It's Pool Time in Southern CAlifornia

July 5, 2012
Now is the season when a swimming pool becomes a really nice attraction for buyers. Even if they are not avid swimmers, the ambiance of a sparkling pool can certainly help sell a property.
Since uch of our inventory is made up of homes that are older than ten years, the pools may also be older. For sellers of properties with pools it is important to consider some iomprovements to the pool or the pool area.
Pool plaster, over time, can become discolored. The tiles can become coated with calcium deposits. Decks can crack and pool equipment can wear out. Since the energy crises of the late 1970s and forward, many owners ceased using their pool heaters. In the disclosures which a seller completes we often see the comment "Don't know if the pool heater works. We don't use it."
It is a good idea to have a professional pool servicing company check out your pool prior to putting your property on the market. You will then know if it might be a useful expenditure to refurbish your pool. While an appraiser may not judge a refurbished pool to be more valuable than a dated one, buyers do.
Since a pool can be a central focus point in a rear yard, making it sparkle can add value.