In the heat of summer, homeowners who do not own a pool may find themselves wishing they had one.
Clients often ask Joan Herlong of Herlong Sotheby’s International Realty whether adding a pool adds value.
“Prepandemic, I would advise homeowners to add a pool for their own enjoyment, not as a value-add,” Herlong says. “Because sometimes, a pool might actually drive a home’s value down.”
Post-pandemic, however, pools have become more than just pools. They’re seen as a safe way for families to entertain and enjoy the outdoors.
During the pandemic, Herlong says, a friend with a heated pool was approached by other friends who offered to pay the heating costs if it meant their kids and friends could use it.
Today, many buyers expect high end homes to have a pool, even if the topography doesn’t readily lend itself to it. The demand for pools skyrocketed during the pandemic, and that hasn’t come down.
But not all pools are the same, she warns.
“If you’re putting in an above-ground pool that is made of vinyl, it’s probably not the right move,” she says.
Instead, buyers should invest in gunite (a durable mix of cement and sand) pools over concrete or above-ground installations with vinyl linings.
“If the quality of the pool doesn’t match the overall quality of the house, you could be making a poor investment,” she says. “It’s like pairing flip-flops with a tuxedo — it just doesn’t work.”
