What a general inspection typically covers
Usually: the pump runs, the light works, there are no obvious leaks at the pad, and the fence latches. That is a visual pass, not a condition assessment.
It rarely includes a full chemical test, an LSI evaluation, an honest look at plaster condition, or an assessment of equipment age against expected life.
The unknowns that cost real money
Surface condition: etching, roughness, delamination, and hollow spots under tile all point toward a resurface, and a resurface is not a small line item.
Cyanuric acid: a very high reading means the pool needs a drain and refill soon, which carries both water cost and risk to the shell.
Calcium hardness and scale: heavy scale on tile or in a heater means the water has been out of balance for a long time, and it suggests what else was neglected.
Equipment age: pumps, heaters, salt cells, and automation all have finite lives. A pad full of end-of-life equipment is a schedule of future bills.
Signs of water loss: a pool that has been topped off constantly tells a story the seller may not volunteer.
What chemistry reveals about history
Water chemistry is a record of how the pool was treated. Very high CYA means years of tabs and no water replacement. Very low calcium in a plaster pool means the surface has been feeding the water.
You cannot fake a good test on the day of a showing well enough to hide a multi-year pattern.
Where we fit
Our consultation is a free water test and a general overview of the pool, surface, and equipment pad, with plain language about what you're looking at and what it likely costs to live with.
It is not a licensed pool inspection and we do not perform repairs. It is meant to tell a buyer whether to keep asking questions and to give a seller a chance to fix small things before they become negotiating points.
