Buying a home with a swimming pool in the backyard will certainly score you bragging rights around the neighborhood. However, there's much more to pool ownership than planning deckside parties and kids' playdates. For starters, maintaining a pool is time-consuming and expensive. Plus, there are potential safety hazards to consider.

We did some research and talked with real-estate experts to determine the pros and cons of owning a home with a swimming pool. Be forewarned: The cons outnumber the pros. Here are 10 of the biggest regrets that homeowners with a pool might encounter.

Pool Regret #1: Routine Maintenance Is Costly

Getty Images

Owning a home with a pool in the backyard provides a convenient source of fun for the entire family. However, you'll be on the hook for regular (and expensive) maintenance when the pool is in use. In temperate areas such as Washington, D.C., pool season typically stretches from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but in places like Florida and Arizona pools are used year-round. Experts recommend that a pool be cleaned weekly when in use. "To stay safe, you must control the pH level and add appropriate chemicals to assure that the water is neither too alkaline nor too high in acid,", former president of the Arizona Association of Realtors and a real estate agent with Realty ONE Group, a Lake Havasu City, Ariz.-based realty firm.