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Have you ever tried to buy a fan - or have air-conditioning and ceiling fans installed - when the temperature is heading upwards of 30 degrees and expected to keep rising? Your chances are not great. All the fans have walked out the door. By the time the installer or electrician can get to your job, it will be winter.
That is why, if you are thinking about a swimming pool, do something about it now – in autumn!
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Swimming pools have become more desirable in the last decade and, with people wanting more home-based activity bound to be a legacy of 2020, that trend will likely continue.
At the start of last year, realestate.com.au data had swimming pools as the number one feature buyers were searching for when on the property hunt. Real estate agents say most of their buyers are looking for properties either with pools or with room to build one. While the jury is out on whether pools add value, most agree that they certainly help to sell a home.
And here is something ironic. Apparently swimming pools are more often seen in seaside suburbs. Because living on or near the water is a whole way of life for many, the idea of a pool has value.
When you are planning your pool design and construction, really think about both visual and practical appeal, and take advice from experts.
And if the question of whether it adds value to your property is important to you, look at the local market before deciding.
Do most houses in your area have pools? If not, there may be a good reason. Talk to local real estate agents. Having a pool may be an expectation, or the ability to add one may be enough for buyers.
Just like your home, the presentation and maintenance of your pool will go a long way to determining how much of an asset it is when it comes time to sell.
Swimming pools, literally, come in all shapes and sizes. Trends last year included giving pools a handcrafted mosaic finish; seamless pool edges (horizon pools); and dark swimming pool finishes (even the lagoon-type setting seemed to be coming back in fashion with pools being remodelled into irregular, rounded shapes with dark green, blue or black finishes).
SWIMPLY
Can you believe there is now an ‘Airbnb’ for swimming pools? The idea made waves in the US around July 2019 and splashed down in Australia in November last year. So, if you are keen to make a splash in someone else’s pool, you might like to check it out!
Pool options are basically above or below ground, with an inground concrete pool thought most likely to add value if it is well landscaped and integrated into the design of the property. However, pool designers and builders have become very clever at blurring the lines, especially on sloping sites.
In Australia, the trend for shipping container pools is sweeping the nation. Effectively above-ground, these pools are made from upcycled shipping containers and are popular due to their convenience and relative affordability. In some cases, they are fully portable. A shipping container pool starts as a general-purpose container that has no ceiling. A filtration system is installed, and a membrane of fibreglass, vinyl or steel is fitted to the internal portion of the container to make it completely waterproof.
Word has it that the world first saw shipping container pools in Sydney. With land a bit of a premium, many property owners needed compact swimming pools that might easily fit into small spaces.
So, the compact size and easy installation of shipping container pools made them an option for highly populated areas where blocks are small. However, the trend has also caught on in more rural areas due to the contemporary, edgy look and fashionable status.
Water tank pools and custombuilt precast concrete plunge pools have also been new trends to redefine the pool experience in limited spaces.
Once, the standard chlorine swimming pool was the limited option. Then saltwater pools overtook them with the softer water being gentler on skin and eyes and enhancing the swimming experience. More recently, magnesium pools have become popular.
Mineral magnesium makes the water softer, has no strong odour or taste, and many are of the belief that it has beneficial health effects, including to relieve muscle tension, alleviate aches and muscle pain, optimise nerve and brain functions and support the immune system, among other things.
SWIM SAFE
When it comes to being a pool owner, the health and safety of others is your responsibility. Legally, your pool must comply with your state’s guidelines, so check what your state mandates beyond these general points.
Fences - Rules are being regularly updated for both old and new pool fencing. Both must be compliant.
Gates - In the bare minimum, pool gates must open inwards and be self-closing. In some states, the pool area cannot be accessible through house doors or windows. Check the fine details.
Signage - Most states require a compliant CPR sign displayed in clear sight of anyone near the pool. Some states may require your pool to have a ‘no diving’ sign. Water quality - The pool owner should follow a regular maintenance program themselves or engage a licensed pool maintenance company. If you leave pool water untreated it could cause bacteria, viruses, algae and other organisms to develop, and it won’t look aesthetically pleasing either. Incorrect chemical levels may cause health problems for swimmers and can seriously damage your pool equipment and shorten its lifespan. Seasonal variance means, for example, you may need to operate the filtration system eight to ten hours a day in summer and possibly three to four hours in winter.
