest issues I have found is an older heater that leaks and or does not fire up. Repairs can be costly if you need to replace equipment. If you have a concrete pool then you may need to have the pool re plastered or tile and coping repairs these can be a costly repair that you should not have to be responsible for. Re plaster jobs could be in excess of $5000.00 tile and coping could be the same.

A vinyl liner pool is different as long as the vinyl liner is in tact and not leaking you should be OK a liner can fade, but this will not change the integrity of the pool itself. A new liner can run from $2000-$3000 for the liner and then another $1000 for the installation.

Once you determine that the pool is sound and you have a good report from the inspector you can go to the homeowner and ask for credit for any pool repairs needed before you close on the house.

Once you own the home take a water sample from the pool to your local pool supply center and have the water tested. They will tell you what you need to add to the water to keep it clean and safe for swimming, they can also guide you on proper maintenance and operation. A pool is a great feature to have in the backyard, it can be fun for the whole family and give your kids some great summer fun.

With a little knowledge and patience, a pool can be a great STAYCATION at home and save you a great deal of money on those costly trips to the beach.

So go ahead and buy that house and go swimming.....

Until Next Time....

WHAT TO DO WITH THAT OLD SPA IN THE BACKYARD?

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WHAT TO DO WITH THAT OLD SPA IN THE BACKYARD?

So you want a new spa or bought a home that has an old one there already, and don't know what to do. This is a question I hear often. One of the question I would ask is, "Does the spa still work?" If not it's probably best to just throw it away. A lot of companies will take your old spa away for a fee. If you are buying a new one see if the company will remove your old one as part of the deal.

If your spa does still work but you are tired of investing money in it and want to upgrade to a new one, try listing it for sale on Ebay or Craigslist and set a reasonable price. Remember spas are like cars, once they leave the showroom they start to depreciate. I had a friend put a sign out front of his house that said "Spa For Sale, First $500 Takes It!" He sold it in 2 days. One of the local landscapers saw it and took it right out of the yard on their trailer.

There are also companies that will just come and take any old items you don't want. Check your local newspapers and phone books. Just remember to have the electric removed from the old spa by a qualified electrician and make the wiring safe until the new spa arrives. There still is a big market for used spas, one persons junk is another mans treasure!

Until Next Time...

Thinking of Selling Your Own Home? Read This First

www.rickrobinsonhomes.com

Thinking of Selling Your Own Home? Read This First



This is another great piece of information for those of you out there thinking of selling your home yourself.

Many people believe they can sell their home themselves just as quick as an agent but they find out the hard and long way that this thought process is unfounded.

The National Association of Realtors says that statistically only 10% of For Sale By Owners actually sell their home themselves and 90% eventually use a Realtor to get it sold. See this article: http://www.realtor.com/advice/why-fsbo-sales-fail/#.UuVyPm4o70M

So as you will see...Use a Professional Real Estate Agent to market and get your home sold.

Until Next Time...

Are You Buying A House With A Spa

Rick the Spa Guy

So you are thinking about buying a house with a spa outside and don't know what to do? A spa is designed for therapeutic value. They are portable units, so if you do not want it you can simply have an electrician disconnect the power and sell the unit or cut it up and throw it away, but before you do that consider the relaxing nights outside under the stars enjoying that warm water and therapy you would be getting from being a spa owner.

Spas are just an over sized jetted bath tub, most homes built today are designed with a master suite and master bath with a jetted bath tub in them, and people love to see the jetted tub in their bathroom but do not like spas outside. The reality of it is that most homeowners that have jetted bath tubs say that they rarely if ever use it. They have to wait for it to fill, if the unit does not have a heater in it then the water cools off quickly and you have to keep draining a little and refill with the hot water, it becomes a hassle and they just end up showering instead.

With an out door spa you are under the stars, the water is always full and at the temperature you prefer. In the winter you can be soaking in 100 degree water with snow all around and enjoying the company of your spouse or significant other at the same time. The chemical balance is easy if you monitor the spa once a week, and you are only adding a few ounces of chemical to keep the water clean and clear.

If you have never owned a spa or been in one before I recommend that you get in one and see how great it can be to own a spa. Go to a spa showroom at your local pool dealer and ask for a wet test, they usually will have a couple of models full and running, get in and enjoy the message therapy and see if a spa is for you.

So again, do not turn that house away that has a spa before you see if you will enjoy it. You can always get rid of it if it is not for you.

Until Next Time....