If your number one reason for getting a pool or hot tub is because your sibling, neighbor, or college roommate has one, maybe you should reconsider. Planning, building, and maintaining a swimming pool or spa is not a whim or keeping-up-with-the-Joneses kind of purchase. It dramatically alters the landscape of your outdoor living space. It can be a lifestyle change, albeit a positive one: more entertaining, more fun with your family, more exercise. Pool and spa projects often cost more than anticipated. Are you really ready to take the plunge? Here’s what to consider before you commit to building a pool. For those of us with smaller lots, it may take some creativity, special design, and compromise to make a swimming pool or spa work for your outdoor space. As with any home addition, expect it to cost more than you anticipated or have calculated.
