- Couple renovates dilapidated indoor pool in Tennessee home, turning it into a functional and enjoyable space despite initial reluctance
- Decision to move to Tennessee from Florida based on desire for land and lower cost of living, attracted by lack of state income tax and fewer restrictions
- Renovation more challenging than expected, facing issues such as fire, dry rot, and difficulties finding resources in rural location; Despite the challenges, the couple ultimately finds satisfaction and unique experiences in their renovated pool.
Additional Coverage:
- We bought a house with an indoor pool. We thought it would be awesome but $30,000 later we wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. (businessinsider.com)
In 2020, Kaitlin and Josh Chmil purchased a home in Tennessee that came with a dilapidated indoor pool. Despite not initially desiring a pool, the couple saw it as an opportunity to create a usable space. They invested thousands of dollars and countless hours into renovating the pool to make it functional. While they now enjoy swimming and lounging in the pool, especially during the winter, they admit that they wouldn’t take on a similar renovation project again.
Kaitlin explains that they decided to move to Tennessee from St. Petersburg, Florida, because they wanted land and a lower cost of living. Tennessee’s lack of state income tax and fewer restrictions were appealing to them. They had never visited Tennessee before and Josh saw the house for the first time during the inspection, while Kaitlin didn’t see it until they moved in.
The couple had no interest in having an indoor pool initially. However, when purchasing the house, the pool caused complications because it wasn’t appraised and there were no comparables in the area. Renovating the pool turned out to be more challenging than they expected. The pool pump caught fire on the second day, and they discovered numerous other issues such as dry rot and damaged equipment, requiring them to replace things.
During the first year, they were only able to use the pool for about a month or two, which made them question if they had made a mistake. They struggled to find resources and professionals to help with the renovation due to their rural location and the pool not being used commercially. Josh admits that there were months when they made no progress because they didn’t know the best course of action.
In terms of cost, the pool requires around $150 per month to run and they estimate they’ve spent around $30,000 on renovations, with most of the labor done by themselves. What they initially thought would take a year has now been ongoing for three years.
Despite their satisfaction with the pool now, Kaitlin and Josh say they wouldn’t undertake a similar project again. They have grown tired of the continuous cycle of buying, renovating, and selling, and now want to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They have learned a lot from the experience but don’t necessarily want to use those skills again. Kaitlin describes a happy moment she had floating in the pool, reading a book, and looking at the snow, realizing that she had achieved the exact vision she had for the space.
The pool has provided health benefits as well, as they can swim laps in the evening. They even set up a projector to watch movies in the pool room. Kaitlin recalls a memorable experience of watching movies and enjoying drinks in the pool room with her best friend and her husband during Christmas.
Ultimately, while the renovation was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the Chmils acknowledge that it was worth it because it added something unique to their lives. They feel fortunate to have been able to provide that experience to themselves, their daughters, and their family.