BEFORE selling a home, some people question the value of a swimming pool.
They might have an old pool which will cost too much to repair, so they consider filling it in with dirt and some newly-acquired kikuyu grass.
They might look at the backyard and feel a pool will add so much more to the price of their home.
A couple of property agents have said there are pros and cons, but when everything was added up, a pool was rarely going to be the main attraction.
Local Property Team principal Peter Mitchell said it was pointless putting in a pool just for the sake of a sale.
That would create unwanted headaches, potential stumbling blocks, and would rarely provide a positive return on investment, he said.
“Just leave it,” he said. “If there’s a pool, that’s great. If there isn’t one, don’t look to build one.”
Mr Mitchell said people would see the potential of a house, and would determine what best suited their needs.
Belle Property’s Mandeep Singh said it was a matter of personal choice – some buyers would be looking for a pool, others would prefer to avoid the expense and hassle that comes with ongoing maintenance and care.
“If they’re buying a property, quite a few families will love it,” he said.
“Investors on the other hand will run away from a property with a pool because of the cost.”
He said if people had a pool, they should keep it as an asset.
If buyers were emotionally attached to the idea of a pool, he said that could add to the value of a home. But it really depended on the condition of the pool.
People with young children would likely be attracted to a pool. An older couple probably wouldn’t care quite so much.
“They are an attraction to the right people, but they are a detraction to an investor,” he said.
“The best advice, particularly in the current market, is to prepare the home with what it’s got and make it look as good as you can.”
