There are several things to consider if you want to build a pool on your vacation rental property. Aside from cost and looks, you need to find out if your site is suitable and if you can put it in a pool. Your city or residents’ association may have rules you need to know about. Then you have to compare all these things to what you can gain by adding a pool.
We break down the process by looking at five parts, making it easy (and possibly profitable) for you to choose.
Think about how well your site fits your needs.
It’s easy to get carried away with all the ideas when planning your pool. But it’s important to keep a level head when looking at anything that can be a big investment. The first thing to do is find out if you need permits or permission to build a pool. Call your local government to find out what rules or requirements they have for plan submissions. You should do the same if you live in a neighborhood where the residents’ association is active. It would be awful if a cranky neighbor stopped by in the last few days of the building to complain to the board. Also, consider the size of your yard and how much land you want around the pool.
You might need to cut down one or two trees if they cast too much shade or drop leaves into the pool or if their roots could damage the pool’s liner in the future.
Lastly, think about the privacy of your guests. Can you see the pool from the street? Can you see people swimming? Can nosy neighbors see into your yard? You should change your boundary fence if you want to get closer. All these things can affect costs, so it’s best to know about them immediately.
Find out if the site will work for a pool.
When putting in a pool, many people need to remember to look at the site to see if it can hold such a large, heavy body of water. If you live on a sloped piece of land, you’ll need a foundation and supports to keep your pool from sliding down the hill.
It’s also helpful to look at the material of the base. For example, the ground may be very sandy or wet because the water table is high. This could mean more work must be done before the pool is put in. If you’re unsure, bringing in a structural engineer is a good idea.
A good way to save money is to add a hot tub to your site instead of a pool if adding a pool is too hard. They are smaller, and most of the time, they can be put up in just one day. They also cost a lot less, but they are still a huge benefit for guests.
Choose the best spot for your pool at your vacation rental
Putting a pool on a property makes it more appealing to guests. A recent survey found that 81% of renters think a pool is important when looking for a place to stay. But when deciding where to put your pool, you do need to think about a few things about how it will be used. Think about the kind of guest you’re most likely to have at your rental property.
For example, if you expect families, it’s important that the pool can be seen from inside the house so that adults can keep an eye on kids swimming. Or, if your guests are adults, give them a place to hang out and relax near the pool, and figure out where you will keep things like cushions, pool toys, and even cleaning tools. Ensure the pool gets as much sun as possible during the day to help keep it at a nice temperature.
If you live in a windy area, you can create a windbreak by planting trees or putting up a fence. This protects your guests and keeps water from evaporating faster, saving you money!
Pick the Pool That Meets Your Needs
Think about what kind of pool will work best for you. Look at the kind of guests you’ll have again and think about how the pool’s design will affect them. For example, a big, shallow step would be helpful if you have kids over. Or, if you want to attract business travelers, consider building a long pool so that people can swim a few laps before work. Try to meet the needs of as many different kinds of guests as you can.
Choose the kind of pool you want based on cost, style, and how you plan to use it. For example, a prefab, molded pool is easy to set up and doesn’t cost much, but the shapes and colors are limited. Also, decide if you want to heat your pool or not. If you do, the type of system you use will affect the cost. Solar panels, for example, cost more upfront but should pay for themselves over time.
No matter how you use your pool, you must consider safety. Some things are required by law and will be especially helpful since your guests will use the pool when you aren’t there to watch. Pools are beautiful, but they can also be dangerous, so it’s important to keep yourself safe to avoid damage, accidents, and expensive lawsuits.
In hotter places, installing a solid pool cover and keeping it on when it isn’t being used will save money on water loss, cleaning, and heating and make the pool safer.
Figure out how much it will cost.
Depending on what kind of pool you want, the price to install it can range from about $6,000 for an above-ground pool to $30,000 for an in-ground pool. Maintenance tasks include figuring out who will clean once a week or once a month and how long it will take. A chemical pool, for example, needs to be checked regularly to make sure the acidity level is right, but the water is perfect because it is clear and blue. Even though a natural pool is usually easy to use, guests may not like that plants and other wildlife, which are important to how it works, are also in it.
How long it will take to build the pool is another important thing to consider. Can you pay for your rental home to be out of service for a week or more, depending on how much work needs to be done? Make sure contractors can get to the site easily. For example, a prefab pool needs to be brought in whole, so a truck and crane will be needed.
Get multiple quotes to ensure you hire the best person for the job and save money. But keep in mind that the lowest bid is only sometimes the best. A pool built well can save money on repairs in the future.
Think about all of these things before you jump.
We have provided the main points necessary for your pool’s cost-benefit analysis, and hopefully, they have clarified them. After you’ve thought about all these things, you’ll need to find a contractor who can work with you and do the installation according to your needs.
There are always things that can go wrong during a renovation, but we’ve pointed out possible trouble spots so you can avoid problems before they happen. Your vacation rental will have a beautiful pool, which can make it much more popular, especially in warmer places. Remember that for some guests, a pool will decide between your home and another one.
