Resale for homes with pools (Weston, Dover: buying a home, neighborhoods, buying)

[izzy2017]

Hey all,

Several of the homes we've been looking at have pools. This is new for us as out in the northwest pools are almost unheard of.

Does a pool negatively affect resale on homes in the metrowest area? Does it have any impact on taxes? Any comments are appreciated.

Thanks!

[sawyer2]

Negative to me - more upkeep, cost, liability for something that is used for a few months at best in the northeast. I view pools like boats in that I prefer to have a friend with one than deal with my own.

Perhaps you could make an argument for it if most houses in the neighborhood also had a pool. I have friends in Weston and Dover where it is very common ... high end neighborhoods though.

As for taxes, I'm assuming that the town would consider it to be (marginally) positive - higher tax

[BostonMike7]

According to my appraisal report from 4 years ago, only an In-ground pool was considered to add value to a home @ $5000 adjustment. Above ground's added no value.

It's hit or miss as to if a buyer will think of it as a negative. An above ground pool can be more easily removed than an inground obviously.

I like pools, but hate the work associated with them. But, as anything related to house upkeep, that work can be contracted out. Most people I know that own a home have a pool

[roadstrailstris]

I can't speak to the resale piece, since we haven't tried to sell our home yet, but we get a ton of use out of our pool. The kids absolutely love it, and my husband and I always say we'd never want a house without a pool again. We have a pool heater that runs on natural gas, so isn't that expensive to heat- that is key here in NE. We opened the pool a couple of weeks ago and were in this weekend, and will be using it through Sept. If you are open to owning a pool be sure to get one with a heater.

[Shrewsburried]

There are only two types of pools I entertained when putting offers on home:

A) above ground with non-integral decks which could be removed and seeded over a long weekend

B) new and/or well maintained gunite pool with yard perimeter fencing and good southern exposure

I did put an offer on a home with an extremely marginal '60's inground, but that home needed a total reno, so it was a minor nuisance in the grander scheme.

[simplexsimon]

I think you'll get a mix of answers.

We refused to consider houses with in-ground pools.

[izzy2017]

Good info, thanks everyone. We like the idea of an inground pool, we have teenagers and it seems like the perfect age to have one. Glad to hear it's not the end of the world resale wise for most people.

[ECPCVC]

I never really wanted a pool, but we ended buying a home with one. Now, like PP said, I would never buy a house without one. They provide so much family fun and your house will end up being the hang out spot.

[BostonMike7]

I wish I had one this weekend that was opened

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by izzy2017

Good info, thanks everyone. We like the idea of an inground pool, we have teenagers and it seems like the perfect age to have one. Glad to hear it's not the end of the world resale wise for most people.

It's about 1/2 and 1/2, people liking vs. not wanting them.