NJ Home Upgrade Tips, Part 2: High Mantenance

If an upgrade to your NJ real estate requires too much upkeep, buyers may view it as a nuisance, rather than an asset. A prime example is an in-ground swimming pool, which can cost a small fortune to install, secure, heat, and clean. That may not be an issue in California or Florida, where to year round use and practicality makes it easy to get your money’s worth. But in New Jersey, where the season for outdoor swimming is much shorter, a pool can be a risky investment.

Most NJ real estate agents will tell you that, except in warm climates, a swimming pool can be more of a negative than a positive on resale. Instead, look at alternatives. For the cost of installing a swimming pool and maintaining it, you can join the nicest swim/beach club in town, buy a car to get you there and back, and still have cash leftover. Also, some NJ real estate agents are asked specifically by their buyers not to show homes with pools because they are a liability also.