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Above ground pools are more affordable swimming pool options when compared to in ground swimming pools. There are of course pros and cons to each one, but which one is the better investment? Do above ground swimming pools hurt property values? There are many questions that arise in relation to a swimming pools effect on the value of a home.
While above ground pools work just as well for swimming in, they do not add value to a home. In fact, many real estate professionals will tell you that they even devalue a home. A concrete in ground pool, however, can add 7-8 percent value to a home to the right buyer.
Above ground pools are considered to be an eye sore by some people and to those people a house with an above ground pool would be worth less to them. Especially if they were calculating into their offer the fact that they would have to pay to have the pool hauled off.
Are above ground pools a good investment?
That depends on how you’re defining investment. If you were talking about a sound financial investment then no. An above ground pool does not appreciate in value and we’ve already established that they do not increase a home’s value either.
However, if you’re talking about an investment into your family’s happiness then I say absolutely! An above ground pool is plenty big for even a large family to have years of fun in. You could create many happy memories with an above ground pool and in that regard it could be a great investment.
Are above ground pools considered a permanent structure?
An above ground pool is considered a temporary structure as it does not permanently alter the landscape of your yard. However, if the above ground pool is surrounded by a permanent structure then it can be considered permanent.
By definition a permanent structure is any outdoor structure that is fixed in place and unable to be moved about a property. An above ground pool with a complete deck around it that is attached to a house would fit into this category.
What are disadvantages of above ground pools?
A few disadvantages of above ground pools are:
- They don’t look as nice as in ground pools
- Above ground pools can actually decrease the value of a home
- Can be expensive to maintain
Is it harder to sell a house with an above ground pool?
It’s possible that it could be more difficult to sell a home with an above ground pool. Not everyone wants a house with a pool to begin with. But an above ground pool is going to turn away a segment of people searching for homes simply because visually they aren’t appealing to everyone.
So if you’re selling a home with an above ground pool you may end up with less eyes watching the listing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have difficulty selling the home. There is a segment of home buyers that would also love to have a nice above ground pool.
Conclusion
Even though above ground pools can actual hurt your property value, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get one. They’re an affordable way to get a swimming pool in your backyard. If you ever want to upgrade to an in ground pool later, you can have the above ground pool removed.
It really comes down to personal preference, do you mind taking the slight property value hit in order to have a swimming pool in your backyard?
