Do Pools Help or Hurt Resale Value? It Depends

I was reading this article by Freda Savana about pools and I thought it was good enough to share. There is a lot of controversey and questions about pools. Many sellers think they add value to the house. Many buyers are put off by the cost of maintaining them and keeping them in good repair. So what's the deal with pools anyway?

Walter Molony, spokesman for the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, says that pools can be "a double-edged sword" when it comes to a home's resale value. "For people who like them they are a plus, but for families with small children it may discourage them from a purchase," he says.

After reviewing almost 30,000 home sales in Philadelphia from 1996 to 2003, NAR reported in 2004 that property values jump about 8 percent because of in-ground pools and fall by roughly 2 percent because of above-ground pools.

If you have an in-ground pool that has been well-maintained and you live in a nice neighborhood, your pool will likely be an asset. If your pool is above ground, you may want to consider removing it before you decide to sell your house. Otherwise, you may need to take less money for the house.

For more information on maintaining pools, you can visit this site .