There's more to it than you might think. Does installing a swimming pool add value to your home? It's a question we're often asked at NZ Pools, and while the financial answer isn't always straightforward, we think there's much more to the story.
The short answer: it can. New Zealand research reported by OneRoof found a pool added between $45,000 and $167,000 to the value of most homes analysed, although the results varied widely by location and property type. A pool won't always return its full cost, but it can make a home more appealing to buyers and, just as importantly, far more enjoyable to live in.
You may have heard that installing a swimming pool won't necessarily increase your property's value by the same amount you've spent. And to some extent, that could be true. Like any home improvement, the financial return depends on the property, its location, the quality of the installation and what buyers are looking for. But there's something we've noticed over the years that tells a different side of the story.
Next time you're browsing real estate listings, take a closer look at homes with beautiful swimming pools. Quite often, the pool is front and centre in the photos, with the house sitting beautifully in the background.
Why? Because a swimming pool can completely transform the appeal of a property. It creates a stunning focal point, connects the home with its outdoor living spaces and immediately suggests a lifestyle of relaxation, entertaining and family enjoyment.
Real estate agents understand the importance of presenting a home at its best, and a beautifully designed pool area can be one of its most photogenic and memorable features. We've seen this firsthand with NZ Pools installations that have later appeared in real estate listings.
These photos aren't simply showing prospective buyers what the house looks like. They're helping them imagine what life could be like living there. And that's a powerful part of selling a home.
There is evidence that swimming pools can add measurable value to New Zealand properties. Research reported by OneRoof in July 2024, using CoreLogic comparisons of similar properties with and without pools in New Zealand's six main cities, found a pool added between $45,000 and $167,000 to the value of most homes analysed. However, the premium varied widely depending on the location, the age of the home and the property type, from as little as $5,000 in one suburb to more than $400,000 in another.
One valuer quoted in the same article noted that in high-value areas, especially lifestyle blocks, a pool should add value close to what it costs. That's particularly relevant for many of the lifestyle properties we work on in the Wairarapa and on the Kāpiti Coast.
A swimming pool isn't a guaranteed dollar-for-dollar return on investment, and we'd encourage anyone installing a pool purely for resale to get advice from a local real estate professional. But property value isn't determined by construction costs alone. Buyer demand, presentation, lifestyle appeal and how a property compares with others on the market all play a part.
One of the most interesting things we've noticed is that swimming pools are an important part of the overall lifestyle package for certain types of homes, particularly in the Wairarapa. With its wonderfully warm summers and distance from the coast, having your own swimming pool can be a particularly attractive feature.
We work with a property developer who includes a swimming pool in every new home they build. It's not simply because a pool looks beautiful. It's because they understand what their buyers are looking for. As they explained:
"For the type of homes we build, a swimming pool isn't just an added extra. It's a key part of the lifestyle buyers are looking for. That's why we include a pool in every spec home we build.
Our real estate agent has always been very clear with us: 'Absolutely put in a pool. It makes the property more appealing, makes my job selling it much easier, and helps it sell faster.'
For us, it's about creating a complete lifestyle package. Buyers aren't just purchasing a beautiful home. They're buying the lifestyle that comes with it, and a swimming pool is a big part of that." (K Residential, property developer and NZ Pools client)
That's a valuable insight into how some buyers view swimming pools. For these homes, a pool isn't necessarily an optional luxury. It's part of what makes the property feel complete. Buyers can move in and enjoy the finished outdoor space without having to organise installation and landscaping themselves.
Of course, this won't apply to every property or every buyer. But it highlights an important point: the value of a swimming pool is closely connected to the lifestyle buyers are looking for and how well the pool complements the home.
Most of our clients aren't installing pools because they're planning to sell. They're installing them because they want to enjoy their homes more. It's the children spending their summer holidays swimming in their own backyard, friends gathering for a barbecue, a refreshing swim after work or a relaxed weekend with the family.
A swimming pool often becomes the heart of a home's outdoor living area. It creates opportunities for family time, outdoor activity, entertaining and memories that last for years. Those experiences are difficult to put a dollar value on. But when it comes time to sell, the lifestyle you've enjoyed may be exactly what another family is dreaming of.
One concern prospective pool owners sometimes have is the amount of work involved in looking after a pool. Fortunately, modern equipment has come a long way. At NZ Pools, we're big believers in reliable, energy-efficient equipment that makes pool ownership as simple and enjoyable as possible, and almost all of our clients choose these upgrades.
A tidy, accessible pump shed with quality equipment and straightforward controls also makes ownership easier for the current homeowner, and potentially more reassuring for a future buyer. For a closer look at day-to-day care, see how much work is a fibreglass pool, really?
Landscaping plays an important role in how a swimming pool adds to the appeal of a home, but creating a beautiful outdoor space doesn't necessarily mean spending a fortune. Some clients choose natural stone paving, glass fencing, extensive planting and custom entertaining areas. Others achieve stunning results with simple paving, lawn, carefully chosen plants and a well-positioned pool.
The secret is to consider the pool and the surrounding outdoor space together from the beginning. Thinking about access, paving, fencing, planting and how the pool connects with the home can make a significant difference. We're always happy to share practical ideas to help clients make the most of their landscaping investment.
We think there are two ways to look at it.
The nicest part is that these benefits can go hand in hand. You get to enjoy everything a pool brings to your home while you live there, and when the time comes to sell, it may well become one of the features that makes your property stand out.
So next time someone tells you a swimming pool doesn't necessarily add its full cost to your property's value, we'd suggest looking at the bigger picture. Sometimes the real value of a pool is about much more than the numbers.
It varies a lot. CoreLogic research reported by OneRoof in 2024 found a pool added between $45,000 and $167,000 to most of the homes it analysed, but the premium ranged from around $5,000 to more than $400,000 depending on the suburb, the age of the home and the property type.
Not always. A pool isn't a guaranteed dollar-for-dollar return, although in high-value areas and on lifestyle properties it's more likely to add value close to its cost. If resale is your main reason for installing a pool, it's worth getting advice from a local real estate professional.
Many do. Swimming pools are among the most searched features on OneRoof, and for some types of homes, particularly lifestyle properties in warmer areas like the Wairarapa, buyers see a pool as part of the complete package.
Some buyers worry about the work involved in owning a pool. Modern automated equipment, a robotic cleaner and a tidy, well-organised pump shed go a long way towards showing buyers that the pool will be easy to look after.
At NZ Pools, we're a family-owned business specialising in quality fibreglass swimming pool installations throughout Wellington, Kāpiti and Wairarapa. Whether you're planning a simple family pool or a complete outdoor entertaining area, we're happy to talk through your ideas, explain the options and help you get the most from your investment.
Explore our pool range or get in touch with NZ Pools and let's talk about what's possible for your backyard.
