Should You Buy a House with a Pool or Build One?

Pools have been a popular staple for many homes for over fifty years, with homeowners eager to have a space where they can swim and enjoy time outside without having to share the water with strangers. This push has become even stronger since 2020 when many people realized they don’t like sharing such public areas and want a space for themselves.

If you’re house hunting, and you’re not sure whether to buy a house that already has a pool or buy where you can build, consider each of these options!

Consider All of the Work That Comes With a Pool

Before you start looking at properties with pools or considering building one, think about all of the work that comes with having one of these awesome water features. Not only do you need deck railing that’s up to code, but most states require a fence around them, and all pools require weekly or monthly work to ensure that they’re in great working order. 

Pools are a lot of work to do on your own, taking up hours of your weekends, and making it so that many homeowners end up resenting that they have a pool.  Instead of taking on this work by yourself, consider hiring a pool maintenance company that understands your needs so that the only time you have to spend in your pool is enjoying it. Pool Scouts will gladly take on the hassle of pool maintenance for you. Pool Scouts specializes in providing professional pool care to give you back that free time to enjoy your pool. 

Look At The Price Differences In Your Area

Price differences matter because they’ll tell you whether this is valuable enough to do or not. First, look at the cost of a home with a pool, and then look at a home that’s the same but doesn’t have a pool, and look at the cost difference. If the cost difference is extremely small, this means you could be paying far more to put a pool in than you need. Building a pool isn’t just the pool itself; it’s putting in a wood pool deck, tiling the area, and ensuring your lawn is level enough to handle it. 

Consider If There’s a Property You’ve Fallen For

If there’s a property you’ve fallen for, and it doesn’t already have a pool: think about how you can make a pool work on it. It might be worth it to splurge for a pool, and everything that comes with it, like landscape drainage, to be able to have everything else you want in a property.

Every property has its own quirks and pros and cons: and if the only thing you like about it is the pool, it’s not worth the cost. Instead, seek out a property you’re in love with and check to see if the backyard is capable of housing a pool or if it has a pool already installed.

The ROI of a Pool is Only 15 to 25%

Although it might feel exciting to put in a pool: the return on investment for these comes out to less than a third of what you paid for it. This means that if you’re planning on selling your property any time within the next ten to fifteen years, it’s not going to be worth it if you’re hoping that a pool will add value to your property. 

Of course, this is still growth, and in some areas like high-end neighborhoods, the return on investment is higher: but if you put in a pool in a place where there are no pools in the neighboring yards, you could be wasting money.

Consider How You’ll Pay for the Pool.

Payment is important to consider. Some pool companies will work with you on a payment plan, but generally, you’ll have to pay upfront for a pool. This means having $28,000 to $55,000 available for it. This is a huge expense that most people don’t want to consider. 

On the other hand, if you buy a property that already has a pool, you won’t have to worry about getting one. Instead, the cost of the pool is automatically part of your mortgage, which is best for people who already have tight finances and don’t want to pay the extra money. 

Put Everything Together

When you’re ready, take a step back and consider the better option for you. For example, do you want to risk losing your investment just to build a pool onto a home you’re in love with, or would you rather buy a property you care less about and have a pool that you may have to repaint, reseal, or replace the tiles on? Although there are some things you’ll have to consider either way, like heavy-duty deck stains to ensure it looks great: there are major differences between the two. 

You Deserve the Home of Your Dreams

Whether you’ve always loved Victorian homes and haven’t found one with a pool you like, or your funds are tight, and you don’t want to wait to build a pool: you deserve a property that makes you happy. Consider each of the above options, and whether buying a home with a pool or building one, remember that a key component is to have a service plan in place, which Pool Scouts is happy to help you with!

Andrea Erickson is a contributor to Innovative Building Materials. She is a blogger and content writer for the real estate industry. Andrea is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that increase property value, maximize energy savings, and turn houses into homes.