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COOL POOLS

 In Real Estate / Home & Garden, Summer 2024

Making a Splash in Outer Banks Rentals

Living on the Outer Banks, it’s easy to become envious of the seemingly endless supply of vacation homes boasting amenities packages we could only dream of having in our own homes. One of the most easily enviable amenities is the emergence of out-of-this-world pool areas. Walking down beach access boardwalks, you can peer over into these decked-out pool areas outfitted with over-the-top details and wonder what it would be like to stay in that home, floating in the lazy river, enjoying drinks at the swim-up bar, and relaxing in shaded pool side cabanas. These are not your standard kidney-shaped vinyl pools. These pools are components of incomparable entertainment areas designed to delight rental guests with unique shapes, water elements, outdoor kitchens and bars, sunny and shaded seating areas, and upscale additions.

Demand for outdoor entertainment areas is as hot as the sand in mid-July.

There was a time when rental homes on the Outer Banks didn’t offer pools. Visitors were assumed to be satisfied with the waters of the beach or the sound. Then, about 25 years ago, the tide turned. Homeowners began investing in pools, and in return, saw their homes in higher demand.

Rental companies know that homes with pools are more marketable and rent earlier than homes without pools. Pools offer respite from rough surf conditions. They are a safe haven for parents of younger children. And it’s simply nice to have a private pool in which to relax and enjoy, steps from the conveniences of your rental home.
According to Shelley Tolbert of Twiddy & Company, who manages more than 1,000 homes on the Outer Banks, a pool is the most highly sought-after amenity. “86% of our homes have a pool. A private pool is the #2 searched feature on our website, after oceanfront. Homes without pools have a 42% higher vacancy rate.”

And now, after 25 years of swimming in traditional pools, Outer Banks vacationers are seeking a more expanded outdoor experience from their vacation home. A swimming pool surrounded by deck chairs is no longer enough.

Alexis Lowe, of Carolina Designs Realty who manages dozens of homes with extraordinary pool areas, explains it this way, “An amazing pool can make a vacation rental its own destination. The more amenities a home offers, the easier it is to keep multi-generational vacation groups entertained.” She continues, “Standard pools provide plenty of fun, but built-in hot tubs, swim-up bars, waterfall features, baby pools, wet decks, and pool side outdoor lounges set homes apart.”

Coastal Cabana with Twiddy & Co. – a wall of water separates the cool shaded cabana area from the pool. Photo courtesy of Twiddy and Company.

Coastal Cabana with Twiddy & Co. – a wall of water separates the cool shaded cabana area from the pool. Photo courtesy of Twiddy and Company.

Leslie Etheridge from Beach Realty and Construction agrees. Beach Realty manages homes with pool areas among the more notable, including a pool custom built in the shape of a paw-print, and homes with enclosed pool areas extending the swimming season year round. A most memorable pool in their program is the rooftop pool at The Thunderbird home on the oceanfront in Southern Shores. Who wouldn’t want to swim in a rooftop pool on the oceanfront, or soak in a rooftop hot tub with ocean views? And that isn’t even the only pool at this home. There is also an indoor lap pool.

When asked about the impact of amazing pools on rental performance, Leslie says, “Homeowners can charge a premium price because of an amazing pool. The image of the pool all decked out makes the home more desirable. An amazing pool evokes a cool vibe. It makes you want to hang out there. People know that having that awesome pool will not only be fun but will contribute to core memories for their families. It’s definitely what sells these homes.”

But it’s not just about the pool. Vacationers come to the beach to spend time in the sun and salt air. With expanded outdoor environments, guests can now spend a large amount of their vacation outside. They can prepare meals in the outdoor kitchen, they can eat and drink outdoors at the Tiki bar or outdoor dining arrangements, they can escape the sun in shaded seating areas. When you are vacationing with 30 of your closest friends, having the ability to spread out is essential.

These pool areas can be extremely attractive to guests. The person in charge of booking a rental home for their group is not only looking for the right combination of bedrooms and bathrooms, but also the wow-factor. Booking a home with something sensational like an incredible pool can make that person into a hero of sorts. Everyone wants to make their party happy, and this can really raise the bar.

The Thunderbird with Beach Realty: Perched above the Atlantic in Southern Shores, this unrivaled experience features a rooftop pool and multi-level deck with ocean view from the hot tub. And what better to raise the bar, than a lazy river. This feature, mostly seen at water parks, contributes to an awe-inspiring vacation experience. Aphrodite, a rental home in Kill Devil Hills managed by Twiddy & Company boasts an outdoor oasis featuring a lazy river, floating under a bridge which leads from the pool deck with two hot tubs and a three-story cabana with Tiki bar, to the inner pool, with swim-up bar and wet deck.

This pool experience was perfectly summed up by a guest review, “I don’t know what a lazy river costs to put in, but wooooooweeeeeee that was the highlight of this trip for us, and 100% the reason we booked this house (and did so 22 months in advance).”

For a homeowner, the further in advance you can book your home, the higher rate you can set.

This guest review, mentioning having booked nearly two years in advance is akin to striking gold in vacation rental terms. High demand amenities like these can force prospective guests to book these homes so far in advance, that the homeowner doesn’t need to be as concerned with market downturns or shifts that might require other homeowners to consider lowering rates in times of lower demand.

Leslie Etheridge shared data illustrating the difference in revenue between installing a standard pool or an amazing pool. “Over the past three years, two nearly identical five-bedroom vacation rentals were compared to evaluate the impact of having a custom pool versus a standard pool on rental revenue. The rental with the custom pool generated, on average, 26% more rental revenue annually compared to the rental with the standard pool.

Paw Shaped Pool at Happy Dog Days3rd photo; A fun and instagrammable pawprint-shaped pool at this dog-friendly home. Photo courtesy of Beach Realty & Construction.

Paw Shaped Pool at Happy Dog Days
3rd photo; A fun and instagrammable pawprint-shaped pool at this dog-friendly home.
Photo courtesy of Beach Realty & Construction.

Two eight-bedroom oceanfront vacation rentals with similar features were also compared for the same date range. The home with the custom pool generated, on average, 32% more rental revenue annually compared to the home with the standard pool.”

This is music to homeowners’ ears.

So, how do you build an amazing pool at your home? Shelly at Twiddy suggests that you, “talk with your builder or rental company for guidance. There is a niche of vendors who install these unique elements.” Beach Realty and Construction also recommends that “lot size is a determining factor in how creative you can be with your outdoor space. Bid and quote a custom plan for your pool addition because cost can limit your options.”

Ann Wood
Author: Ann Wood

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