Is it really worth putting a pool in when you live in Canberra?

“You’ll only use it five days a year.”

It’s what our interstate friends love to say when we tell them we’re keen on adding a pool to the backyard (or air conditioning to the house).

So we decided to do the research: if you add a pool to your property do you actually use it? And will it really increase the value of your property?

The answer to both questions is yes.

Jerrabomberra resident Violeta Braun is in love with the 8.5m x 3.8m pool she added to her Halloran Drive home in 2020. The family swims in the pool five months of the year (November to March — it’s heated electrically) and it’s the perfect centrepiece for family get-togethers and barbecues with friends.

“I wanted to recreate my childhood, those memories of long summer days in the water with my sisters,” Violeta says.

“I wanted my kids to have that same experience. And I loved the idea of getting in after a hot day after work.

“We put in a fibreglass pool and did some landscaping, all up it cost us around $60,000.”

From council approval to being able to actually take a dip, the process took six months. Violeta’s only tip for people thinking about putting in a pool is to find a reputable installer.

“Where there’s water, there’s sharks,” she says.

“And don’t take any shortcuts, no matter how attractive they seem.”

Aside from the lifestyle benefits, VERV Property real estate agent Jason Roses says – in some suburbs of Canberra – a pool can add up to $100,000 to the price tag of a home. A backyard with a modern pool (but also some grass for the kids to play on) will always be in huge demand, he says.

“It’s about the lifestyle it represents,” Jason says.

“If you’re undertaking a new build, make sure there’s a pool on the plans from the start. If you’re putting one in on an established residence, it’s more expensive but you can add faith that you’re adding serious value to your home.”

Ensuring the pool is heated is essential, Jason says, especially in Canberra. But only put one in if you think you’ll use it.

“My advice is to add a pool only if it’s something you and your family have dreamed of and will actually swim in,” he says.

“If you won’t use it, spend the money on an extension or on modernising the rooms of your house that need it.”

Is Jason surprised that nine out of 10 of Zango’s Top 10 Most Viewed Listings of 2022 had a pool?

“Not at all,” he says.

“Our listings with pools are always our most popular.

“They photograph beautifully and have an edge over properties with a just simple backyard.”

View homes with pools for sale right now.