HOW TO:
People often ask us if a swimming pool will
add value to their property. The short answer is generally no, but there are
some exceptions.
If you have a big family home on a big block
and you expect top dollar when you sell - then the answer to “should we get a
pool?” is probably yes. Families looking for that next level prestige home,
generally want it all - 4+ bedrooms, 2+ bathrooms, 2+car spaces, lawn for the kids
to play and the luxurious swimming pool. The exception to this rule is, if you
have the big family home, but the pool is going to take up your entire backyard
leaving you with no lawn area, then we would NOT recommend putting in a pool.
Even though we all know that kids would rather sit on an iPad or gaming console
than play on the lawn - whenever we try to sell a family home with no backyard,
the feedback is always “love the house, but the kids need a backyard”.
Your average group of buyers is split pretty
much down the middle - half of them really want a pool, the other half don’t
want to have to maintain it.
The other thing you need to consider these
days with getting a pool is that it has to be compliant when it comes time to sell
– this means:
Fencing must be constructed in such a way to
make sure that:
- the fence is an effective
barrier to young children
- it is permanent
- young children can't crawl
under or climb over it by using foot and hand holds
- it is at least 1.2 metres high
- any boundary fences used as part of the child-safety barrier are at least 1.8 metres high on the side that faces the pool, with a 900 millimetres non-climbable zone at the top inside of the fence, a boundary barrier may be climbable on the neighbour's side.
Gates or doors leading to the pool area must:
- swing outward from the pool
area
- be self-closing from any
position
- be fitted with a latching device, out of reach of small children, at least 1.5 metres above ground level.
Putting in a swimming pool is an expensive
exercise, but spending $50,000 on one, won’t necessarily increase the value of
your home by that same amount. As a general rule, putting in a pool is
something you should do just because you want to enjoy it for yourself, not
something you should do to increase the value of your home.
For more tips on adding value to your property:
Ph: (08) 8251 3249
Email: info@spartners.com.au
Or come and see us at:
