Cretan-homes, Crete property estate agents

When in conversation with Living in Crete wannabes, how often I hear the throw away comment: "Of course, my dream home in Crete has to have a swimming pool!". If you fall in this category, does your intention meet your budget?  In reality, it may just be the wrong decision to take.  
So if you are determined to have a swimming pool in your Crete residence, I have a simple check list of five key questions you should ask yourself, before making the final decision: 

1. How often will I really use the pool at my Crete residence?

2. Can I afford the cost to build a decent sized swimming pool or would the cost be better spent on other home benefits such as a sauna and jacuzzi instead, or an extra bedroom or a study room?

3. Once built, can I afford the running cost, if I am on fixed income?

4. Have I considered the annual tax implications?

5. Is the added value of any sized swimming pool significant, if the home is put up for sale in the future?

It seems that rarely do intending purchasers of property in Crete or Greece make a calculation of the real costs of a swimming pool, not just the building cost, but the potential ongoing monthly maintenance costs versus the amount of usage.

In summary, Gerald recommends any intending house buyer compile a list of pros and cons to review the real benefit of a swimming pool for your future home in Crete in the cold light of financial reality. If you are a keep-fit fanatic and have children that is one thing, but if you are retiring on a pension, living on a limited income, that may be something else. In which case, perhaps a landscaped garden, would be more appropriate in which to take afternoon tea, read a good book and let your pets enjoy also?  

Gerald is web master at the BritsinCrete informational website for British and Irish expats on the reality of Living in Crete that includes a detailed section on HYPERLINK swimming pools, with useful input from members of the Brits in Crete Forum.