As we end another summer and start thinking about home remodeling projects or other upgrades we might make to our homes before next summer let’s talk about swimming pools. They are the subject of much disagreement and scrutiny.
I have found that most real estate agents will recommend that you do not install a pool, especially if you have any intention of selling the home in the near future. And as a rule, a pool indeed eliminates more prospective buyers than it creates, plus it requires a lot of upkeep and introduces liability.
In fact, it can be a severe detriment to the value of your home if it is too simple, uninspiring, poorly conceived, poorly designed, or poorly situated — such as if you have a basic kidney-shaped concrete & plaster pool plopped down in the middle of a small yard with a plain cool-deck and an ugly 5-foot toddler fence around it. It might work out great for you, but resale value can suffer.
However, if done tastefully and creatively — creating a soothing, clean waterscape incorporated into your indoor/outdoor living areas without overwhelming everything else — I think it works well, and perhaps even offers a substantial boost to the value of your home in the eyes of the niche buyer. Make your pool an attractive water feature to help balance your property, and ensure there are various views of it from the house. (Remember, a pool view can be quite desirable at a vacation resort, so make it the same for your home.)
If you already have an older pool, make sure it is (and looks) well-maintained, e.g., clear water and no stains or chips. If it is severely stained or if the plaster is chipped, consider an acid wash or re-plaster job.
As I have said before, you always need to think in terms of resale, even if you have no intention of selling the house anytime soon. After all, for most people their home is the largest investment they have. I know many people who don’t like to look at their home as an investment — it’s where they live, and that’s it. But particularly in high-housing-cost areas (despite the big downturn in prices), the home is usually the family’s most valuable asset. I talk a lot about this in both my free special report and my e-book.
In high-cost areas like coastal California, a $50,000-100,000 investment in something 
like a decorative swimming pool/waterscape as an enhancement to your outdoor living area might be worthwhile. Shown are pools from two homes I have remodeled.
Seek simplicity, comfort and value!
So, I tried a few configurations — first including two identical white slip-covered sofas across from each other, but it was like a sea of white. So, I made room for the big screen TV in the corner and brought in another sofa of mine as shown under the eye-catching zebra print, and its contrasting color and texture actually worked out much better. If you look closely, you can see my big Mexican door-turned-dining-table-turned-coffee-table. Turned out it wasn’t too big for this room after all, despite my initial concerns. (It’s a great piece — very versatile.) Overall, this is a very cozy, comfortable living space.
the left is a dining room in which I removed the boring brass chandelier and replaced it with an impressive wrought iron piece that I found for $75 from a garage sale, as shown in the photo on the left. (I’ve found similar things on CraigsList or the classified ads.) I first found it several years ago, and though I didn’t have a 
specific place for it at the time, I have saved it and carried it from house to house and various home remodels, waiting for the appropriate spot for it. I finally found that spot in this house. Again, a great accent piece, such as a wrought iron chandelier, can do wonders for a home staging, interior decorating, or remodeling project..jpg)
Kevin Contreras is the host and executive producer of Building Green TV on the PBS network. He is an old friend from our college days and has become quite prominent in the green construction movement. In his chapter of my e-book, he provides some fantastic tips on green remodeling, resulting in a home that costs less to operate, is healthier to live in, and has less impact on the environment. .jpg)
Mark MacKenzie is a Sigma Chi alum who runs a real estate brokerage and information firm in Phoenix, and he is the author of the Amazon.com #1 best-selling real estate book, Marketopoly, and he has another book due out soon called, It’s the Housing Market, Stupid! In his chapter of my e-book, he provides some great information on housing market trends, timing the market for maximum profit, buying low, selling high, etc. It’s a great read, especially for someone who is looking to be an investor in this difficult market.