When you’re selling your home, you have so many things to do to ensure your home is ready to show, especially as you’re trying to get the most money for your home. While you may have already hired someone to clean your house from top to bottom and made the necessary fixes, did you consider your pool? You may need to make a pool repair or two to maximize how much you get for your home. In this piece, we look at the five primary signs your pool needs repair. So if you’re selling, you’ll want to make sure none of these are true about yours.
General Information About How Much You’ll Get for Your Pool
On average, the return on investment of a pool ranges from 5 to 56 percent of what you paid for it. You’re probably wondering why there’s such a large range in how much you can get back. Well, it’s not straightforward how much you get back because so many factors can affect it.
For one, the type of pool and size matter. In-ground pools increase the value of a home more than above-ground pools since they’re a permanent fixture. And you’ll get more from a pool made from concrete as opposed to fiberglass or vinyl because it’s known to last much longer.
Larger pools tend to be worth more, and ones with certain shapes are also more appealing.
Related: Swimming Pool Maintenance Tips to Keep It Sparkling This Summer
The age of your pool also matters because newer pools are perceived to last for longer, so a prospective homebuyer is willing to spend a little more than if the pool were older. Even your location plays a role. For instance, a pool in a place like Los Angeles County, CA, is more appealing because it’s useful for more time out of the year than in Pennsylvania, for example, where it may only be in use for three or four months out of the year.
Another factor affecting your pool’s value is its special features. A heated pool, for instance, has a higher value than one that isn’t heated. Having a hot tub in your pool also raises its value. It’s a feature that not all pools have, making it stand out.
While a few other factors affect the value, one of the main ones is the condition of your private oasis. When you don’t properly maintain your pool and don’t make necessary repairs, any potential buyers will want to pay you less for your pool because they’ll need to fix it.
5 Signs Your Pool Needs Repair
Before you list your home, examine your pool. You’ll attract more buyers and potentially get more money for your home when you sell it. So it’s smart to identify and address any of these five signs your pool needs repair.
1. Missing or Loose Tiles
First on our list of five signs your pool needs repair is the tile. Your pool’s tile has a great deal to do with its aesthetics, so when you have damaged, loose, or missing tiles, it takes away from the appearance of the pool, no matter how nice it is. Those tiles also create the impression that your pool hasn’t been properly maintained throughout the years. Plus, they could indicate an underlying problem.
2. Worn or Discolored Surface
When you look at the surface of your pool, check the color, texture, and condition. Look for discoloration, peeling plaster, rough spots, and cracks. All of these make your pool look old and worn. Potential homebuyers are not only turned off by the appearance, but they may also look at the pool as a money pit—something they’ll need to invest in to make it presentable and prevent major issues. Resurfacing can correct these problems, though.
3. Outdated or Broken Equipment
If your heater, filter, or pump isn’t working properly, it’s a red flag for homebuyers. They automatically assume you haven’t been keeping up with the pool very well. That leads them to wonder what else is wrong with it or will go wrong in the near future.
Ideally, you want to replace or upgrade your equipment. Not only will the pool draw more attention from those you show your home to, but in the end, it’ll save them money with more energy efficiency and less cost to repair or replace components.
4. Broken or Missing Safety Features
California rules for pool owners are pretty stringent compared to those in other states. You need at least two approved safety features to keep people out when the pool isn’t in use, such as a fence or a safety cover. If you haven’t installed the necessary safety features yet or they’re broken in any way, it’s time to install or repair them. Buyers want to know that their family is safe and they won’t have legal issues or face a lawsuit in the future.
5. Damaged Pool Deck
The deck of the pool is the entryway to the water and gives your pool and landscape a distinctive look. If you have cracks or other damage to the deck, it detracts from its appeal. Not to mention, it can also be a safety concern. Overall, someone looking at your home will not only not like how the deck looks but may also feel it’ll be costly to repair. They may also question if there’s anything else wrong below the surface of the pool.
If your pool needs repair, schedule a professional to correct all problems. Then your pool will look great, it’ll be safe, and your home’s appeal will increase to potential buyers. Certain improvements are the ones that are most noticeable when someone is looking at the pool when you’re buying it. In some cases, if you don’t make the repairs, you might have many people looking at your home but passing it by or offering you less than it is worth.
