A pool is a significant part of the home, and it can either make or break a deal. If the pool is more of a liability than an asset for the future homeowner, then you will likely have a hard time selling the property–even if the house itself is top-notch. But if you turn the pool into a highlight, it can significantly increase your home’s dollar value and attract the best buyers at the same time.
Before you put your house up for sale, here are the best ways to spruce up your inground pool:
1. Address damage issues
Over time, your pool might have sustained damage in the form of cracks or peeling. If a pool professional confirms that these are just aesthetic issues, fixing them is easy and inexpensive. However, if the damage poses an issue to the pool’s safety and integrity, ensure they are addressed before selling the house.
2. Pay attention to landscaping
Having a high-quality pool won’t do much for your property’s appeal if the surroundings are not inviting. That said, hire a landscape artist to improve the surrounding area. While the house is up for sale, continue maintaining the landscape to impress potential buyers when they tour your home.
3. Stage the pool area
Potential buyers want to imagine themselves living on the property, which is why staging the pool is crucial. Buy or rent attractive outdoor furniture to place near the pool and create an area where the family can hang out. It’s also a good idea to add shaded areas with a pergola or free-standing umbrella for additional style and comfort appeal.
4. Up your pool maintenance
Before you put your house on the market, take the time to upgrade your pool maintenance. Buyers want to see a well-maintained, crystal-clear pool. And if you’ve been falling behind on pool maintenance, now is the time to catch up lest you want your buyers to see a dirty, discolored pool.
Clean the pool regularly, ensure that the water pH is balanced, check if the pool equipment is up to speed, and remove any stains or spots in the interior. It’s also a good idea to cover your pool whenever you’re not using it to avoid creating more maintenance work that you have to do.
5. Upgrade your safety features
If your pool is a little outdated, it might not have the safety features that modern pools have. Unfortunately, the lack of safety features can be an issue for potential buyers, especially if they have young children.
That said, you might want to upgrade your pool’s safety by investing in modern safety features, such as an extended shallow area, pool alarms, motion detectors, a safety fence, pool covers, and more.
When the pool is ready to be shown to potential buyers, it’s best if you list your house during the spring and summer months. To attract the best buyers and make the pool a more enticing selling point, you would want to sell when people want to use a pool.
