Fall is great for so many reasons—the temperature is more pleasant, it’s the start of hosting (aka holiday) season, and the foliage is simply beautiful. However, if you’re a homeowner, there’s another reason why autumn should be your favorite season: It’s the best time to make outdoor home improvements. More specifically, it’s the best time to add a pool to your yard.
You might be thinking to yourself, “But pool season is over, why would I add one when I can’t even use it?” Turns out there are several excellent reasons why fall is the ideal time to build a pool and complete other outdoor renovations as well. “Building a pool in the fall is one of the smartest decisions a homeowner can make,” says Scott Rajeski, president and CEO of Latham Group, which makes inground swimming pools. “With more contractor availability, ideal building conditions, and the potential for off-season savings, it offers the perfect window for installation.”
Read on for the nitty gritty on why fall is the ideal time to install a pool, and expert advice on how to take advantage of the season.
Contractors Are More Available
Summer is typically the height of pool-building season, so waiting until the fall to install this feature means more contractors will be available for the job—you will hopefully have your pick of the litter. Plus, fewer outdoor jobs means that whoever you hire should theoretically have more time to spend on your project, with fewer distractions, which may mean a shorter installation timeline.
It Won’t be Too Hot
Let’s be real: No one wants to spend the day doing yard work when it’s 80+ degrees outside, including your hired contractors. Choosing to have a pool installed in the fall means the people working on the project will be more comfortable in the moderate temperatures. When it comes to storms, you can usually rely on fall being more predictable than the summer months, which can help to reduce setbacks due to the weather. The ground is also typically dry and hard after the summer, making it easier for construction to be done outside.
It’s the Best Time to Plant Trees
After your pool is installed, you’ll likely want to do some landscaping to create a beautiful outdoor space, and there’s no better time to do that than fall as well. When planting trees, you want roots to become established in the ground before freezing winter temperatures set in. Your newly planted trees and vegetation will have time to get used to the new soil and mature a bit, resulting in healthy plants in the spring and summer.
And if you already have a pool, this is your reminder that major landscaping projects are best done in the fall too.
You’ll Get Off-Season Prices
As the end of the year approaches, dealers are looking to get red of overstocked or soon-to-be-discontinued inventory, which puts you in a good position to negotiate a deal. The timing also means you can break up construction costs if you want to add a patio or fence around the pool. Sure, you can take a break between installing the pool and your deck in the spring and summer, but then you wouldn’t have one or the other during peak swimming time. Breaking it up between the fall and winter makes so more sense.
Major Tax Benefits Await
There are certain home improvements that pay off handsomely in the future, and a swimming pool is one of them. This specific addition adds value to your home, is a permanent fixture, and is part of the real property, meaning it’s considered a capital improvement. When you sell your home in the future, these types of additions will reduce your taxes. Plus, sales tax is not collected on capital improvement projects, according to the Department of Taxation and Finance.
Installing a pool can also be tax deductible in certain circumstances. If you can prove that your pool was put in due to medical reasons, then the initial installation as well as “any operation and maintenance costs related to keeping your pool running can also be deducted as a tax benefit,” according to IdealTax.
While the two points listed above are relevant at any time of year, the experts at Latham still believe the fall is ideal pool-installation season because you’ll be getting your tax refund (if you qualify for it) in the spring, right around when you’ll finally get to take your first dip in the pool.
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Meghan Shouse is House Beautiful‘s Assistant Editor, a role she has held since September 2023. On top of being the magazine’s go-to Waco expert, Meghan also touches on quite a few other verticals in the digital space, like hot news content featuring your favorite HGTV stars, home design inspiration, and the latest interior TikTok trends. However, her favorite pieces are the ones that start conversations, such as stories about resale value and whether or not the Solo cup is chic. Before becoming a home writer, Meghan worked in the fashion industry for two years, writing for Harper’s Bazaar after graduating from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in apparel merchandising. When she’s not interviewing interior designers about home trends, you can find Meghan reading a fictional thriller with her cat in her lap, planning themed parties, or strolling through flea markets searching for chunky candle holders and vintage bookends.
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