Buying a Home With a Pool in Covington: What to Check Before Closing

Written by Big Easy Pool Designs

What Should You Check When Buying a Home With a Pool in Covington?

Quick Answer: When you’re buying a home with a pool in Covington, look at four things before closing: what the seller disclosed, what your inspector actually examined, the condition of the pool’s major systems, and the flood zone for the address. A pool can be a real asset on the Northshore, where the swim season runs long. It can also come with a repair list, and it’s better to see that list while you can still ask questions.

This is general information for buyers, not legal or insurance advice. For contract questions, talk with your agent or a Louisiana attorney.

What Does the Seller Have to Disclose About the Pool?

In most resales, Louisiana law requires the seller to complete a property disclosure document. Some transfers are exempt, such as foreclosure sales and sales of newly built homes that were never occupied, so ask your real estate agent or attorney whether your sale is exempt. The Louisiana Real Estate Commission publishes the standard form.

The current form, effective January 1, 2026, includes several questions that matter to a pool buyer:

• A defects checklist that includes the pool and spa, with decks listed as a separate item.
• Whether additions or alterations were made during the seller’s ownership, and whether the necessary permits and inspections were obtained.
• The property’s flood zone classification and the source of that information.
• Whether the property is subject to building restrictions or restrictive covenants, and whether HOA membership is required.

Keep the limits in mind. The form covers what the seller actually knows, and the form itself says it isn’t a substitute for inspections.

Is the Pool Part of Your Home Inspection?

Don’t assume it is. Inspection scopes vary, so ask your inspector before you book whether the pool and its equipment are part of the inspection, and how far that review goes. If the answer is limited, arrange a separate look at the pool during the time your contract allows for inspections.

If the seller has used a pool service company, ask for its contact information. A company that has visited regularly often knows the pool’s history better than anyone, including which repairs were made and which ones were put off.

Either way, walk the pool yourself with the checklist below. Your notes will make any inspector’s report easier to read.

What Should a Pool Walkthrough Cover?

Shell and Surface

Look for cracks and rough or stained plaster, especially along the tile line. Surface wear is normal on an older pool, but it tells you when the next resurface is coming. Our breakdown of what drives pool renovation cost explains how those repairs are priced.

Water Level and Leaks

Ask whether the seller tops off the pool often and whether an automatic fill valve is installed, since that can hide a leak. Our guide to telling a leak from evaporation covers the signs.

Equipment Age

Ask how old the major equipment is, and listen for loud motors or look for drips at the pad. Federal rules now require pool pump motors from 1.15 to 5 total horsepower, manufactured starting September 29, 2025, to be variable speed, which affects replacement budgets. Our guide to replacing an aging pool pump and filter explains the details.

Deck and Coping

Walk the deck looking for raised edges or gaps at the coping. After a rain, note any spots where water stands. Our post on cracked or sinking pool decks explains how to tell cosmetic cracks from base problems.

Barrier and Gates

Open every gate and let it go. It should close and latch on its own. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s guidelines recommend a barrier at least 48 inches high, and doors from the house into the pool area deserve a check too. Our post on pool permits and barrier rules walks through what to look for.

What Makes a Covington Purchase Different?

A few local checks belong on a Covington buyer’s list, and each one points to a different office or record.

The permit office for the address. Covington sits in St. Tammany Parish, but properties inside city limits and in unincorporated areas can fall under different offices. In unincorporated St. Tammany Parish, the parish inspects pools to the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and its standards call for a permanent fence or wall at least 4 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates. If the home is inside Covington city limits, check pool rules and permit history with the City of Covington instead.

The flood map. FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center lets you type in an address and view its flood map. The disclosure form notes that if a property is in a special flood hazard area, federal law requires buyers to be told that flood insurance may be required as a condition of financing. Ask your insurance agent how the pool and the flood zone affect coverage before you close.

The neighborhood rules. If the home is in a subdivision, recorded covenants may limit future pool changes. The disclosure form notes that covenants and building restrictions are public record at the parish Clerk of Court. Our post on getting HOA approval for a pool project explains how that review works.

How Should You Budget for the Pool After Closing?

Ask the seller for any records of past resurfacing or equipment work, and note the dates. Those records, plus what you saw on the walkthrough, tell you which systems are near the end of their life. An honest renovation scope after an inspection is the best way to turn that into a real number, and pool renovation in Covington starts with exactly that.

If the pool works but looks dated, cosmetic updates are a different, usually smaller project. Our pool remodeling page for Covington covers what a remodel can change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the pool is green when I tour the house?

Green water hides the surface and the floor, so you can’t judge the shell. Ask whether the water can be cleared before the inspection.

Does the seller have to repair the pool?

That depends on your contract and negotiations, which are questions for your real estate agent or attorney.

Should I ask for the pool’s permit history?

It’s reasonable to ask. The disclosure form asks whether permits were obtained for additions and alterations, and the permit office for the address can tell you what records it keeps.

Will the pool affect my homeowners insurance?

It can. Policies differ, so ask your insurance agent before closing.

Know What You’re Buying

If you’d like a clear picture of the pool’s condition, we’ll inspect it and put the findings and any renovation scope in writing. The inspection and consultation are free.

Big Easy Pool Designs serves Covington and the Northshore. Request an inspection or call (504) 688-4066.