Features That Add Real Value
If you want your pool to deliver long-term value, prioritize features that blend functionality, efficiency, and timeless appeal:
- Gunite Construction: Long-lasting and fully customizable, gunite is seen as the gold standard for luxury builds.
- Integrated Spa: Expands year-round usability and increases buyer appeal.
- Saltwater System: Lower maintenance, gentler on skin, and a mark of modern sophistication.
- Smart Automation: Pool and lighting controls via app or voice command add everyday convenience.
- Hardscaping & Flow: Seamless transitions between patio, pool, and outdoor kitchen areas boost both usability and perceived square footage.
Pro Tip: The more intuitive and effortless your backyard experience feels, the more value it communicates.
ROI Killers (What to Avoid)
Certain design choices might feel bold now—but they can sabotage resale later. Watch out for:
- Overly Themed Features: Swim-up bars and rock grottos may appeal to a niche but limit broader buyer interest.
- Oversized or Poorly Positioned Pools: If the pool dominates the yard or crowds the home, it can create functional issues.
- Mismatched Style: A sleek, modern home with a tropical lagoon-style pool? That visual disconnect can drag down value.
Design to express your style—without boxing in someone else’s.
What Appraisers & Realtors Look For
Homebuyers and appraisers assess your pool through the lens of usability and efficiency. The top things that influence perceived value:
- Permitted construction and professional-grade work
- High-quality finishes that match or enhance the home’s architecture
- Efficient systems: variable-speed pumps, automated cleaning, energy-saving lighting
- Spaces designed for entertaining: seating zones, fire features, and outdoor kitchens
Well-integrated outdoor living is no longer a bonus—it’s an expectation.
Design for the Full Property, Not Just the Pool
Many pool projects fall short because they treat the water as the “main event.” In value-driven design, everything works together:
- Sightlines from indoors
- Balanced hardscape and softscape (stone + greenery)
- Ambient lighting zones
- Clear, functional traffic flow between indoor and outdoor living
These elements elevate the property as a whole—not just the backyard.
Long-Term Strategy = Lasting Value
Here’s what we tell clients at Artistix: “Build something you’ll love living in—but wouldn’t need to explain if it ever hits the market.” Prioritize quality. Choose materials and equipment with a proven track record. Invest in good design, not gimmicks. Because great outdoor spaces don’t just look good—they live well.
