Are you thinking about adding a pool to your home in Florida? You may have seen a number of homes for sale in Davenport, FL that have a pool and wonder how much it adds to the value of the home. Is it worth building a pool before you sell your home?
Unfortunately, many people who decide to add a pool to their home don’t fully understand the costs, and the bottom line is that they spend more money than they will actually make. Let’s take a look at what a pool in Florida really costs to install.
You’re Installing More than Just the Pool
First, it’s important to realize that the cost of the pool is only one element in the overall cost, and it’s often not even the most expensive one. It can cost around $30,000 to install a 600 square foot pool, but once you start adding up the costs of landscaping around the pool, putting in a deck or slab around it, adding a fence, putting in lights, and buying other pool-related items, you can easily spend upwards of $100,000!
Pool Maintenance Costs
Then, of course, one of the things you need to know before buying a home with a pool is the cost of maintaining the pool. Even if you plan on selling your home shortly after putting it in, you’re still going to have to pay to fill the pool, put chemicals in it, and buy the filters, pool cover, and other items that any pool needs to have.
The filtration pump is also going to affect your utility costs, though many new pumps are designed to be very energy efficient. If you’re going to heat the pool, you may also have to pay for the fuel for that system as well.
You also need to keep in mind the time you’ll spend performing pool maintenance, even if it’s only for a few months. You will want to keep the pool clean so that it looks great for potential buyers.
The Homebuyer May Have Requests
The homebuyer may ask that you clean and drain/refill the pool. If your pool has a vinyl liner that’s more than a few years old, they may also ask that you replace it. That means you have to drain the pool and put in new coping around the edge. If your concrete or fiberglass pool shows any signs of cracks, those may have to be repaired, too. All of these repairs will add to the overall investment you’ve made.
When Does a Pool Make Sense?
In many cases, if you put in a pool simply to try to raise your list price, you really won’t see a return on your investment. The upfront costs are simply too much.
However, if you live in a neighborhood where your home is one of the few that doesn’t have a pool, it is possible that factor will impact how many offers you get.
This isn’t always the case—you’ll likely always find a few buyers who don’t care about a pool, really don’t want one or who don't think a a pool adds value to a home. However, if your home sits on the market for quite some time while those with pools are quickly selling, not having a pool could be a contributing factor to that.
Overall, though, the only time it really makes sense to go through the expense is when you and your family want a pool. If you don’t have a need for one, don’t do it. Adding a pool simply to hope it increases your sale price is rarely a good move, and it often ends up costing much more.
With a Pool or Without, We Can Help You Sell Your Home
If you’re ready to sell your home, the experts here at Florida Realty Marketplace are ready to help you get the list price you want. Contact us today to discuss your listing.
Posted by Florida Realty Marketplace on
Leave A Comment