To Pool or Not to Pool

Image by ahmet guler

I just heard a story about a home seller in Central Jersey who, to get his buyers to close on his house, had to remove and fill with cement his gorgeous inground pool to the tune of $20,000.

Quite frankly? I would not have done it.

This may be shocking for an agent to say, and perhaps there were extenuating circumstances I’m unaware of. Like, his home was on the market for a long time and these folks were the only ones who showed interest. Or maybe he considered this possibility when he put the pool in, and had come to terms with it back then. Anyone who installs an inground pool or buys a home with one should know that its existence cuts your buyer group in half. That means half of the buyers who would otherwise be seriously interested in your home are not, just due to the presence of the pool. They might want the yard space for something else, or they might have children or young relatives for whom it would be a danger. Or maybe, they just don’t like pools. For the other half of the buyer group, however, it’s a definite plus.

I can see removing an aboveground pool, it’s a few hundred dollars to do. But an inground pool? What if, goodness forbid, the transaction doesn’t close. This seller has spent a whole lot of money perhaps for no reason, when another buyer may have wanted the pool. I would have advised a seller concession at closing, if anything, so the buyers could remove it themselves after the transaction closed.

If you want a pool, by all means jump in! (No pun intended.) I love them. Just know that, come selling time, it could make things a bit more challenging. Additionally, check with your tax assessor to see about any tax implications of aboveground versus inground, and be sure to get your necessary permits.

Happy Summer!