The one thing that could make, or break, a house sale

BUYING a home with a swimming pool offers many benefits including relaxation, entertainment, exercise, aesthetics, and a social hub for the family and friends.

POOL POWER: Swimming pools can be a draw-card for home buyers, especially luxury low-maintenance ones such as this beautiful 11.3m x 4.9m pool at 62 Cathcart St, Girards Hill. Picture: Supplied

AS THE mercury rises, being able to step into your own refreshing swimming pool is a dream come true.

And there's no doubt a stunning pool can add a real wow factor to your property, as more than 1.2 million Australia home owners can attest.

Australia is thought to have the world's highest per capita rate of pool ownership and for home buyers looking to purchase a home, a pool is often a deal-breaker which causes them to whip out the cheque book.

Of the 197 houses currently listed for sale in the Lismore area via Realestate.com, 26 possess a swimming pool.

According to agent Katrina Beohm, the type, size, length and shape of your pool will attract different sorts of buyers.

She said buyers keen on having a relaxing entertainment area with a pool are understandably not wanting to spend hours on maintaining it.

"Particularity on hot days such as we are enjoying now, pools are really attractive," she said.

"Pools which don't need a lot of work, such as those without trees shedding leaves into the water are more popular than those needing a lot of maintenance because overhanging trees create a mess."

Ms Beohm said there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it come to a pool.

"The shape and size will depend on the buyer," she said.

"Some people just want a plunge pool to cool off in, a family might like a pool for fun and someone into fitness may want a longer pool so they swim lengths."

The type of water in pools is also changing as chlorine pools are being replaced by a trend towards freshwater.

"Freshwater pools are really attractive for buyers as they are better for the skin and use no chlorine chemicals," Ms Beohm said.

"We have one at a gorgeous 1340.5sqm five bedroom property at 62 Cathcart St, Girards Hill which is 11.3m x 4.9m."

Keeping cool when thinking about a pool

• There are strict laws governing the design and situation of pools so before you by, ensure the pool is fully complaint
• Maintenance costs can set you back more than $2000 annually
• You may not regain the cost of installing a pool, but when it comes to health and happiness, it might be something you can't put a price on.