Backyard pools: demand skyrockets for pool builds and homes with pools
The once humble backyard pool has become the new must-have status symbol as builders and real estate agents struggle to keep up with skyrocketing demand.
NSW
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The once humble backyard pool has become the new must-have status symbol as builders and real estate agents struggle to keep up with skyrocketing demand.
Online tradie platform hipages has reported an incredible spike of 175 per cent year-on-year for pool building related jobs, as millions of Aussies seek to turn their homes into a lifestyle haven.
According to Australia’s national swimming pool body – The Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Australia – the demand for new pools has jumped 30 per cent over the same period, as homeowners chase the ultimate in resort-style living.
Meanwhile, Australia’s No.1 listing site realestate.com.au has also reported a 30 per cent jump in searches for homes with pools over the last six months.
Not content with just having a body of water out the back to stay cool in the warmer months, home owners are now prioritising their pools as a key architectural feature of their castle and living space.
The pandemic has played a role in this shift, re-placing our homes firmly at the centre of our lives. Aspiration also plays a big part, celebrity landscape gardener Charlie Albone says.
“People like having the car and the watch and they want to tick that box of the pool too,” Mr Albone, who was a special guest judge for our list of Australia’s 100 Cool Pools, said.
“People can underestimate how it can change their lives. You will use the garden space, the family can connect. It changes the way you live your life. Rather than go out to a restaurant or the beach, you will be by the pool with family and friends.”
Australia’s largest pool maintenance and supplies retailer Poolwerx has enjoyed a similar surge in demand for their services. Poolwerx founder and CEO John O’Brien points out Australians are also increasingly attracted to the physical and health benefits that come with owning a pool
“We’re lucky enough to live in a country where family life can happen outdoors nearly year-round,” he said.
“Pools are really an extension of the family lounge and rumpus room. It’s not only a tool for fun and exercise, but also for relaxation and there are so many exercise tools to help with buoyancy or resistance for a great workout.
“The benefits of having a pool on your mental health also cannot be ignored. This has never been more true than during COVID-19, being able to enjoy recreation in your own backyard is really important for families.
Lucienne Booth of West Pymble on Sydney’s north shore said her backyard pool has transformed her family’s lifestyle.
“We don’t really feel the need to leave the house because of the pool,” she said.
“The kids just love being in the pool, it’s a really big part of our family life and great for entertaining.
“One of the biggest things for my son Jackson, he loves screen time, so having the pool and that time outdoors, is a great distraction. My daughter Brooklyn is always in the pool too.
“I just love having a pool. We used to live in an apartment with no backyard. Now when it’s a nice sunny day we all want to go outside. The kids get in the pool, they get some exercise, friends come over and we all just have a great time.”
The Aussie backyard pool might have changed but it is definitely here to stay.
“The pool is now very much the gem in the crown of the Aussie backyard and will always be the focal point of any outdoor setting,” Mr O’Brien said.
And if you do want a new pool, you should start planning ASAP.
“Many pool builders and installers are fully booked up until Christmas 2021,” the Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Australia CEO Lindsay McGrath said.
Originally published as Backyard pools: demand skyrockets for pool builds and homes with pools
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