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!
