Swimming pools are not uncommon in the United States. In fact, 10.4 million American families have a swimming pool in their backyard.
When the heat of the spring and summer months come rolling in, you may be dreaming of adding a swimming pool to your yard so that you can take a dip whenever the weather gets too stifling.
Does this expensive investment really increase home value? Read on to learn all about swimming pools and how they affect the value of your home.
All About Pool Cost
A pool is not an inexpensive feature to add to your house. The cost of adding a pool depends on many factors such as the size of the pool, the materials that the pool will be constructed from, and additional upgrades that you may want to add to make your pool exactly what you want.
A typical 16 X 32 size swimming pool will cost you, at a minimum, 50,000$. That number includes only the pool itself and not necessary extras like decking, lighting, a pool cover, or a pool safety fence.
Swimming pool installation is another factor to think about when looking at adding a pool to your home. It will cost homeowners between 50$ and 125$ to get an inground pool safely installed before it can be ready to use.
When families decide to install a pool, many will choose a swimming pool company to create a custom pool to fit their families’ specific needs. Although custom pools are more expensive, they allow the buyer to create a pool that makes the most sense for the property they are being added to.
When deciding if you want to spend such a large chunk of change on a pool, your house should fit a certain criteria. Does your house sit on a large enough lot to accommodate a pool, have a neighborhood full of pools, and is located in a warm climate? If so, it may be worth it to add one in.
Types of Swimming Pools
There are two major categories when it comes to pool types. There is the more cost-efficient above-ground pool and the much more expensive inground pool.
While above-ground pools are by far the most inexpensive pool choice, they won’t do much to increase the value of your home. Although above-ground pools are easier to install because they don’t need land excavated, your land will still most likely need to be leveled before the pool will be ready for installation.
When talking about increasing home value, the only pool that really matters in the conversation is the inground pool. Although inground pools cost much more than above-ground pools due to their more complicated installation process, they are the more desirable of the two pool choices.
When planning on building your new pool, it is important to make sure that your pool fits with the style of your house. If you build a pool that is too nice, you may not be able to gain a majority of the value of the pool back if you sell your house.
The Neighborhood Matters
When making the decision to add a pool to your home, you may have to look no further than your neighborhood to determine if a pool will add value to your house. If your neighborhood is full of houses sporting a pool in their backyards, adding a pool to your own house may be a worthwhile investment. This is especially true if you live in a higher-end neighborhood.
If all of your neighbors have well-kept, inground pools, having a pool to match may be a major selling point if you decide to put your house on the market. You should make sure that the pool is of a similar style to the ones on your street though, as a pool that is very different may be a turn off for potential buyers.
Does your neighborhood attract families with young children? If so, a pool may not be a good place to spend your money as many families with small children view pools as major safety concerns. On the other hand, communities that are home to older families or couples may see a pool as a huge perk.
Climate Is a Factor Too
You may not have to go further than outside your front door when determining if you should be adding a pool to your property.
If you live in a climate that is hot for many months of the year, a pool may be something you and the future families who live in your house would benefit from. In fact, adding a pool to a house located in hot climates will be a must have feature for many families, especially if the home is a newer, higher-end model.
If your house is in a climate that has a cooler spring, winter, and fall, the cost of adding a pool may not be worth it. If a pool can only be used for a few short months, the cost of maintaining it may exceed the expense of adding one in. Many families who live in cooler places find a pool more of a burden than an asset because of the short amount of time that it can be used for.
How a Pool Can Help to Increase Home Value
If you live in the right area, pools can be a great way to increase home value.
Choosing a reliable company is the first step towards installing the pool of your dreams. If you live in Texas, Sahara Construction and Custom Pools are here to help!
Be sure to contact us about our custom pool options so we can help you build the pool of your dreams!
