uninformed buyers have bought homes with pools that they find must
have work done by the end of the very first season they use the pool,
due to unscrupulous
Sellers who have made it appear to be in perfect
condition when in reality it was going to be extremely costly to fix
have "suckered in' many an unsuspecting (usually first-time pool
owner).
Modern thinking is: it is much smarter to save the
extra money from all the liabilities of having a pool and take a
really nice vacation each year.
Swimming pools used to be a status symbol for homeowners, (Think how
many of us used to watch the Clampetts with their "cement
pond") but in most cases they
have turned into a drawback when it comes time to sell a home. Safety
seems to be the number one area of concern for prospective buyers.
Realtor Bryn Hilton of Coldwell Banker,who deals exclusively in
luxury homes finds that many of his clients shy away from homes with
swimming pools (including even a very small pool holding only 20, 000
gallons) even if they like the house.
"For most of my buyers, it has come down to the whole safety
issue if there will be small children living on the property,"
Hilton said. "However, I also had one buyer who liked the concept
of having a home with a pool, but he was worried about the liability
and maintenance costs. If the neighbor's child climbed over the fence
and fell in the pool and was injured, my buyer was concerned about
being held liable and a lawsuit developing." (Hey, I wasn't going
to mention the "West Nile" and contamination factors that go
with that!)
In today's market, Hilton said, buyers are looking for a backyard
that is private and conducive to entertaining and outdoor dining. They
like yards that have an abundance of greenery, an outdoor entertaining
area and some privacy.
"Lush landscaping, stamped concrete patios, cobblestone pavers
and landscape lighting are all elements that my buyers respond
positively to. Also, a built-in barbecue with outdoor counter space
seems to be very desirable with today's buyers," Hilton
said.
The selling points for backyards are pretty simple, according to William
Phillips a broker Dallas—and pools are not very often
on the list.
"The pace of life is just getting so out of control that most
folks are looking for a yard they can relax in. Space, privacy and
freedom from noise pollution are of utmost importance, probably
because these are items that are becoming so hard to find in Silicon
Valley," Walker said. "For families with kids, space for the
kids to safely play is also a huge concern. From there, the
attractiveness of the landscaping, ease of maintenance and space for
hobbies such as gardening and barbecuing all come into play as
well."
Phillips said pools are not the draw or status symbol they
once were. "Now swimming pools are like boats—they're lots of
fun; however, it's much better to have a friend that has one than to
have one yourself. The most common objections are the added liability,
the hazards for children, the added upkeep and the space constraints
they put on the yard."
Phillips still gets buyers who are specifically looking for a
pool, but they are far outnumbered by buyers who adamantly refuse to
look at anything with a pool.
"The vast majority of buyers will take a pool if the house has
one but they aren't specifically looking for one. For this reason, a
pool really adds no value to a property, unless you're talking about
upper-end homes with large lots and very elaborate pools. For
most, though, there is no value added, and in some cases where the
backyard is wall-to-wall pool, it can actually discount the property's
value," he said. And forget the old-fashioned kidney shaped ones.
Walker has a pool of his own but wasn't looking for one when he
bought the house. he would just as soon fill it in and have a big,
open backyard,.
Realtor Andrea Rice-Collins of Coldwell Banker also believes
swimming pools are a liability for resale.
With the experience of 31 years in real estate, John Clinton of
ReMax said swimming pools are not considered an asset in most cases.
Clinton tells clients that if they really want a pool, they should
buy a house with a pool because they will get the pool free or at a
very nominal cost compared to the cost of putting a new one in.
By the same token, make sure you really want it as many clients
have ended up hating them with all of the drawbacks they have. It can
be expensive to just fill them in to get out from under all the
liabilities they bring.
Psychology Today July/Aug 2005
Page 21
University of Florida researchers have confirmed what avid
swimmers already know: A dip in the pool works up an appetite.
Swimming in cold water spurs swimmers to consume almost 50%
more calories after exercising than people who swim in warm
water. The difference may explain why people trying to lose weight have
LESS success with swimming than with cycling or jogging.
ILLNESSES CAUSED BY SWIMMING POOLS
Google search on the subject!
more
