Do You Need a Pool in Verrado? What Second-Home Buyers Should Consider

You're buying a second home in Arizona.

So obviously it needs a pool.

Right?

This is one of those things that sounds completely logical when you're sitting in Washington imagining your future Arizona life.

Sunshine.

Palm trees.

Cold drink.

Your own sparkling pool ten steps from the back door.

I get it.

A private pool can be absolutely wonderful.

But before you check “private pool” as a non-negotiable in your Verrado home search, I want you to answer a different question:

When are you actually going to use it?

Because for a second-home buyer, the pool decision isn't quite as obvious as it seems.

First: Yes, Having Your Own Pool Is Pretty Fabulous

Let's give the pool its moment.

There is something wonderful about walking out your back door and having your own private oasis. This was a no-brainer for us and we went for it and love love love how it turned out.

No driving.

No packing a bag.

No wondering whether anyone else is using it.

You can float around in the afternoon, have friends over, sit beside it with your morning coffee or enjoy the backyard after dinner.

And aesthetically?

A beautiful Arizona backyard with a pool can be spectacular.

If outdoor living is one of the biggest reasons you're buying in Verrado, a pool can absolutely become part of the lifestyle you're imagining.

But that's only one side of the decision.

When Will You Be in Arizona?

This is the first question I would ask you.

If you're buying a second home primarily to escape Washington winters, think about the calendar.

Maybe you're in Arizona from November through April.

Perhaps you come down for a few weeks at a time.

Then when Washington finally becomes gorgeous in the summer, you head home.

There's just one small problem with this plan.

Your pool stays in Arizona.

And the hottest months—when a pool might sound especially appealing—could be the months you're least likely to be there.

That's why I don't automatically put a pool at the top of every second-home buyer's wish list.

I want to know how you're going to use the house first.

Arizona Winter Does Not Always Mean Pool Weather

This one surprises some Washington buyers.

Yes, Arizona winters are wonderful.

You can golf.

Walk.

Hike.

Eat lunch outside.

Sit on the patio.

And send slightly obnoxious sunny photos to your friends back home.

But that doesn't mean your swimming pool is automatically going to feel like bathwater in January.

If swimming during the cooler months matters to you, pool heating becomes part of the conversation.

Does the home have a heater?

What type?

How often would you use it?

What will it cost to operate?

If you're picturing Christmas morning in the pool with the grandkids, let's make sure the pool can actually support that vision.

What Does a Private Pool Cost to Maintain?

This is where we leave the vacation fantasy for a minute and talk about ownership.

A pool needs care whether you're swimming in it or not.

You'll potentially have expenses related to:

• Regular pool service
• Chemicals
• Water
• Electricity for pumps and equipment
• Heating, if you choose to heat it
• Cleaning
• Repairs
• Equipment replacement over time

And because this is a second home, you may be paying someone else to handle much of that maintenance while you're in Washington.

Again, none of this means don't buy the pool.

It means:

Buy the pool because you want the pool—not because you think an Arizona house is supposed to have one.

Your Pool Doesn't Know You Went Back to Washington

This may be my favorite way to explain it.

You get on the plane in May.

Your pool doesn't care.

It still needs to circulate.

It still needs chemicals.

Water still evaporates.

Equipment still needs to function.

And someone needs to notice if something goes wrong.

For a second-home owner, that's an important consideration.

If you love the idea of owning a pool enough that maintaining it while you're away feels completely reasonable, fantastic.

We've answered the question.

But if you're already thinking:

"Wait. I'm paying to maintain this all summer when I'm sitting on my patio in Washington?"

Then let's keep talking.

Verrado Gives You Another Option: Community Pools

Here's where Verrado makes this decision particularly interesting.

You don't necessarily need a private pool to have access to swimming and community recreation.

Verrado residents have access to community amenities that include pools, with specific amenities depending on where you live and the applicable community rules.

That can create a very appealing compromise for a seasonal homeowner.

You get:

Pool access when you want it.

Without having:

a pool in your backyard that needs attention 365 days a year.

For some second-home buyers, that's perfect.

For others, walking or driving to a community pool is absolutely not the same thing as stepping out the back door.

That's why we're having the conversation.

What About Victory at Verrado?

If you're considering Victory, the 55+ portion of Verrado, amenities are an especially important part of the decision.

Victory was designed around an active-adult lifestyle, with community recreation and social amenities available to eligible residents. AND they also get access to the Verrado community pools as well.

So if you're attracted to Victory because you want the social experience and amenities anyway, ask yourself whether you also need a private pool at home.

Maybe the answer is yes.

You want both.

Great.

But maybe you'd rather put the money you'd spend maintaining a private pool toward a better lot, larger patio, upgraded kitchen or simply a lower-maintenance property.

There isn't a universal right answer.

Do You Want a Pool—or Do You Want a Great Backyard?

Those aren't necessarily the same thing.

This is one of my favorite questions to ask buyers.

Sometimes what people actually want isn't a pool.

They want outdoor living.

They want a beautiful covered patio.

Comfortable furniture.

A fire feature.

An outdoor television.

A grill.

Great landscaping.

Maybe a spa.

A place where friends gather for dinner.

A backyard where you can sit outside with coffee in February and think:

"This is why we bought a house in Arizona."

A pool can absolutely be part of that.

But it doesn't have to be.

Don't let the pool checkbox distract you from the bigger goal.

A Pool Takes Up Backyard Space, Too

This matters more on some lots than others.

When you tour a home online, the listing might proudly say:

PRIVATE POOL!

Great.

But what does the rest of the backyard look like?

Is there enough patio space?

Room for dining?

Space for your dog?

Room for grandchildren to play?

Space for a putting green?

Is the pool beautifully integrated into the yard, or does it consume almost all of it?

Would you actually prefer a larger usable backyard without one?

We're not just evaluating whether a house has a pool.

We're evaluating whether the whole backyard works for you.

What About a Spa Instead?

For some seasonal Arizona homeowners, this can be an interesting alternative.

If your primary Arizona season is winter, you might discover that a spa fits the lifestyle you're imagining better than a swimming pool.

Cool evening.

Glass of wine.

Stars overhead.

Hot tub.

Not terrible.

You may also find homes with both a pool and spa, of course.

The point is to stop thinking in terms of:

Arizona = pool

and start thinking:

What outdoor features will we actually use?

That's how you choose the right house.

Should You Buy a Home With an Existing Pool or Add One Later?

If you're pretty sure you want a pool, this is an important question.

Installing one later gives you the opportunity to design exactly what you want.

But it also means taking on a major project after closing. Take it from me this is major!

And if you're managing that project from Washington?

That's something to think about.

With a resale home that already has a pool, you can see the finished product.

You know how much backyard space it takes.

You can inspect the equipment.

And the cost of installing it has already been absorbed into the property to some degree.

That doesn't automatically make an existing pool the better financial choice.

But I would absolutely compare:

the cost of buying a home with the pool already there

versus

buying a home without one and installing exactly what you want later.

If the House Has a Pool, Inspect the Pool

This is important.

Don't let the blue water and pretty landscaping distract you.

Pool equipment ages.

Pumps fail.

Heaters need service.

Surfaces eventually need attention.

If we're buying a resale home with a pool, I want us to understand what we're buying.

A pool can be a fantastic asset.

It can also come with an expensive surprise if nobody bothered to look beyond the water.

Will a Pool Help With Resale?

Maybe.

A pool can absolutely be attractive to future Arizona buyers.

But I wouldn't buy one solely because you think some hypothetical future buyer will want it.

Your future buyer might be another Washington couple who says:

"We definitely want a pool."

Or they might say:

"Perfect! No pool to maintain while we're gone."

Real estate decisions become dangerous when we design our entire life around someone who might buy the house ten years from now.

I care much more about this question:

Will you enjoy it?

Here's Who I Think Should Seriously Consider a Private Pool

I'd put a pool high on the list if:

You love swimming.

You're planning to spend significant time in Arizona during warmer months.

You entertain frequently.

Your kids and grandkids will visit often.

The backyard experience is a major reason you're buying the home.

You're comfortable with the maintenance and ongoing expenses.

And every time you picture your Arizona house, you picture yourself beside your own pool.

In that case?

Let's find you a great pool.

And Who Might Be Happier Without One?

I'd at least consider going without a private pool if:

You're primarily using the home during the winter.

You'll spend long stretches of the year in Washington.

You want the lowest-maintenance property possible.

You're perfectly happy using Verrado's community amenities.

You'd rather have more patio or yard space.

Or you simply don't care that much about swimming.

You are not doing Arizona incorrectly if you don't own a pool.

I promise.

Here's What I'd Do During Your Verrado Home Tour

I wouldn't make the decision before you arrive.

I'd show you both.

Let's tour a great house with a beautiful private pool.

Then let's tour a great house without one.

Let's visit the community amenities available to you.

Let's compare the backyards.

Let's talk about when you'll actually be in Arizona.

And then I'll ask you:

Which version of this lifestyle feels more like you?

That's usually a much easier question to answer once you're standing there.

Buy the Backyard You'll Actually Use

This is really what the pool conversation comes down to.

A second home is supposed to add something to your life.

More sunshine.

More time outside.

More golf.

More visits with people you love.

More evenings on the patio.

If a private pool is part of that picture, wonderful.

Let's find one.

But if maintaining a pool from Washington sounds like one more thing to worry about, Verrado gives you other ways to enjoy the water without putting one ten feet from your back door.

Don't buy the Arizona house you're supposed to want.

Buy the one you'll actually enjoy living in.

Thinking About Buying a Second Home in Verrado?

If you're just beginning your research, start with my Complete Guide to Buying a Second Home in Verrado from Washington.

Then take a look at When Is the Best Time to Buy a Home in Verrado?

If you're 55+, I've also compared Verrado vs. Victory at Verrado to help you decide which lifestyle may fit you better.

Trying to decide between a builder and an existing home? Read New Construction vs. Resale Homes in Verrado.

And before you start calculating what you can afford, read What Does It Really Cost to Own a Second Home in Verrado?

I'm Tammy Cannon, a real estate agent licensed in both Washington and Arizona. I specialize in helping Washington buyers find second homes in Verrado—and sometimes that means helping you figure out what you don't need in your Arizona house, too.

If you're planning a Verrado visit, let's build a tour around the way you actually want to live.

Pool or no pool, I'll help you find the right version of Arizona. Send me a DM on Instagram @thetammycannon and I’ll get in touch with you. I love helping people make this decision!