1,052,211
Swimming pools largely do not pencil. They're an expensive OPTION. Pricey to build, PITA to maintain, pose safety hazards--and the romance wears off quickly. And this is from someone that spent 3 decades in Southern California (always w pool) and lives in the hottest place on the map! We get very few that insist on a pool. More people would rather not have one--or want a community pool maintained by someone else.
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Debbie Gartner
White Plains, NY
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Sam Shueh
San Jose, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
758,035
Up here in CT you are lucky to get 3 months of use so they are a luxury to have. They're expensive to keep up because things break on them, you have to open & close them for the season & they require regular maintenance by a professional or the owner so it costs time & money. For others, it can be a safety hazard if you have small children around, even with a fence around it. I've seen owners spend upwards of $100K on their pools & still be underwater (no pun intended) on their house when they go to sell.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Olga Simoncelli
New Fairfield, CT
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Anthony Acosta - ALLAT...
Atlanta, GA
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Sam Shueh
San Jose, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
2,684,009
I caution people that they will be lucky to get half of what they paid for a swimming pool. See an Appraiser for a detailed explanation as to why.
It's also an expensive maintenance item, plus the insurance premium (especially if you have a deep pool, a diving board, or a slide).
But if you are south of Interstate 4, you should have a pool. They are expected.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Tony and Suzanne Marri...
Scottsdale, AZ
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Sam Shueh
San Jose, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Ingrid Pierson
Auburn, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
1,239,901
High cost of maintenance and water evaporation cost. Water supply is restricted here. Most people filled the pool. For severalyears, one can build a pool but can not fill water as it is of restricted matter.
People go to public or hoa pool but do not want to touch a house with a mosquito or algie filled water......
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
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Sam Shueh
San Jose, CA
805,899
They are expensive to maintain, extra work on keeping them up. There is only about 10-20% of buyers that want them here.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Anthony Acosta - ALLAT...
Atlanta, GA
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Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
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Sam Shueh
San Jose, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
2,220,323
It depends on the geographical area.
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Anthony Acosta - ALLAT...
Atlanta, GA
2,178,603
Most improvements don't recoup their actual COST. Value is in the eyes of the beholder. Do not confuse the definitions of "value" and "cost".
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Anthony Acosta - ALLAT...
Atlanta, GA
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Sam Shueh
San Jose, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
911,338
Seems like appraisers usually value them less than 50% of what they cost, and that's if you're lucky. Many people these days don't want the maintenance or liabilty. I remember one seller filling his in with dirt and converted it to a garden.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
6,393,404
A matter of priorities, for those who build them they are the top priority, for those who buy a house the house may be a much higher priority and the pool is just a lesser desired attachment.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Anthony Acosta - ALLAT...
Atlanta, GA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Ingrid Pierson
Auburn, CA
3,345,091
Many buyers do not want a pool ... they don't want the maintenance and prefer the dirt so they can garden or use the area for other things ... you won't get any value from an appraiser for solar panels either ... even though a homeowner might spend $25,000 to buy and install.
People who pay to have a pool built do it for personal use ... not to get an expected return on their investment.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Greg Large
Grove City, OH
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
1,844,291
Depends on what area you are in. In the south, near FL you better have one & that's that. Put that same pool in IL where I am & you've just lost your entire investment because everyone is afraid the kids are going to drown. Better have them in NV, CA, AZ too.
I remember my uncle saying when I sold his house with a pool - I don't even want another house with an oversize bathrub - no jacuzzi - nothing that holds water.
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Sam Shueh
San Jose, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
5,104,931
In places like Charlotte it's not a must-have... we are not a year round swimming community. The hassle of maintaining and insuring puts off a lot of people. Then again, virtually no upgrades to a home recoup their entire value.
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Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
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Anthony Acosta - ALLAT...
Atlanta, GA
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
7,836,134
In our market, few buyers want a swimming pool.
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Anthony Acosta - ALLAT...
Atlanta, GA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
3,071,489
Fred Griffin nailed this one!
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
5,230,068
Oh, now that is funny about the Astros, Paul! LOL
Charlotte has 4 true seasons so, we don't have nearly as many pools as you do, nor as much of the year that one can be comfortably used. Not all buyers want them so, sometimes they are a hindrance - a negative to many. I love pools but, have never made my money back when installing one!
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Anthony Acosta - ALLAT...
Atlanta, GA
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Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
679,404
Not everyone wants to or knows how to maintain the pool and so the value is not there for every single buyer.
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Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
3,383,334
Just like any improvement that is left behind, there is a premium on doing it that is never recovered dollar for dollar.
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Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
2,436,099
In my area, many buyers emphatically state, "Do NOT show me a house with a pool!" They don't want the maintenance costs or the potential liability. And there are only about four or so months that they can be used anyway.
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Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
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Sam Shueh
San Jose, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
230,954
Annette's assessment is absolutely correct. In my market area Placer/Sacramento Counties of California, pools correctly displayed become an asset feature.
Do Sellers see 100% return on investment? No, in our area typical appraisal adjustments range from 5,000 to 50,000 depending upon the type of pool and outdoor entertainment features that comprise the atmosphere creation so well stated by Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
A "here's the pool" in a average neighborhood yields the 5k the social setting with outdoor kitchen, eating area and entertainment patio and spa in an upscale neighborhood yields the 50k and is expected.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Annette Lawrence , Pal...
Palm Harbor, FL
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
427,257
IMO, the liability of a pool is the largest deterrent to those uninitiated with pools. Having had a pool in the past, the maintenance and upkeep of a pool is the biggest PITA ( Candice A. Donofrio's words, not mine but I don't deny them). I now have a membership to a swim club...best money ever spent, even if I do not use it one time a year.
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Anthony Acosta - ALLAT...
Atlanta, GA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
5,583,278
ditto to Candice A. Donofrio 's thoughts..... and our season in New England is VERY SHORT!!! many will pass on buying the "right house" because it has a pool!!!!
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
1,712,676
Worst depreciation nof any additions.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
1,209,215
In Indiana we have 3-4 months of pool weather. They do not retain their value here.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
921,504
I would challenge the assertion swimming pools do not recoup their value. I do affirm that Atmosphere is more important than utility. Don't try to sell a pool.
Outdoor living space, kitchens, fire features, entertainment, pool, spa DO bring value...even more value when they can be used more that 2 months a year.
I find citizens in the buying from of mind respond positively to Atmosphere. Outdoor entertainment areas brings more value than 'and here's the pool."
The creation of atmosphere determines whether the buyer sees building and nurturing their society or more work.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Ingrid Pierson
Auburn, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
1,598,452
I hope you got the right answer from all of them. Good luck.
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Valeria Mola
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
2,071,025
Good question and great answers. I hope it helps you.
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Valeria Mola
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
2,241,053
Oh I don't know ... maybe because it's easier to water ski on a lake? In rural Maine, there is nothing like being on a lake, listening to loons, watching the sunrises, sunsets with wildlife rolling by! Hard to ice fish in a pool too.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
953,617
It's not an investment, it's a lifestyle expense. IMO
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
1,311,397
Pools are the subject of love/hate relationships. I really wanted one when I was young (pre-teen). Now I would not want one. In the area of the San Francisco Bay where I live, the afternoon wind means it is less than optimal pool use time.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
1,622,432
Homes with pools sell much faster than without and even you can not guarantee that a house with pool will cost 10-20k more, they do sell for a higher price( depends on the condition).
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
5,772,575
Paul,
In some parts of the country they have value, in others they do not. Our poo; in SoCal did add value to the home. Here in Santa Barbara, it does not. A
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
1,292,741
We recently had a question on the office how much to add for a pool when pricing a home. Value assigned by nearly all agents was $0. Having a pool reduces the number of people interested as some buyers definitely don't want one.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
1,502,998
LOL! The Astros are definitely the cause!
Pools don't recoup their value, maintenance is a pain. Although in tracts where 99% of homes have a pool, it can be hard to sell being the 1% without one.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Ingrid Pierson
Auburn, CA
914,695
One loses about half their buyers, unless of course, the pool is almost an absolute necessity such as in areas of California like Palm Springs or Beverly Hills.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
3,416,038
Here in NH a pool adds more value to those who want a pool. It can ditract from a home if the buyers dont want it and will remove it
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
4,319,419
Paul Cannon - not everyone is a fan of swimming pool.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
4,434,127
4,272,548
In Washington state you'll be luckt to get half the price because of our weather
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
417,221
My last house had a pool. The first year of ownership the children invited friends over to swim, next year no so much, the third year the only person to go in the pool was me with a pumice stone or getting patio umbrella after a storm. Daily scooping the leaves, checking on why pool man didn't show, worry about nephews over during family parties who were toddlers, and extra utility bills tarnished the glory of a pool, fast.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
2,781,173
Good question Paul...lets get some answers
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
4,882,355
To some they are a liability and not an asset.
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
1,466,207
Paul Cannon Pools severely limit the buying pool and can become a liability. I don't believe any investment will allow an owner to recoup 100% of the cost.
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
5,216,398
In Florida most home had one and those that did not remained on the market much longer. That said, they can be a pain with maintenance and the luster wears off quickly as the kids grow!
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
5,868,544
They are a huge detriment here in Denver, can only use it about 5-7 weeks a year.
3,164,294
4,800,082
It's pretty much like any other improvements. Rarely do they add the full value of their cost to the home.
3,986,258
I think it may have to do with design for one. Some costs are way overbaord.
3,988,007
In my area they might bring an extra 25% of the cost to install to the appraisal. They are only usable 25% of the year too.
86,514
I always ask a pool owner what they paid for the installation. I then ask them when was the pool installed. If they reply 10 years ago and it cost $75,000 (I'm in California mind you!) I divide the $75,000 by 10 and state you've provided your family with an exclusive pool club which cost $7500 per year. Once you explain the initial trepidation most buyers have to a pool they get it. However, certain price points SHOULD have a pool. An infinity in the $1,500,000+ range is an amentity most wish for.