Home is where the pool should be – or at least, that’s what a lot of homeowners are thinking. In fact, 40% of homeowners are considering selling in the next five years, and about a third of them are on the hunt for upgrades. But what if you didn’t have to pack up and move to get the backyard of your dreams? A smarter (and far more refreshing) solution might be closer than you think.

With house prices fluctuating across Australia, moving right now may not be the best decision for homeowners. That’s particularly true if you still owe a substantial amount on your current home loan.

Renovating might be the answer for those gazing longingly at the latest realestate.com.au listings – in the long-term, it’s a far more affordable solution.

Renovating Makes Financial Sense

More than half of Australian homeowners would rather revamp than move, and many either have renovations in progress or are planning to remodel within the next year.

In more favourable conditions, they may have considered moving, but today’s high interest rates and shifting housing prices are leading them to stay put and redesign their existing home to suit their personality and lifestyle instead.

Renovating a home in Australia costs an average of $63,118. While that’s a decent short-term investment, it’s often more cost-effective than moving in the long run. Adding a pool can also boost your property’s value, potentially increasing it by $100,000 to $200,000, and with options outlined in our Plungie price guide, it can be a smart investment

With the average Australian house price sitting at $985,900, selling and buying a new home could result in immediate costs of nearly half the price of renovations, with real estate commissions (averaging 2-2.5% of the home cost), removalists fees (typically $300-$3,000 for a local move), and substantial stamp duty fees. And that’s all before any renovations or restorations you may need to do to make your new home just right.

Room to Grow and Thrive – Outside

One of the biggest homebuying regrets of Australians is not having enough space. As your family grows, you need space to enjoy time together... and time apart.

While backyard size is on the decline, the limited space you do have can provide a major boost to your home’s sense of spaciousness, and your lifestyle. And if ROI is an important consideration, it’s good to know that decks and finished outdoor areas are some of the renovations that return the most ROI when it comes time to sell.

Taking the time to plan the best use of your space outdoors can see you enjoying an open-air office, a space to entertain, a place to relax, a destination for entertaining friends and a haven where you can build precious memories with your family. And all the better with a pool to beat the heat in summer.

Planning your Backyard Renovation

Like all good projects, your backyard revamp needs a solid plan, and that plan should start with a sprinkle of inspiration.

Explore the latest trends in pools and outdoor designs to get a feel for what’s right for you and your family – from concrete plunge pools to personalised wellness spaces.

Then, it’s time to kick off your renovation. Here’s what you’ll need to know to get started:

1. Understand your budget - a pool is a major home investment, so set a clear budget to stay on track and get your perfect Plungie without overspending.

2. Getting your Plungie into your yard - whilst Plungie looks after the manufacturing, when it comes to installation, you’ve got options – hire a Plungie Partner to get you cooling off sooner, bring your own builder (BYOB), or project manage your own installation.

3. Understand the crane costs - when adding a Plungie to an existing property, craning it in can be a little more difficult. Limited access, a double story house, a long reach or powerlines are some of factors that can have an impact on your crane costs.

Your Plungie Partner or builder will be able to arrange for a crane company to do a site visit prior to kicking the project off so you know what to expect. If you’re project managing the installation yourself, reach out to the Plungie team as we may be able to refer you to a local crane company who have previously installed Plungies.

So, whilst you may need to spend a little more if it's a difficult lift, it's worth it in the long run (we promise!). 

4. Getting building approval - you’ll need a permit from your local council to get started. With Plungie, it’s easier – we’ll supply you with pre-engineered specifications for pool construction and footings, based on different site classifications. Once you’ve got the go-ahead, it’s time to really get excited — your plunge pool can be ready to go in as little as two weeks!

5. Finishing your outdoor remodel - from decking to coping tiles, fencing and landscaping, this is the time to perfectly personalise your new outdoors escape. Plus, with Plungie’s pool heater add-on, you can enjoy warm water year-round, making it a smart investment in every season.

It’s Never Too Late to Live the Lifestyle you Deserve

Start your Plungie journey today. Contact our friendly team to find out how a quality Plungie pool will level up your home.