If you’re planning on listing your home for sale in the spring, you might be wondering if your backyard pool will help the process or stall it. Buyers have strong opinions about swimming pools. Some want them, others don’t. Rather than trying to sell someone on the idea of having a pool, it’s better to market your home to people who would be interested.

Below are some tips for selling your home quickly – with a swimming pool.

Clean and Maintain

Take some time to freshen up the pool and its surroundings before listing your home. Replace worn or broken pool parts. Power wash the deck. Trim overgrown trees. Fix sections of a sagging fence. Make the pool area look bright, well maintained and safe for children and pets.

Open the Pool

Potential buyers like to see that things are working around the home. A pool that is closed brings out concern. Is there something wrong with the pool? Is it not in swimmable condition? When was the last time it was maintained?

A home with a clean, open pool is always more attractive to potential buyers. Plus, people like knowing that if they were to buy the home, they could enjoy a swim right after closing. If you must keep the pool closed, write in your agreement that you plan to pay for a pool opening and inspection.

List at the Right Time

Not everyone goes into the home buying process wanting a pool, but once they see it on a hot summer day, they change their mind. This is why timing is everything. Try listing your property in the spring or summer, and your pool will be viewed as an asset on a hot and humid Mississippi afternoon.

Create a Pool Binder

A pool binder includes everything that is needed to care for your pool and provides new owners with peace of mind. Here are some details that should be added to the binder:

• How the pool operates
• Service records
• Chemical records
• Renovation and replacement work
• Names of reputable service companies

Also include all of your pool chemicals, equipment and accessories with the sale of your home. This alleviates stress and allows the new homeowners to enjoy the pool right away.

As you get your home ready to list in the spring, don’t try to hide the fact that you have a pool. Update the space, open it as usual and embrace everything that it has to offer!

Keeping things updated around the home takes a lot of work, and your swimming pool is no exception. If you don’t take the time to clean, maintain and refresh your spa, it’s going to end up looking old and outdated. Plus, maintenance is crucial for keeping your pool safe for children and pets.

To help you out, we’ve createa a list of seven practical, cost-effective ways to update your swimming pool. By summer, it will have a new look and feel that is ready to be enjoyed!

1. Illuminate your backyard with new lighting. LED options have a more expensive cost on the front end, but they are durable and long lasting. They can also be purchased in different colors. Solar lights are a good pick, too, and require very little maintenance.

2. Buy a variable speed pump. Studies show that variable speed pumps are 90% more efficient than standard ones. Make the investment today and enjoy more efficient operations and a reduced energy bill.

3. Raise the fun factor with new equipment. The kids get bored with the same accessories year to year, so consider getting a diving board, slide or diving rock. Even small equipment can make a huge difference, such as new pool floats and pool toys.

4. Install an ultra-efficient heating system. An efficient heating system will heat your pool quickly so that it can be used on cool Mississippi nights. Plus, because the water gets heated faster, it requires less energy.

5. Build a new focal point. Ideas for focal points include a fountain, rock waterfall or water bubblers. Not only do these add a new appeal to your swimming pool but also increase the value of your home. Looking out the window and seeing a cascading water feature looks elegant and sophisticated!

6. Replace the concrete around your pool. You can build a deck, but a more affordable option is to replace the concrete with decorative pavers or stamped concrete. Stamped concrete, in particular, is economical and can be made to look like flagstone, slate or even hardwood.

7. Restore the tile in your pool. The tile around the perimeter of your pool will get dirty and discolored after a while, and even a deep clean won’t restore it completely. Consider replacing the tile with something new. It will give your spa an entirely fresh look!

By updating your swimming pool from time to time, you keep it looking attractive, lower water consumption and energy usage and reduce the need for repairs.

Most pool owners don’t need convincing that it’s time to remodel their inground pools. What stands in their way is the cost of the project and the chaos it can bring.

Many remodeling projects will put your swimming pool out of commission, and it can bring a mess to your backyard. That’s why considering a project of this sort in the spring or summer doesn’t make sense. Why have your pool under construction during the months that you should be enjoying it?

With this in mind, NOW is the time to consider a pool remodel. The kids are back at school and most people have either closed their pools or will be doing so soon. While it’s true that your backyard might be out of sorts, it’s a lot easier to handle this now than in the spring or summer. And just imagine: come next year, you will have a brand new spa to enjoy!

Let’s look at some reasons why you might finally be ready for that pool remodel.

1. You Have Wandering Eyes

If your eyes have been falling in love with your neighbors’ pools, the pools you see in magazines or the displays at the stores, it’s definitely time for some change. Perhaps you’ve seen a beautiful new tile and you want to resurface your pool. Maybe you want to take advantage of the new features that are out there. Either way, your wandering eyes are telling you that you’re not satisfied with what you have at home.

2. Your Pool Needs Upgrades

If you’ve had your inground pool for some time now, it probably lacks in the latest features. Luckily, there are many things you can add to upgrade your pool and get it looking more trendy. Water features such as waterfalls, fountain bubblers, water slides and rock walls add instant appeal. You might even want to expand your area by adding a hot tub or lighting features.

3. Your Pool Needs a Fresh Look

Perhaps your pool has had some new features added to it over the years, but the structure itself needs some refreshing. There are tons of choices of finish such as tile, plaster, aggregates and vinyl. Consider your geographic region, how you use your pool and its overall design elements. Paradise Pools recommends vinyl, fiberglass and gunite for Mississippi residents.

4. You Need Updated Safety Features

Safety precautions are a great reason to remodel your pool. You may benefit from a pool fence or a pool safety net or perhaps even a new deck area. As important as it can be to have your swimming pool look beautiful, safety always comes first. Also make sure that you have the latest anti-entrapment equipment to prevent hair, limbs and body parts from being sucked toward the drain.

Are you ready to start your pool remodel project? Call Paradise Pools today!

When you decided to install a swimming pool in your backyard, you probably considered all the benefits that would come with your decision: more family time, a healthier lifestyle and less time sitting on the couch. What you may not have realized, however, is that your swimming pool would become a magnet for the neighborhood kids.

Some homeowners admit that their swimming pools attract the neighbors. And it’s understandable why.

It’s hot in the summer, and parents don’t always have the time to drag their kids to the local public pool or the money to invest in a pool pass. They also may not want to waste the entire day sitting at the pool, chasing their kids around or dealing with hundreds of other kids. A couple of hours in their neighbor’s clean, close and free pool sounds much more appealing.

But, even though you can understand the appeal (that’s why you bought a pool after all), that doesn’t mean you want to share your swimming pool with the neighbors. So how do you handle this issue without causing tension?

Know What You’re Comfortable With

First, decide what you feel comfortable with. It’s hard to be honest and direct with your neighbors if you haven’t committed to your own set of rules. Here are some things to think about.

• Is it acceptable for neighbors to come over with an invitation? Or would you rather keep your pool personal and private?

• Are you comfortable with kids swimming in your pool without their parents being there?

• Are you OK with your kids inviting friends over on their own? Or would you prefer them asking you first?

• Is your swimming pool equipped with the necessary safety features, such as a fence? Is the water sanitized and balanced?

At the end of the day, it’s your pool and you get to make the rules. Discuss the rules with your family members so that everyone is aware of what the expectations are. This will keep the lines of communication consistent with your neighbors as well.

Be Honest with Your Neighbors

Honesty is the best policy. Be direct and upfront from the start, otherwise you are going to give off mixed feelings and your neighbors may continue to ask. If you want your pool to be your own personal oasis, say so. It’s perfectly acceptable to want to enjoy your pool on your own and not have to be a lifeguard to other children.

If you’re okay with neighbors coming over on occasion, tell them you’ll be happy to give them an invitation when you’re ready. Also make sure that you are clear about the rules, such as the fact that you may expect the parent to be there.

For most people who have swimming pools, they do enjoy inviting friends and family over from time to time. But they also enjoy having their pool to themselves – which is why they made the investment in the first place!

Swimming at night is a very cool experience. It’s the perfect temperature, and the dark, night skies and twinkling stars make your backyard feel like a true retreat. But, unless you have the right arrangement for nighttime swimming, you’re not going to get the full effect. Swimming in the dark requires the right amount of lighting, ambiance, security and privacy.

Below are helpful tips for making the most of nighttime swimming.

Provide Lots of Light

Once the sun goes down, there’s not much light aside from what you have in and around your pool. It’s very important that everything is well-lit as you don’t want anyone to slip and fall. Some areas to pay attention to include the pool steps, the pool edge and the surrounding deck. Lighting can be installed in all of these areas using laminar jets and LED lights.

Today’s lighting options are limitless. For instance, they can change colors and make it possible to see underneath the water. Many systems can also be programmed to adjust the speed, motion and brightness of the lights. Lighting can even set the mood for your backyard oasis and highlight certain architectural features.

Protect Yourself from Insects

If there’s one thing that’s going to ruin your nighttime plans, it’s those pesky insects. Mosquitoes come out at dusk and are attracted to water, so they can be a real nuisance in the evening hours. Your best options for pest control include bug control lamps, mosquito dunks, tiki torches or smoke from a firepit or outdoor fireplace.

While you can’t make mosquitoes go away completely, think about the best measures you can take to keep them at bay so that you can enjoy your nighttime swims.

Consider Your Privacy

When you’re outdoors at night and have the backyard lit up, there’s no doubt that you’re going to attract the attention of nosy neighbors. Consider your privacy and what you are most comfortable with. It may be hard to completely relax if you feel that you can be seen by everyone.

Shrubs or evergreen trees are good picks for adding privacy around a pool. Plus, they don’t have thorns or fruit that can make the pool water dirty. You’ll also want to think about the lighting and how bright it is. A warm ambiance is best, and avoid shining any lights onto your neighbor’s properties.

Nighttime swimming is a favorite pastime for many, and now that you have your own swimming pool, you can enjoy it too!

Algae is probably one of the most frustrating things about having a pool. While today’s technology makes it possible to maintain a swimming pool with very little to no algae problems, the reality is that we can’t keep our pool water perfect all of the time.

Vacations are taken, which means pool water sits. Filters break, which means algae builds up. Wind and rain storms rip through the area, bringing dirt and debris into the water. The list goes on. Keeping algae spores out of the water is nearly impossible, so it’s likely that you’ll be faced with algae at one time or another.

The good news is that there are many things you can do to prevent having a major algae problem on your hands. And it doesn’t take much work. Not to mention, a little prevention on the front end of things goes a long way in avoiding the bigger hassle of removing algae from your pool water.

Here are a few tips for keeping your pool algae-free this summer.

Keep the Water Moving

Algae likes it when water stops moving, so you want to prevent having your water sit stagnant for any length of time, especially when it’s really hot outside. Run your filtration system throughout the summer to prevent algae growth. To save on energy consumption, it’s best to have variable speed pumps that allow the water to flow without wasting energy.

Swim in the Pool Often

Another way to keep the water moving and cut down on algae growth is by swimming in your pool. When you go for a swim, it stirs up debris and brings them to the surface. This way, you can skim the pool and remove the debris, keeping the water cleaner.

Manage Your Sanitizer Levels

Keep your chlorine at optimal levels at all times. A salt chlorine generator can prove helpful for this instance because it ensures that the chlorine levels are kept consistent, avoiding the risk for algae growth. If you don’t have a salt chlorine generator to depend on, you may need to shock your pool more often during the summer.

Keep the Filter Clean

If your filter gets clogged, the water will slow down. If the water slows down, the chlorine won’t circulate to kill bacteria and algae. Make sure that your filter is running optimally so that the chlorine pushes through the water and does its job at killing algae spores.

Algae is a common problem for pool owners, but there are many ways to prevent it from sneaking up on you!