Above-Ground Pool - Personal Property?

[Blue1]

What about really elaborate setups with very large, very high quality above ground pools surrounded by extensive, high quality decking and landscaping?

These can be obviously favorable features that cause buyers to pay more for such a property than a property without them.

While the pool itself may not be "real property" should the appraiser account for them in determining the opinion of market value?

Look at the structure. If it is a functioning above-ground pool and is approx. 10K to 20K gallons, has side posts set in concrete, a dug-down deep end and a surrounding deck, there is no way it is NOT real property.

If it is not functioning, (torn liner, compromised rusted side walls, thrashed pump and filter, etc......You'll need a front-loader to get rid of it.

 

[ZZGAMAZZ]

If a comparable (rather than the subject) sold with the personal property improvements described in Post#9 included in the contract price, a downward adjustment typically would be imposed, similar to the model home selling with all personal property furnishings included.

 

[Pat Butler]

We're in Illinois and most of the above ground pools here require at least some digging out underneath the pool and some sand to be added for leveling and cushioning. That amount of modification of the land usually results in them being deemed real property. Not only that, but many are surrounded by a deck that might also be attached to the house.

 

[J Grant]

What about really elaborate setups with very large, very high quality above ground pools surrounded by extensive, high quality decking and landscaping?

These can be obviously favorable features that cause buyers to pay more for such a property than a property without them.

While the pool itself may not be "real property" should the appraiser account for them in determining the opinion of market value?

In a case like that, I'd adjust the comp for the fact that the market paid for the decking and landscaping, and above ground pool as attached.

If my subject had this set up, I'd adjust comps to the decking, landscaping, and installation but pool itself would still not be counted as an in-ground pool, it would still be personal property however elaborately attached.

 

[Peter LeQuire]

While it is possible to disassemble most AG pools and move them, it generally isn't feasible to do so. Most AG pools are on houses in market segment for which pools in general - and IG pools in particular - are rare and which have little, no, or negative value where they do exist: even if they do have some component that is permanently affixed, they don't (IME) appear to have value that can be discerned.

 

[Meandering]

I'm with CAN,

When you have this part:

From the dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal;

2. Consists of every kind of property
that is not real property; movable
without damage to itself or the real
estate; subdivided into tangible and
intangible. (IAAO)

Above ground pools that have fancy wood decking surrounding them, when you remove the pool, you have a deck with a big hole in the middle, or on the side. The deck is real estate by definition. Removing the pool damages it, in that it turns the deck into a safety hazard, lacking guard rails from the removed sides, and creating a functional ob, for the existence of the deck. And that's ditto for above ground pools that they partially bury, and would leave a big hole in the land if removed.


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[Terrel L. Shields]

Extensive decking, etc. may create that issue with "fixtures" as part of the Real Estate. Your call. You are the appraiser...

 

[Don Clark]

Also.
A question.
You are in Virginia and you are appraising a property in Texas?

Inquiring minds want to know

Maybe it's for an AMC who thinks he/she is in Texas, and was ordered by "Larry" in India.

 

[Don Clark]

Look at the structure. If it is a functioning above-ground pool and is approx. 10K to 20K gallons, has side posts set in concrete, a dug-down deep end and a surrounding deck, there is no way it is NOT real property.

If it is not functioning, (torn liner, compromised rusted side walls, thrashed pump and filter, etc......You'll need a front-loader to get rid of it.

An underwriter will not accept it as real property, regardless of what you and I think.

I did one several years ago where 3 feet was inground and 4 feet above ground an the underwriter still would not accept it. The Golden Rule.........Them's that has the gold, makes them there rules".

 

[Blue1]

An underwriter will not accept it as real property, regardless of what you and I think.

I did one several years ago where 3 feet was inground and 4 feet above ground an the underwriter still would not accept it. The Golden Rule.........Them's that has the gold, makes them there rules".

I think it depends on the UW, I've had many accepted with AG pools such as I described with equal comps.

BTW, metal-lined AG pools (where a thin metal wall that supports the vinyl liner is partially or completely underground) typically have a much shorter life span as rust is a big factor. Unless one knows how long the pool has been in place AND can access the underground portion there is no way to know how sound the pool really is. In that case, I would consider giving it $0 value.