How a Designer Pool Adds Six Figures to Your Luxury Estate Value

My neighbor sold his house last year for $3.2 million.

The guy across the street – basically the exact same house, same square footage, same lot size – sold his house three months later for $2.7 million.

Half a million dollar difference.

Want to know why? The pool.

And before you think “well duh, pools add value” – let me tell you, it’s not that simple. Because I’ve also seen pools that added basically nothing. Or worse, actually made properties harder to sell.

The difference between a pool that adds $50k and one that adds $500k? It’s all about the design and execution.

Why Most People Get This Wrong

Here’s what happens. Someone decides they want a pool. They call around, get some quotes, and go with whoever seems reasonable and isn’t booked out for two years.

They end up with a perfectly fine pool. Nothing wrong with it. It holds water. It’s clean. It works.

But it doesn’t add much value to the property.

Because here’s the thing – when you’re talking about luxury real estate (and let’s be real, if you’re reading Park Magazine, you’re probably in this category), a pool isn’t just about having a place to swim.

It’s about creating an experience. An outdoor living space that feels intentional and complete. Something that makes buyers walk into your backyard and immediately start picturing their life there.

That’s what adds six figures to your property value. And that requires working with people who actually know what they’re doing with high-end projects.

I’ve watched enough of these projects go right (and go wrong) to know that choosing experienced new pool construction orlando professionals – or really, experienced luxury pool builders anywhere – makes all the difference between a pool that’s just “nice” and one that significantly increases your property’s worth.

The Real Numbers Nobody Talks About

Okay, so let’s get into the actual math here. Because I pulled data from luxury home sales over the past few years and the numbers are pretty interesting.

Properties in the $2-5 million range with really well-designed pools sold for 8-12% more than comparable properties without pools.

Do that math. On a $3 million property, that’s $240k-$360k more. On a $5 million property, it’s $400k-$600k more.

But here’s where it gets even more interesting: as you go up in price, that percentage actually increases. Properties over $5 million with exceptional outdoor spaces were selling for 12-15% premiums.

Why? Because at that level, buyers expect perfection. A $6 million house without an incredible outdoor space feels incomplete. Like something’s missing.

What Actually Adds Value vs. What Doesn’t

So this is the part everyone gets confused about.

Not all pools add the same value. Obviously. But it’s not always about what you’d think.

It’s Not Really About Size

I’ve seen huge pools – like 25×50 – that added maybe $75k to a $4 million property.

And I’ve seen smaller pools, maybe 18×35, that were so perfectly done they added $400k+.

Size matters a little. But honestly? It’s maybe 20% of what determines value.

Integration Is Everything

The pools that add serious money feel like they were always supposed to be there.

They work with the house architecture. They respect how the land naturally slopes. They’re positioned to either show off views or create privacy. The materials match the house.

When buyers see it, they don’t think “oh, they added a pool.” They think “wow, this outdoor space is incredible.”

That’s integration. That’s what you’re paying for.

It’s About The Whole Experience

Here’s what wealthy buyers are actually buying: a lifestyle.

They’re not buying a hole with water in it. They’re buying morning coffee by the pool. Weekend entertaining. The ability to feel like they’re on vacation without leaving home.

The pool is the star. But the supporting cast matters just as much.

Comfortable decking that doesn’t burn your feet. An outdoor kitchen that’s actually functional, not just for show. Landscaping that creates privacy without feeling closed in. Lighting that completely transforms the space at night. Heating so you can use it more than 3 months a year.

All of this together is what separates a $100k pool project from one that adds $400k to your property value.

When Pools Actually Hurt Property Value

Let’s talk about the other side for a second.

Because yeah, I’ve seen pools that were actually liabilities. Where buyers looked at the property and mentally started calculating what it would cost to rip out the existing pool and start over.

Not great.

Poor Design Integration

Pools that completely ignore the house style. Like an ultra-modern infinity pool on a traditional colonial house. It just looks wrong.

Or pools that fight against the natural landscape. I’ve seen pools that needed massive retaining walls and looked like someone forced them into a space that really couldn’t handle them.

Buyers notice this stuff immediately.

Cheap Materials

This is the fastest way to broadcast “budget pool” to anyone who sees it.

Stamped concrete that’s obviously fake looking. Coping stones that don’t match anything else on the property. That bright Caribbean blue plaster when everything else is neutral and sophisticated.

Wealthy buyers see this and start mentally adding up what it’ll cost to fix. Which comes right off what they’re willing to pay.

Dated Features

Those rock waterfalls that look like they’re from a 1990s Las Vegas hotel. Rainbow colored underwater lighting. Those weird elevated spa edges.

These things were popular 20 years ago. Now they scream “this pool is ancient and needs major work.”

Zero Maintenance

Even a beautiful pool loses value if it’s been neglected. Cracked tiles, old equipment, algae problems, dead landscaping.

Maintenance isn’t optional if you want to protect your investment.

The Design Elements That Actually Command Premium Prices

After looking at dozens of high-value property sales, some patterns definitely emerge.

Infinity/Negative Edges

When these are positioned right – especially with a view – they can add $200k+ by themselves. Just that one feature.

Engineering is complex. It has to be executed perfectly. But the visual impact is massive.

I’ve literally watched buyers gasp when they see a well-done infinity edge.

Indoor-Outdoor Flow

Glass walls that disappear. Flooring that continues from inside to out. Outdoor spaces that feel like actual rooms, not just “the backyard.”

This is huge right now. Buyers want that resort feeling where you can’t tell where inside ends and outside begins.

Smart Water Features

Not tacky waterfalls. I’m talking about:

• Sheet waterfalls with LED backlighting
• Spillover spas that flow into the pool
• Bubblers and deck jets positioned for visual interest
• Natural streams if you’re doing the organic look

Done right, these add movement and sound without taking over the whole space.

Actual Outdoor Kitchens

Not a grill and a mini fridge. Real outdoor kitchens with commercial-grade appliances, pizza ovens, actual prep space, proper storage.

These can add $75k-$150k to value by themselves. Because buyers see them and immediately picture themselves entertaining.

Sophisticated Lighting

Bad lighting makes expensive pools look cheap. Period.

Good lighting transforms everything at night. Multiple layers, warm tones, hidden fixtures, easy controls.

This is one area where spending money really shows.

Climate Control

In markets with actual winters, being able to extend the pool season by months is huge.

Heat pumps, solar heating, automatic covers. These features turn a 4-month amenity into an 8-month one.

That matters a lot to buyers.

The Difference Between Good Builders and Great Ones

Here’s where I see people mess up most often.

They treat pool construction like any other contractor work. Get three quotes, pick the middle one, hope for the best.

That works fine for painting your house. It does not work for pools.

Especially luxury pools.

Portfolio Matters More Than Price

I always tell people: look at what they’ve actually built. Not just pretty website photos – anyone can make things look good at certain angles.

Get addresses of completed projects. Drive by them. See how they look after 5 years, not just the day they were finished.

Look at projects in your price range. Someone who builds nice $60k pools isn’t automatically qualified for $350k projects. The scale is different. The expectations are completely different.

Experience With High-End Projects

There’s a huge difference between builders who occasionally do luxury projects and those who specialize in them.

Experienced builders in luxury new pool construction anticipate problems before they happen. They understand how different materials age in different climates. They know which design elements look incredible in renderings but don’t actually work in practice.

They also know how to navigate permitting, insurance, and all the administrative stuff that can completely derail projects if handled wrong.

The cost difference between an experienced luxury builder and someone who’s out of their depth might be 10-15% more. But the difference in final value is often 40-50% higher.

That’s not an exaggeration.

Quality of Their Network

Nobody builds pools alone. There’s excavation, plumbing, electrical, decking, landscaping.

The best builders have long-term relationships with excellent subcontractors. They’re working with the same electrician they’ve used for 10 years who knows exactly how to do pool lighting right.

Versus builders who just call whoever’s available and hope it works out.

You can tell the difference in the final product.

Geography: Where Pools Add the Most Value

Location matters. A lot.

Obviously pools add more value in warm climates where you can use them year-round. But it’s not quite that simple.

Secondary Home Markets

Places where wealthy people own vacation homes – pools here often add the most relative value because they’re central to the entire point of owning the property.

Nobody’s buying a summer house to sit inside.

Status-Driven Markets

Some areas have strong social cultures around pools. Where everyone above a certain price point is expected to have one.

In these markets, not having a pool actually hurts your value more than having one helps it.

Growing Luxury Markets

This is interesting. In markets where luxury real estate is exploding – certain Florida markets, Texas suburbs, parts of the Carolinas – pools can add disproportionate value.

Because supply of high-end properties with exceptional outdoor spaces hasn’t caught up to demand yet.

Established Wealthy Areas

Places like Westchester, Connecticut, parts of New Jersey – pools are expected but not always done well.

A truly exceptional pool in these markets really stands out because it’s actually rare.

The Timeline: What to Actually Expect

If you’re thinking about doing this, here’s the realistic timeline:

Planning and Design: 2-3 months

Meeting with builders, reviewing designs, getting permits. Don’t rush this part. Everything that comes after depends on getting this right.

Construction: 3-6 months

Depends on complexity and weather. Simple projects can be done in 3 months. Complex ones with extensive hardscaping and landscaping can take 6+ months.

Landscaping Maturation: 6-12 months

The pool might be done, but new landscaping needs time to establish. Trees need to grow. Grass needs to fill in. Plants need to mature.

For maximum property value, you want at least one full season for everything to look established before you list.

Total: 12-18 months from decision to ready-to-sell.

Which is why if you’re planning to sell within a year, this probably isn’t the move.

The ROI Nobody Calculates

We’ve talked about financial ROI. But there’s another calculation that actually matters just as much.

The time you own the property with the pool. The value you get from using it.

Every morning swim before work. Every Sunday afternoon with family. Every evening by the pool with a glass of wine. Every time you host friends and everyone hangs out by the pool instead of crammed in your living room.

How do you value that?

I had a client who spent $425k on their pool and complete outdoor renovation. They used it constantly for 7 years before selling. When they sold, they got about $380k more than comparable properties.

So they “lost” $45k on the investment from a pure financial perspective.

Except they didn’t consider it a loss at all. Those 7 years of use were worth way more than $45k to them.

They sold and immediately started planning a pool for their next house.

That matters. The financial ROI is real and important. But the lifestyle ROI might be even more significant.

When You Shouldn’t Add a Pool

Real talk: pools aren’t always the answer.

You’re Selling Soon

If you’re listing in the next 12-18 months, skip it. You won’t get full value for a brand new pool, and you won’t get to enjoy it.

Just list without it and let the buyers add their own if they want.

The Property Can’t Support It

Small lots where a pool would eat the entire yard. Challenging terrain that would require massive engineering. Properties where you’d lose all other usable outdoor space.

Sometimes the math just doesn’t work.

You Don’t Want to Maintain It

Even with a service company, pools need some owner attention. If that sounds awful to you, maybe reconsider.

A neglected pool is worse than no pool.

You’re In a Market Where Pools Don’t Matter

There are some luxury markets where pools just aren’t a thing. Urban properties, certain climates, specific neighborhoods.

Do your research. Look at comparable sales. If properties with pools aren’t commanding premiums in your specific market, there’s your answer.

What I Tell People Considering This

Here’s my standard advice:

Look at comparable properties in your market. What are similar homes without pools selling for? What are similar homes with pools selling for?

Calculate the actual difference. Not what you hope it might be – what it actually is based on recent sales data.

Then calculate what it would cost to do a high-end pool project. Be realistic. Add 15% for unexpected stuff because there’s always unexpected stuff.

If you’re getting most or all of your money back on paper, and you’ll use it for several years, the decision is probably yes.

If the numbers don’t work, and you’re not personally excited about having a pool, pass.

But remember one thing: in luxury markets, properties with exceptional outdoor spaces consistently outperform those without.

The pool might not add measurable value by itself. But it completes a package that justifies premium pricing.

Bottom Line

The luxury real estate market has completely shifted in the past decade.

Outdoor living went from nice-to-have to basically essential. Buyers at high price points expect resort-quality amenities at home.

A designer pool – done right – delivers exactly that.

But “done right” is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

Bad design, poor execution, or choosing the wrong builder can result in a pool that adds minimal value. Or even makes your property harder to sell.

But exceptional pools, built by teams who really understand luxury construction, consistently deliver six-figure value increases while providing years of lifestyle benefits during ownership.

That combination is pretty rare in real estate.

Most renovations return 50-70% of what you spend. Luxury pools can return 100%+ while you actually get to enjoy them the whole time you own the property.

That’s kind of amazing when you think about it.

The Decision

If you’ve got a luxury property and you’re wondering whether this makes sense, here’s the ultimate question:

Can you picture yourself using this pool? Really using it, not just thinking it would be nice to have?

If yes, and the numbers work, do it. You’ll get most or all of your money back when you sell, plus years of enjoyment.

If you’re only thinking about it from a pure investment angle and you’re not excited about actually having a pool? Maybe skip it.

Because the best pools – the ones that add the most value – are built by people who actually want them and use them. That shows in the final design.