Remove Your Pool to Sell Your Home

 If you’re selling your home in this tough real estate market, it’s likely you’re looking for any opportunity to improve your chances of getting an offer. One thing you may not have considered is removing your pool. After all, it adds value to your home, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. There are many situations where your pool may actually be hurting your chances of making a sale.

 Your backyard is small. The general rule of thumb is that your pool should take up 30% or less of the space. If it’s more than that, buyers may be turned off by the fact that they have so little yard space.

 Your pool is in need of repair. Is your pool over 30 years old? Then it needs some work! Often, the cost of repairs is actually more than removal, so it’s in your best interest to do a cost comparison of your options.

 Your pool has no safety gate. For families with kids, this can be a big issue, not to mention it’s a potential liability. Still, investing in the installation of a fence can be costly, so make sure the pool is an asset before you go through with it.

 Your pool is made from a vinyl liner. The average lifespan for a vinyl liner is only 8 to 12 years, so if you’ve been in your home for a while already, it may already have some wear and tear. Also, many people just don’t find these types of pools very attractive.

 You live in a very cold climate. How many months out of the year can you use your pool? Typically buyers feel it isn’t worth the time and effort to maintain the pool year-round if they can only use it for 3 months or less.

 Your pool is the only one in the neighborhood. You may think it sets your house apart from the rest of the market, but that may be a bad thing.  The market for homes with pools is smaller, so buyers who don’t want one have many other options right in your area. 

 You live in an area experiencing a drought. When water is being rationed, people look at the large amount of water and just see dollar signs and hassle.

 The good news is you’re not stuck with your pool. Before you make the decision, I recommend consulting with a real estate professional who can help you determine exactly how much your pool is adding or detracting from the value of your home. Then you’ll be prepared to do the math and see if pool removal is the right option for you.