You own a home with a pool in your backyard, and for whatever reason, you just don’t want the pool anymore.

Maybe your kids have grown up and the pool gets rarely used these days. Or perhaps you want to use the space the pool takes up to add a garden, or a gazebo, or room to entertain people.

Regardless of your reasons, there are a lot of things to consider before deciding if filling in your swimming pool is the right decision for you. We’ve compiled this list of pros and cons for filling in your pool, and we hope it helps you become better educated for your own decision.

Pros

  • Insurance Premiums – Without a pool, the risk of safety hazards is decreased in the eyes of insurance companies, and you may find your insurance premiums on your home can go down. The savings will depend on how much was charged for pool risk initially, and if that was part of your premium to begin with.
  • Elimination of maintenance costs – With no pool to take care of, there’s no need to hire a pool man, or to purchase all the tools and chemicals necessary to maintain the pool. You can toss out those expenses entirely.
  • Property Value Increase – Depending on the area you live in and whether the pool was already installed or if you installed it after the fact will determine if your property value increases when your pool is removed. The type of removal you choose will also determine the property value. Partial removals need to be disclosed to potential buyers, and may determine the increase.
  • Elimination of potential safety hazards – Many insurance companies consider pools to be a safety risk, particularly for children. With the pool removed or filled in, that safety risk is entirely eliminated, giving you peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
  • More yard space to work with – You’ll have plenty of extra space for personal projects in your yard once the pool has been removed.

Cons

  • Removal or fill-in costs – Filling in or removing a pool is not a cheap endeavor, and depending on the type of removal and the area you live in will determine what your cost will be. It’s always a good idea to research local pool-removal companies to find out what price range you’ll be looking at.
  • Land Use Restrictions – Some cities restrict what can be done with the land that has previously held pools for safety and sinkage concerns. You’ll need to research what rules and regulations your city has in place before deciding what you can do with the land you have after removal.
  • Property value decrease – Same as in the pros section, how and pool is removed, whether you installed it yourself or if it was existing before you moved in will all determine if your property value decreases or increases. You’ll need to research your options before coming to a definitive conclusion on property value increase or decrease.
  • Improper fill-in job – Some contractors may not have all the tools or know-how necessary to properly fill in or remove a pool. This can result in shoddy and incomplete work that could leave you with a sinking spot in your backyard, and more expensive repairs ahead of you.

Ultimately, the decision of removing or filling in your pool will depend on how much the pros outweigh the cons for your situation. If you’re in a position to afford fill-in or removal, and you see it as a beneficial investment, then you’re ready to call in a professional and get started!