Owning a Pool or Investing in One: How it Can Make a Splash in the Purchase of Sale of a Home

With summer finally here, new house hunters are looking at their future residence as a place to host friends and family for outdoor barbecues, parties, gardening and playing catch in the backyard.

Now more than ever, the sale or purchase of a home puts added focus on its outdoor amenities. Is the landscaping being kept up? Is there a nice sitting area in the yard? And – does it have one of the key features buyers are looking for – an outdoor pool? A nice pool and patio space can provide a great way for a family to cool off, relax, read a book and spend time enjoying the warm summer weather.

Owning a pool in New England, where it can only be operational for a limited number of months, can sometimes be looked at as a waste of money. However, those homes that do have a nice pool set-up stand out that much more, and become summertime hot spots!

How do pools fit in to the buying and selling process? There are many factors to consider if you’re thinking of putting one in before you sell, after you buy, or know you’ll need to maintain one if it’s already in the ground:

The Price of a Pool -- the cost of new pool installation ranges from $30,000 to upwards of $100,000, and even as high as $250,000 with a full patio and spa area.

The Payback -- adding a luxury pool and patio area to your home can feel pricey, but it needs to be viewed as an investment. Despite the short season in the northeast for outside entertaining, the trend for luxury homes is having the ability to build a pool on your property. Outside recreation, such as built-in barbecues, covered porches and pool houses with flat screen TVs are desired. If you live in a higher-end neighborhood and most of your neighbors have pools, a pool will likely add to the value of your home.

The Vacation Factor -- adding a pool, patio and spa to your home is the perfect way to make your home the go-to summer hot spot for friends and family, and give off that country club feel year-round. Having a pool can also provide a super “stay-cation” spot for your entire family, encouraging them to spend more time at home relaxing and having fun.

Understanding that a pool is an investment, not only in the property’s value, but in the recreational value for your family, is something to consider when looking to buy a house with a pool. Knowing what a pool costs to install and maintain after the fact is an important factor in your decision. Speaking with a well-informed real estate agent can help you decide if having a pool is right for you, your family and your budget.