5 Tips to Sell Your Palm Springs, CA Pool Home
There are typically two ways potential buyers will view your house–first, as an oasis of relaxation, or second, as a maintenance hassle to tackle. Unfortunately, you can't change the mind of a pool hater and should focus on targeting your efforts into selling a house with a pool to those who will appreciate it. Continue to read to find out how to showcase this home amenity through 5 tips for selling your Palm Springs, CA pool home.
How to Make your Pool Feel like a Luxury Amenity
Beyond the higher price point a pool can add to your home, there is the marketability factor to take into consideration. Potential buyers are usually driven by emotion and make decisions based on the vision for a particular lifestyle that will come with their purchase of your home. A professionally staged pool that helps buyers imagine a refreshing dip on a hot day or lounging around the deck with family and friends is a powerful visual. This will have a big impact on how well your home shows–if you put in the work that will make this happen.
Tip #1: Maintenance Your Pool Up Until it is Time for Showings
When you are trying to sell your house that comes with a pool, kick the maintenance up a notch. Maintaining a pool yearly comes up to $3k to $5k annually, depending on the features of your pool, such as filtration, heating system, circulation pump, adjusted chemical levels, and other expenses. Before you officially list your property, ensure that the water chemistry is balanced, the pool equipment is working properly, all tools are clean, the bottom has been vacuumed, and the water is impeccably free of bugs or debris. Common repairs a pool might need include cracks, rips in vinyl, or leaks around lights, pumps, and fittings. If there are stains on the interior plaster, the issues should be dealt with upfront so there are no surprises. An effective method of sprucing up your pool is to repair cracks on the pool deck, cleaning via pressure washing, and repainting. If the pool is enclosed by a screen, clean up the screen as well.
Tip #2: Install Safety Measures to Make the Buyer Feel Safe
Installed safety measures can reassure young families interested in the property and can deter safety concerns. Many municipalities require a barrier that separates the pool area from the house and yard, like a 4-foot fence. Self-closing or self-latching gates that open outward can prevent small children from accessing the pool. Alarms and automatic door locks can prevent access and alert you if someone enters the pool area. It is wise to also share what you spent on home insurance fees, as a pool can increase your home's liability.
Tip #3: List the House During Pool Season
In certain markets in California, there is no right or wrong season to sell a house with a pool because the weather is always pool season ready! However, if you live in an area with more seasonal weather, you will want to get the word out ahead of when people usually use the pool. Listing your home in the late spring or early summer months will give buyers the best impression of your hot-weather home amenities.
Tip #4: Brag About Your Pool
Inform your real estate agent of all of the best points of your pool, including any bragging rights. A pool that might appeal to a particular aesthetic, fit a certain lifestyle, or if the water is crystal clear, there are always factors to consider. From cascading waterfalls, cabanas, fountains, secret gardens, and showers, there is always something that can draw a potential buyer to your home and pool. If you are selling to those who consider themselves "pool people," they will enjoy all of the bells and whistles that accompany your pool.
Tip #5: Poolscape and Stage Your Pool Deck Like Paradise
Kelly Fruit of First Fruits Landscaping had this to say about poolscaping: "A potential buyer will look at more than just the pool itself. Landscaping and furniture are part of the environment as a whole, and while a professional landscaper can help, it is recommended to surround your pool with strategically placed potted plants, as well as well-maintained trimmed grass, bushes, and trees." Set aside pool floats, as they make the pool look disorganized, and stow the pool equipment where it belongs. Chaise lounges, recliners, and accent tables can all help make the pool more inviting. Your poolscape should be able to handle partial to full sun and humidity, as well as splashes of chlorine or salt and cleaning supplies.
The Conclusion
If you have enjoyed living in a home with the luxury amenity of having a pool, let that show when you are selling! A pool that has provided years of fun, and is well-maintained, is sure to tempt potential buyers eager to make a splash. Let the professionals at Ronald Christopher & Associates guide you in finding your dream pool home in the many beautiful Palm Desert, CA neighborhoods today!