The Economics of Adding a Pool to Your mcm Home
A pool can add value to your mid century modern home. But how much?
Does having a pool add to the value of your mid century home?
For all the homeowners who can’t imagine not having a pool there are just as many who don’t want one.
Maintenance costs, safety concerns for small children and environmental concerns are often the reasons given by the group who do not want a pool.
The hot Sacramento summers, the fun factor for children (and adults) and the aesthetic appeal of a pool are reasons cited for those already in their pool sipping a margarita in a nonbreakable glass.
Should You Add a Pool to Your mcm Home?
Streng home owners Katherine Roberts and Stacey Halper purchased their home in the Shelfield Oaks neighborhood in 2018. Having a pool was a requirement for them so even though the home didn't have a pool, it did have a backyard large enough to accommodate one.
Said Roberts, “We wanted a pool as a reprieve from the heat. Coming from Arizona, we knew that just the idea that you could jump into the pool to cool off goes a long way. But also the aesthetics with the modern design of the yard and the ambiance in the evening with the pool lights on. It’s also a great thing to have when entertaining during the warmer months.”
According to Roberts, the addition of the pool took about four months with a cost of $50,000 (in 2018).
Save Dollars with a Plunge Pool
A stock tank plunge pool complete with pump, filter and heater is a cost effective way to take a dip in the winter or summer.
The Streng home we purchased also did not have a pool but the yard wasn’t big enough to accommodate one. We opted for a plunge pool, also known as a cocktail pool. These pools are round stock tanks and typically come in sizes ranging from six to ten feet in diameter and are two feet deep. We added an electric heater so our pool functions as a pool in the summer and a hot tub in the winter. It is the perfect size for our lifestyle. You can read more about our backyard project.
What is the economic value of having a pool?
According to Ryan Lundquist, a Sacramento-based appraiser, “10.5% of all sales this year under $500K in the Sacramento region sold with a pool, whereas a whopping 77.6% of sales above $1.5M had a pool. It’s a marathon asset that’s going to give value over time to a household. It’s not necessarily something that’s going to pay for itself easily in a short period of time.
My observation is since the pandemic people have been willing to pay more for built-in pools than prior years. I think lots of folks discovered the value of a pool when they were stuck at home,” said Lundquist.
So, having a pool does add value but you might not get a dollar for dollar payback when you sell. However, you do get to enjoy the pool for the years you live in the house.
Now go pour yourself a drink and enjoy your pool.
A pool can really make a back yard, especially with those hot Sacramento summers.
Bonus Tips
Research Your Options
Here are some tips from homeowner Katherine Roberts if you decide to have a traditional pool installed:
Do your research and ask neighbors and friends for recommendations. Visit the showrooms and speak with their sales people.
Research design ideas — make sure you have a design that fits with the size and shape of your yard. There are a lot of different pool sizes and options you can add to the design — the more options — the higher the cost.
Get multiple bids
Once you select a company, check their ratings with the BBB, Yelp and other online review sites. Make sure to get everything in writing.
Be realistic — from start to finish the project can take many months.
Other costs to consider:
Besides the cost of the pool, you should also keep in mind that there will be ongoing maintenance costs as well as additional costs for water and electricity.
