Special offer
Home > Blogs > Chris Ann Cleland > Bristow-Gainesville Real Estate News & Opinion
bookmark_border

Is a Bristow, VA Pool Home Worth More than a Home Without a Pool?

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

Is a Bristow, VA Pool Home Worth More than  a Home Without a Pool?

When you are a top producing Bristow Real Estate Agent, you can get some interesting requests.  The other day, I got a request to appear in court as an expert witness by an attorney I know representing a defendant.  As issue was \ whether pools added value to homes in the Bristow market.  Being the real estate geek I am, I jumped at the chance.

The suit was a landlord suing a tenant for damages to his pool.  Mind you, he had sold his home without repairing the pool, yet still wanted damages.   

I pulled comps for homes in the same market area, of similar age and sitting on similar acreage.  Going back one year I found two pools and about six or seven without.  Computing the price per square foot that each home got in the sales price the conclusion was clear...the pool homes sold for LESS than the homes without pools.  It was by about $10 per square foot.  Looking at the price per square foot, what made the biggest difference is the upgrades to bathrooms and kitchens.  Homes with upgraded kitchens and bathrooms were the ones getting top dollar.

If you work in real estate in Bristow, this isn't a shock.  Pools are not something that is sought after here.  They require a lot of money in maintenance and you can only use them for a third of the year at best.  

While the pool damage issue was resolved rather quickly in court, without my having to testify, I stuck around.  That's the kind of Bristow Real Estate Agent I am.  What agent wouldn't want the chance to see how a judge interprets the contract?  Probably a lot of them, but everything I learn about the practice of real estate and the various pitfalls encountered in transaction help me best represent my Bristow buyers and sellers.

 

 

 

Comments(10)

Subscribe to Comments Comment
Submit
Show All Comments
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Chris Ann, Now that is an experience ... first an honor to be called as an "expert" witness in court and then you get to learn and grow real estate practice by virtue of the process and court experience.  All of that gets added to your tool kit. Congratulations. 

Nov 19, 2016 06:15 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Kathleen Daniels --It was definitely an interesting way to spend an afternoon.   

Nov 19, 2016 10:28 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Not a lot of pools and more lakes, pond properties for the taking a dip here in Maine Chris Ann Cleland .

Nov 19, 2016 07:50 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Andrew Mooers --Your area must be gorgeous.

Nov 20, 2016 03:16 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Chris Ann Cleland ,

How interesting..an honor for sure to be called as an expert witness! How did the pool issue get resolved? In our area pools are definitely sought after and a home will sell for a higher value. The difference being you can use your pool year around if you want to heat your pool or 2/3 of the year if not heating your pool. 

Nov 19, 2016 09:17 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Dorie Dillard --The landlord didn't get pool damages, but I never had to testify.  By the terms of the written agreeement with his tenant, he hadn't provided proper notice and a receipt for reimbursement.   When that came out in questioning the tenant's attorney asked for summary judgment on that issue and it was decided right then and there, making me unnecessary.

Nov 20, 2016 03:18 AM
Curtis Van Carter
Better Homes & Gardens Wine Country Group - Yountville, CA
Your Napa Valley Broker Extraordinaire

Gosh gal. Putting up with a day in court and not having to be there the entire time. Shows the depths a great goes to understand her market. Good job, cheers cvc

Nov 19, 2016 09:29 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Curtis Van Carter --To be fair, it was only half a day.  Had been a whole day, I wouldn't have had the luxury of staying the whole time.

Nov 20, 2016 03:19 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Chris Ann, In my market, a pool typically adds some value, but it's also 50/50 on whether buyers will include it on their list or strike it off their list of homes to see.  A lot depends on if they have kids and their ages if they do.  Bill

Nov 19, 2016 11:08 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Liz and Bill Spear --Here we have so many neighbrohoods with community pools, it isn't an issue.

Nov 20, 2016 03:19 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Good morning Chris Ann Cleland, real estate is local, it's the opposite here in Central FL, pool homes add value as we can use our pools pretty much all year.

Nov 19, 2016 11:09 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Beth Atalay --I can understand the difference.  If I moved to a warm climate where I could use a pool the whole year, I would expect one.

Nov 20, 2016 03:20 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

In our area, a home with a pool is looked at as much as a negative as it might be in your area.  If we had a longer pool season, it might make for a different story

Nov 20, 2016 01:49 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Ed Silva --Not surprised.

Nov 20, 2016 03:20 AM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Funny way to get the question, isn't it?  I've had the question put to me by buyers who didn't really care one way or the other, but wanted to ensure their home was going to sell well when they were going to be sellers a few years out.

In the city, once in a while someone will ask for a condo building that specifically has a pool (which is the exception, not the norm).

Nov 20, 2016 03:39 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Claude Labbe --I think if I were looking at luxury homes in the area and not ones built in the 70's, maybe the outcome would have been different.  

Nov 20, 2016 03:46 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Chris Ann - Like your area, pools aren't a desirable feature here, and they do diminish the value of the home unless it's at the very high end.

Nov 20, 2016 05:02 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Dick Greenberg --Sounds like we have very similar markets.

Nov 20, 2016 11:57 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

yes to knowing what you are talking about and others saying it is so....

Nov 20, 2016 10:56 PM
Back to Top

What's the reason you're reporting this blog entry?

Are you sure you want to report this blog entry as spam?