I have a question about pools: do they make financial sense? I’ve always wanted to have a pool of my own, but when I mentioned it out loud around my parents when I was growing up, they’d always make some comment about it being a money sink or how it would bring down my property’s value or, worse yet, get me sued.

Is there any truth to any of this? Are pools a sound investment, or not?

Pools can make a property more fun and keep their owners healthier. They’re valuable in all sorts of ways, but the most important way in which a pool is valuable is the way in which it’s valuable to you. Buying a pool isn’t about raising property values or treating the installation as if it’s “an investment”–at least, not mostly.

With that said, though, your parents’ concerns about pools and money seem a little bit overblown. What they’re casually presenting as conventional wisdom is, in fact, far from universally true. Let’s address their concerns in order.

Are pools “money sinks?” Not if they’re installed properly, say experts who work for a swimming pool contractor in New Jersey. Swimming pools have upkeep costs, to be sure, but nothing in life is free, and happy pool owners would tell you the cost is well worth it. A “money sink” pool would better describe one that was poorly installed or maintained–a shoddy or neglected pool can, indeed, cost you big bucks. But choose a contractor wisely and keep up with maintenance, and you should find that your pool gives you relatively little financial heartache.

What about property values? Well, that answer varies wildly. It’s true enough that it’s a lot easier to put in a pool than to take one out–so, some people reason, selling a house without a pool is easier than selling one with one. And in regions where pool seasons are short, this illiquidity can be worse. Pools can indeed bring down the value of homes in such areas, though the effect is not necessarily going to be drastic. Meanwhile, in very hot areas where pools are ubiquitous, pools can actually raise the value of a property. That’s because buyers in these areas want pools, and don’t want to offer big bucks for a pool-less property that will force them to spend more later to install a pool.

And lawsuits? There are horror stories aplenty about poorly maintained and unprotected pools resulting in injuries and drownings, it’s true. But, Pennsylvania injury lawyers tell us, owners of these pools are sued–and lose–because they did the wrong things. Protect your pool properly with a fence and take other basic precautions, and your risks in this department will be minimal.

Pools aren’t cheap, and they’re not investments in the same way that stocks and bonds are. But they’re also not financially devastating when purchased by those who can afford them. They’re not money-sinks, they won’t render your home unsellable, and they won’t cause a flood of lawsuits. Money is only as good as what you buy with it, so if you ever feel that you can afford your dream pool, don’t let your parent’s naysaying hold you back.

“With so many people saying it couldn’t be done, all it takes is an imagination.” — Michael Phelps