04 Apr How Having A Pool Affects Your Homeowner’s Insurance
In Arizona, having a pool in your backyard can be a huge benefit and provide fun for you and your family. But many homeowners question whether it’s a good idea to add a pool to their backyard, or buy a home with a pool, due to the safety concerns and maintenance. It’s no surprise that a home with a pool increases your homeowner’s insurance. But is it worth it?
Your insurance premiums will likely increase if you own a home with a pool. This is because they’re considered an “attractive nuisance,” meaning that an unsupervised child might be attracted to a pool and could cause harm to them.
Homeowners are responsible for taking safety measures like including a fence around the perimeter of the pool, putting a safety cover on the pool or posting a sign warning of the dangers. There also can be increased insurance costs if your pool is less than 50 feet from your home. Some insurance companies worry that your home could be damaged by a pool that is installed incorrectly, which increases costs if your pool is installed close by.
If you are considering installing a pool, you should likely take preemptive measures to protect yourself from any incidents that happen while you own the home. This means increasing your homeowner’s insurance coverage and limits. You can likely expect your premiums to also rise since having a pool is a greater risk. Research indicates it might be a good idea to increase your liability insurance from the standard $100,000 to $500,000 if you install a swimming pool.
When installing a pool, it’s also important to take into consideration the difference between in-ground and above-ground pools. Most in-ground pools are considered part of your home insurance policy, while above-ground pools would be covered under personal property insurance.
It’s important to consult with your insurance agent and discuss how adding a pool could potentially affect your premiums. Another great resource is your pool builder. They can discuss incorporating safety features during the building process to help you save money in the long run.
Despite the increased costs, adding a pool can also greatly increase your home’s value and offer a fun summer activity for you and your family. With proper knowledge of the pros and cons of a pool, you can be prepared for any unexpected costs associated with it.