Do individual features make or break the sale of your home?
Take swimming pools, for example. Buyers shopping for a house in a warm climate may shriek with excitement when they see you have a swimming pool in your backyard. They’ll be able to keep cool on a hot day. However, those looking for a house in a location that boasts chilly winters may think twice before purchasing your poolside abode. Why would they need a pool when it’s 10 below and snowing for three to four months out of the year?
Here are some things you need to consider before adding a swimming pool:
• Location: Think about how the climate is in your area on a month to month basis. Can your pool be used year round? Some locations are quite cold during certain times of the year, forcing residents to utilize a swimming pool for only three to five months.
• Neighbors: Do other homes in your neighborhood have pools? If you’re the only one on the block, you may have an advantage.
• Zoning: Are you allowed to add a swimming pool? If you live in a gated community, you might not be able to buy one, if you’re already paying dues to use a community pool. Check your village hall or home owner’s association.
• Cost: How much are you willing to spend? Inground pools are pricey, but they are more aesthetically pleasing than aboveground pools. Pool lining also varies, with fiberglass, cement and vinyl options ranging from high to low in price. You need to choose the type of pool based on the amount of money you will be able to make back once you sell your home.
• Maintenance: Auto-cleaning pools are more desirable to a potential buyer. Sometimes, when buyers see a pool, the first thing they think about is all the work they will have to do to maintain it. The less work they have to do, the more they will be into the idea of owning a home with a pool.