Staging a swimming pool when selling your home

Key insights

• Clean the pool and tidy up surrounding decks, patios and poolside areas.
• Make your swimming pool look as attractive as possible to potential buyers using home staging techniques.
• Take photos of your pool when it looks its best and display them at home showings if you’re selling during cooler months.

Even in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, having a backyard pool is a great way to soak up every moment of summer. When it comes time to sell, a pool can be a standout feature that adds appeal, but it may also require some extra care and preparation to make the best impression on buyers. Use these tips to help you get your home and backyard pool market ready.

Start by cleaning and decluttering

As any real estate agent will tell you, having a clean home is paramount when selling, and this includes the exterior areas of your property.

• Do a deep cleaning of your pool or consider hiring a professional pool cleaning service and ask them to take special care to address stains and drains.
• Repair or replace any worn, damaged or broken pieces, and take a critical eye to ladders, lights, diving boards or other water features.
• Pressure wash the areas surrounding your pool, including patios, storage containers and the exterior of your home.
• If you have decking, a fresh coat of paint, stain or sealant may be in order.
• Take a look around and gather up any pool toys, noodles and other flotation devices, and store them.
• If your patio furniture has seen its better days, consider repainting it, replacing cushions and pillows or even removing it altogether.
• Remove clutter from your space.

Optimize seating and entertainment areas

Create inviting spaces to relax, so buyers can picture themselves throwing a pool party, entertaining guests or enjoying the space with their family. Showcase the spaces by creating zones for various activities (grilling, dining, relaxing and playing games), and don’t forget about shade. A large patio umbrella or pergola placed near seating and over a rug can make for an inviting outdoor living area.

Stage it

Home staging is done to help buyers visualize themselves living in a home, and it highlights a property’s potential while minimizing its weaknesses. At a high level, staging typically includes removing clutter, neutralizing the space, removing bulky items to maximize available space and returning rooms to their more common or intended purpose. Outdoor staging for dedicated areas like swimming pools can be an important step in showcasing them. Now that you’ve cleaned and decluttered your outdoor area, here are some tips for staging it:

• Maximize your poolside lighting for ambience with colorful waterproof pool lights, tiki torches, landscape lights and string lights.
• Add accessories like pillows, candles, lanterns and potted plants.
• Use strategically placed rugs to create inviting conversation areas.
• Set up an outdoor bar, dining or kitchen area.
• Make sure your pool fence is in good shape, and consider adding tasteful decorations like grasses, plants or flowers.

Keep a well-manicured yard

Now that your pool area is in tip-top shape, you’ll want to make sure your yard and landscaping are also up to snuff. This can include:

• Gathering and storing any toys or tools
• Cleaning up debris
• Mowing the lawn
• Pruning trees, shrubs and plants
• Planting flowers or decorative grasses
• Weeding and reapplying mulch
• Fixing or replacing worn or broken sections of fencing

Plan ahead

If you’re planning to spend one more summer making the most of your backyard pool, consider snapping some pictures of it looking its best. That way, when it comes time to list your home for sale this fall or winter, you’ll be able to showcase it during its prime season, which can help your property stand out from the competition and entice buyers.

Thinking of selling?

Whether your home has a pool, patio or pet run, there are strategies for staging and selling that will help attract top dollar in the shortest time possible. Reach out to Edina Realty anytime to be connected with someone who can help you move forward.