In the PNW I am not really sure that pool, or spa will increase the value of the home. In some cases it could attract buyers, and some cases repel them. I don't think that any of the money you spend on a pool, or spa will increase the resale value. You do it in this market simply for the enjoyment of you, your family, and friends.

Or for 10K, you can get a really nice portable hot tub.

Scott

We know that the pool won't really increase the value, but will the lack of a spa make someone who wants a pool less likely to buy our house? That's the question I really meant, I guess. Would the lack of spa be detrimental?

We don't like the look of portable spas. Especially with our minimalist modern pool design.

In my area, SE Texas, home buyers will pass on a home with a pool for one with a pool/spa.
IMO, you don't get the additional money you spent on the spa back but you get a quicker turn on the sale.
You have no idea how many homes with a pool/spa I've built where the seller sold the home on the first showing.
If you have any friends that are Realtors or are friends with one you should ask them their take on it.

See ya,
Kelly

I agree with Kelly...ask a been-in-the-business-a-long-time REALTOR how resale might be affected. It may make a difference in some subdivisions/areas of town and not in others.

If you purchased your home in the past couple of years, call the person who did the lender appraisal and ask his/her take on it. We did exactly that when we were putting a pool in and the appraiser was more than happy to discuss our neighborhood and the value of improvements with us on the phone - for free.

Sandra, even the best realtor's will only say "I don't know".

Poolmissy who is a Real estate agent that has a pool, and could probably answer this better than anyone, but my understanding is that if you build a pool, it's a luxury for you, and not to expect any ROI from it.

Now will your pool and spa possibly make your house more desirable to a potential buyer???? Could it turn off a potential buyer???? The answer to both is yes, so it's a gamble.

I don't think adding a spa will discourage a buyer if the pool didn't.

I agree with what Racket is saying. A pool is for you to enjoy so make sure you are keeping the house long enough to make up for the cost. At resale time, you have likely eliminated 50% of the buyers as they just don't want a pool.

Now if your house and the house next door are exactly the same and at the same price, your's may be more desirable to the "right" buyer which could lead to an easier sell.

I don't think a hot tub really changes the scenerio either way by very much.

Also depends on the level of the house.
I would expect a spa on a higher end home.

In the $2-4Million range (In Seattle) Spas aren't as common as they are in the $500-800k range. Gunite spas are more common in the 2-4 range but fiberglass outnumber them 100:1

I think where you get the "resort estates" here is around the $10mil mark.

Interesting stats about Seattle. Although we do live in an affluent community outside Portland, with plenty of such resort estates, our house is quite modest. After remodeling we expect it to be valued around $600-650k.

Still waffling on the spa. I think we'd get use out of it and extend our pool season, but still can't decide if it's worth the extra money.

In my business,it's easy to spend other peoples money!!!
quote" but still can't decide if it's worth the extra money. "quote
Divide the price of the upgrade into your home/pool purchase and it'll look a lot easier to swallow.
I don't say this just because I'm a pool guy, I'm a pool kind of guy. If I lived in an area where I could circulate my pool year round, I'd certainly have an attached spa.

See ya,
Kelly

If the spa isn't of great concern to you I would rather see you use the money to install an automatic cover instead.