Pool noob here. Possible new house has a pool and we're going to get an inspection done on it, but I have no clue what to ask to make sure everything is on the up and up. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

our pool inspector said everything was good to go. 5K later I want to beat him down.

Get a home warranty.

Well that doesn't inspire too much confidence.

We made sure to get the seller to pony up for the home warranty that includes the pool for the first year.

If I was buying a house with a pool my biggest concerns would be if it is leaking, if the equipment will need major work, and if it will need a plaster/tile/coping job.

Leaks:
- Run a bucket test (google if you are unsure what it is)

Equipment:
- air in the pump pot
- look for any drips
- get idea of the age/condition of the equipment
- listen to pump, sound like bearings are going out?
- with pump primed and running, click power on/off quickly, look for water squirting out - indication a bad seal

Plaster/tile/coping/bond beam:
- look for settling/mushy spots in yard
- cracks/bubbling/delamination of plaster
- falling tile

Excellent, thanks much for the reply.

I use a specialized pool inspector for my inspections that have pools in DFW. Given the potential expense related to them, I would rather give up that extra fee to me, and have clients get a really thorough pool inspection. The guy I use is a retired pool builder. I figure he has forgotten more about pools than I ever knew. I know he routinely saves clients lots of money and has a couple of times had bad enough news to cause the sale not to happen.

Most of the time though he finds $500 - $5000 worth of repairs and give a nice walk-through on what is what and how to work things.

If you are in the Dallas area I am happy to share his info.

Kevin Weiss
AbsoluteInspections.net

Houston unfortunately.

Definitely something to ask your inspector about when you interview him. Many inspectors will add on for a pool and do a basic inspection. Their actual expertise may vary. Or you can look for someone like I use, I am sure they are around there too. You will pay a little more, but I think it is worth it.

I've got a house for sale in the Friendswood/League City area with a pool and already throwing in a warranty. House and pool only 2 yrs old and moving due to a relocation. Let's make a deal

go through a realtors that has done a lot of pool inspections. They will know the ones that know what the hell they are doing.

There is no such thing as an official pool inspection in the state of Texas, and anyone claiming to give one is setting themselves up for a lawsuit.

A company can give an unofficial "repair recommendation list" that is not legally binding.

If the home has a cartridge or DE filter, pay to have it cleaned before signing on the dotted line. Most "inspections" are going to just be visual to make sure things turn on and aren't leaking. I've been out to many a newly purchased house to clean their filter and discover hundreds of dollars of repair necessary. Plus, it's clean and ready for you when you move in.

Most importantly make sure the heater fires if there is one on site. It is the most expensive piece of equipment there, and I've found many home inspectors don't even try to fire it.