Make The Right Pond Repairs When Selling A House

When selling your home, a beautiful pond can be a considerable asset. Depending on the pond's size and proximity to your home, it may increase your home's value by anywhere from 5 to 35 percent. Repairing a deteriorated pond, however, might require a lot of money, which presents a dilemma. You must decide whether investing money in repairs is worth the potential boost in your home's selling price. Here are some tips on which pond repairs to make and which to forgo when selling your home for the greatest return on your investment in repairs.

Fix Major Cosmetic Detractors

Unlike a pool, which people can swim in, a pond's value comes almost exclusively from its appearance. Prospective homebuyers are willing to pay more for homes with ponds than for those that don't have ponds, because ponds add beauty.

Therefore, you should make sure your pond looks as good as possible when prospective buyers come to look at your home. Most buyers will only spend a few moments looking at your home's yard, so they might not notice minor cosmetic problems with your pond. Any major visual detractors, however, could affect their opinion of your home's pond.

Specifically, you should take care to address the following potential issues:

• mulch over any areas where the pond liner is visible around plants
• fix any broken benches or chairs near the pond
• trim any overgrown plants close to the pond

Repair Leaks in Your Pond's Liner

Any leaks in your pond's liner should be fixed for two reasons. First, you'll have to keep your pond full when showing your home, and constantly refilling a leaking pond will cost you money. Second, a leak can soften the soil under your pond, and the ground could eventually shift. A home inspector may make note of this on an inspection.

You might be tempted to ignore a small leak. Even small leaks should be fixed, though, because you don't know how long your home will be on the market. If it's listed for months, a leak of any size could lead to a lot of lost water.

To find a leak, follow these steps:

1. let your pond's water leak out until the water level stops dropping
2. if the water level drops too low for fish in the pond, move them to a container you can keep them in temporarily
3. after the water level stops dropping, use your fingers to feel the pond liner around the edge of the water

The leaking area should be slightly above the water line, and you'll likely be able to feel it even if you can't see it.

If the leak is small, you may be able to repair it with a patch yourself. More sizeable leaks might require the expertise of a company that specializes in installing and repairing pond liners.

Don't Fix a Broken Pond Heater

You don't need to repair your pond's heater if it's broken. Since people don't swim in ponds, a broken heater isn't a major problem. Any prospective buyers will likely learn of the issue from their home inspector, but you can address it when negotiating the final sale price. You don't have to get the heater repaired before a home inspection.

If you're selling your home soon, and it has a pond, make sure your pond adds as much value to your home as possible. Don't spend money on unnecessary repairs, like a broken heater, but take care of any cosmetic defects or leaks. This will ensure your pool looks beautiful and isn't losing water -- and it will maximize the return you see on the money you spend on pond repairs when your home sells.

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