Vegas Home Purchase - Pool Algae?

[BabyRuth]

Hello Pool People,

I’m in pre-inspection phase of a house I’m possibly buying in Vegas. Being that I’m completely inexperienced with pools I’m going to hire a pool company to provide a thorough inspection of everything. Since I live out of state and have not seen it in person and only through FaceTime tour with the realtor, I started looking closer at the pictures and it seems there is a bad algae line around the edge of the pool.

Based on these pics, am I looking at red flags? Thanks for any tips. Heading there Saturday to drop $ on inspection. Maybe if one of you says RUN you will save me a drive across the desert and $500 inspection fees.

Any tips for inspection for waterfall and pump equipment?

Am I going to inherit a lot of problems based on what you see here?

If anyone here is in vegas and wants to earn cash to do the pool inspection for me or recommend someone let me know.

Many thanks.

 

[BritDan]

Hi there, you certainly want someone to ensure the equipment still has a lot of life and maybe you could even negotiate some kind of home warranty that covers it and other home systems into your purchase if the real estate market is tipping more towards the buyer there. I would worry too much about the appearance of the water (if the pump has been off for a while) or algae situation as a quick search on this forum will show you the advice available has brought many-a swamp back to crystal clear water with time, patience, and chlorine. Maybe a dirty looking pool can factor in to your negotiations? I can’t imagine living in Vegas without a pool! Good luck with your purchase!

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum.

The inspection should be able to give you some information on the equipment as long as they are allowed to run it.

The pool design, however, looks like a long term problem to me. If you love it and wish to attempt to maintain it, great, but all that fake rock water line will be a mess to maintain. Calcium scale buildup, water intrusion, etc will be a mess for maintenance. I would budget a complete remodel eliminating all of that fake rock and waterfall and going to a conventional tile water line and no water fall. Just my opinion from living in the desert, with the same water quality you have.

 

[BabyRuth]

Hi there, you certainly want someone to ensure the equipment still has a lot of life and maybe you could even negotiate some kind of home warranty that covers it and other home systems into your purchase if the real estate market is tipping more towards the buyer there. I would worry too much about the appearance of the water (if the pump has been off for a while) or algae situation as a quick search on this forum will show you the advice available has brought many-a swamp back to crystal clear water with time, patience, and chlorine. Maybe a dirty looking pool can factor in to your negotiations? I can’t imagine living in Vegas without a pool! Good luck with your purchase!

Thank you. All good tips. I guess my main concern is if this rock edge will be a long term headache to constantly clean. Can’t wait to hear what a pro will tell me in person Saturday.

 

[BabyRuth]

Welcome to the forum.

The inspection should be able to give you some information on the equipment as long as they are allowed to run it.

The pool design, however, looks like a long term problem to me. If you love it and wish to attempt to maintain it, great, but all that fake rock water line will be a mess to maintain. Calcium scale buildup, water intrusion, etc will be a mess for maintenance. I would budget a complete remodel eliminating all of that fake rock and waterfall and going to a conventional tile water line and no water fall. Just my opinion from living in the desert, with the same water quality you have.

Great tips. Thank you. That is exactly what I’m thinking. Looks pretty, but I don’t have unlimited funds to maintain this. The tip on Reddit I saw sounded promising to clean it and replaster the porous rock. No idea what that would cost. Over 1k but less than 5k I assume.

 

[mknauss]

I would say a true remodel would be 25-50K.

You cannot use plaster at a water line. Same issues.

 

[Bperry]

Looks like it has a regular tile line around most of it and the rocks stuff is just in a few spots? Either way, $5k would be the bottom of what I’d expect to pay for removing the fake rock. Like much more.

 

[kimkats]

main concern is if this rock edge will be a long term headache to constantly clean

It can be but we can help you get it clean and keep it clean over time. There will be a bit of extra work to keep it clean.

to clean it and replaster the porous rock.

We can help you clean it BUT you cannot "plaster" those rocks. Plaster needs to stay in water. I am thinking what was meant was to seal the rocks with something.

the rocks stuff is just in a few spots

It almost looks like there are rocks all around the pool. If that is so it would be almost impossible to sit on the side of the pool and dingle your legs in Not to mention they being a BIG trip hazard.

So here are your choices:
-Make sure the equipment is working-does it turn on? Is there a good flow from the eyeballs (returns) into the pool? What kind of pressure is on the gauge? Does the gauge go down to 0 when you turn the pump off?

-Live with the rocks and clean them up with our help and advice.

-Live with the rocks cleaned up for a bit to save up your pennies. You can get quotes on what it would cost to remove the rocks and put in a different coping so you know at this time. Who knows what it will cost when you are ready so keep that in mind.

Let us know what they say in the inspection. Take LOTS of notes and pics then share it with us here so we can look it over with you!

Kim

 

[BabyRuth]

Thank you all so much. You folks are fantastic. Working on getting inspection now. I hate spooking the sellers but this is the game of real estate. It’s always something.

 

[ajw22]

I would not expect to get a complete critique of the pool from the pool "pro" inspection.

He should tell you if it looks like the pool is leaking, how the pool surface is aging, and if all the equipment seems to be working.

That pool is old and needs a rehab. Even if the inspection says all is good you should go into the house expecting to rehab the pool at some point.

Have the inspection include a lot of pictures of the equipment and plumbing and let us see them .

 

[Oly]

Yes, those rock features at the waterline will complicate your life. I am not a fan of this style of pool. If the house drives the purchase then factor in the extra pool work and future remodel.

 

[BabyRuth]

Yes, those rock features at the waterline will complicate your life. I am not a fan of this style of pool. If the house drives the purchase then factor in the extra pool work and future remodel.

Thank you very much. Purchase driven by price, the backyard oasis sure is nice to inexperienced pool owners like me.

I kept telling my dad that something seems fishy about the price of the house, then realized its the pool for sure.

Still trying to find an inspector.

 

[mknauss]

I doubt an inspector will tell you much. Have the realtor take multiple pictures of the pool equipment. Have them run it (likely it is running during the day regardless) and see what the pressure is showing, etc.

As has been said, likely will need a complete remodel in the near future.

 

[Bperry]

I’d agree on the inspector. We hired one and their report was not anything a normal home inspector would have found (and did find).

 

[BabyRuth]

Had a local guy tell me its manageable too, but also a terrible setup - but I decided to walk away from it.
I don't have unlimited funds to play around with future rehab and waterfalls.
Thank you all so much.

Still want a house with a pool, so I'll be back.

 

[kimkats]

We will be here when you find another one!