A swimming pool can add up to 20% to the value of your french property

Photo: Laguna poolsAS FRENCH estate agents here in the Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne, it's not uncommon for us to meet people looking to buy french property with a swimming pool at the top of their wish list.

The summers here are usually long and hot and it's a long way to the coast.

A recent article on www.capital.fr, a popular consumer website in France suggests that a swimming pool is not only nice to have but can add substantial value to your property in France.

By the end of last year there were 835,000 private in-ground swimming pools in France.

Since the heatwave of 2003, when sales peaked, the pool companies report that the market has stabilised.

But demand is still high. Now though, seemingly, more for economic reasons.

To some french property buyers a swimming pool is an indispensable luxury. This is particularly true in the central and southwest regions of France.

Depending on the region the  value of a property with a swimming pool can be from 5% to 20% greater than that of a similar house without one.

However, in some other parts of France a swimming pool adds no significant value to the property unless it is heated or can easly be covered.

A recent survey conducted by the FPP, the French federation of swimming pool professionals, found that most homeowners believe the increase in french property prices has made the investment in a swimming pool a necessity.

They felt that with a swimming pool, the price of your "average house" was more expensive while grander properties without swimming pools were being sold for below their market value.

Spas are becoming increasing popular too with between 6 and 7,000 being installed each year.

By 2010 the spa market in France is expected to increase by 60%.

Year on year they become more sophisticated with a price tag of up to 30,000 euros but can also increase the value of your french home by the same amount as a traditional swimming pool.

Of course, they need to be maintained which incurs a cost but this is not likely to be anywhere near the additional value to your property by having one.