If you're moving to California after putting up a Brampton home for sale in Ontario, you may be giddy over the prospect of warm weather and buying a house with a pool in which to cool off. However, before you go looking for a pool you should know what kind of costs and extra work you're signing yourself up for. Here's a brief overview of the effort you'll have to make on behalf of your new pool.

Cleaning

Pools need constant cleaning to keep them looking clean and fresh. You'll have to use the skimmer on the surface every day to pick up stray leaves that have blown over from your neighbor's Lagrange, NY homes. You'll also have to vacuum it with an underwater vacuum at least once a week, power wash the cement around the pool once a month or so, and remember to backwash the system to clean the filters when the pump pressure creeps past a certain point. You'll also have to put the cover on or drain it in the off season. Like a pet, if you go away on vacation you'll need someone to do this for you.

Bills

In ground pools have whole system of machinery and pumps that need to be maintained if you want your pool to stay clean. Fixing them when they break costs several hundred dollars. You'll also need to add certain chemicals, such as chlorine, at the right times to keep the pH balance in the pool and kill germs that make their way in. Your monthly chemical bill can add up to a few hundred dollars. If you live in an upscale are of Penetanguishene real estate, you'll probably need to shell out extra to have a company handle the cleaning.

Insuring

Did you know that if a friend, neighbor, or even an uninvited guest who sneaks into your yard can sue you if he or she gets hurt in your swimming pool? Because of this liability factor, your homeowner's insurance will be much higher. You'll also be responsible for putting up and maintaining a fence that will cut your yard or pool off from the other St George Ontario homes and for making sure the gate is locked.

Reselling

Swimming pools generally improve the resale price of a home by around 7%. However, a lot of people looking for a house for sale in Mississauga don't want the hassle of a pool. Others worry about whether their kids will get hurt if there's a pool. So you'll have a smaller pool of buyers to dip into when you go to resell the house.