Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Does a pond add investment value to a property?

Next month I will be hiring a contractor to dig me a 1 acre pond. It will be for enjoyment and recreational purposes. However, I am curious if I would get my money back if I sold the land in the future. How much, if any, does a pond add value to a property? Does it benefit or add the value of the property if I build my pond in viewing distance from the county road? If I was to build a pond to give me the maxium added investment value what features, design, or size ratio should I go with.

Boomer

Boomer,

Here is some reading for you.

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=001053#000004

Maybe I'm just beine naive, but to me, if I was buying, the best characteristic of a pond that would add value would be an excellent fishery and good water quality.

A thoughtful, well built pond that holds water and is healthy adds to land value. Market dictates how much value.

Why worry about it? Once you build a pond, stock it, fish it, and your family enjoys it, I doubt you would ever want to sell it!

If you are trying to justify the expense, that isn't needed either. That's because a pond is priceless.

I am a complete novice when it comes to ponds but certainly do my research when it comes to real estate purchases. I can only speak for the California market since that is where I own properties.

In California a pond will definately add value as long it looks good. Even small back yard koi ponds add value here (granted only a small amount but some value is added). The key, in my opinion, is that the pond should look as good as possible (clean & clear), it should look as natural as possible and is a real plus if it can be viewed from the house.

People (at least in the California market) like properties with some unique quality about them. Something to escape the ordinary and set their property apart from the neighbors. A view is always a plus. I have owned golf course homes and beach homes and the problem with those views is that you cannot control the view environment. Neighbors can plant trees that block your view, homes can be built that block the view, etc, etc.

IMHO, the one advantage of having your own pond is that if the property is designed well, the pond can be both a great recreation feature and a great view feature. And can be one that the property owner controls (for better or worse).

How much value does it add, who knows. But if the pond looks good and the overall property is well thought out I think that you will command among the highest price in the market at the time. A think the "other side" to the coin is that if the pond looks bad and/or is poorly designed then it can become a liability when it comes time to sell.

Anyway that's my two cents worth.

Which reminds me of a joke... If someone offers you a penny for your thoughts and you give them your two cents worth, does the IRS get the other penny?

Sorry, just some CPA humor, I'll go back to my cage now.

I think one of the most important things to remember is the value a pond may have to the "right" potential buyer.

When and if you sell, you should include whatever value you feel the pond has within your asking price.

It should also be marketed as 'Fisherman's Dream' or 'Nature Lovers Dream' or something like that.

If you finally end up not being able to find a buyer with pond interests, then you may have to reduce price.

Thanks guys for all the replies. Even though the pond will serve more for recreation than investment, it is good to know that the money is well spent.

My poperty has a slightly better water shed on the backside of my property but I am leaning towards building the pond in viewing distance from the county road. Since I have good clay, I might take the risk that both spots will hold water.

My property has two small creeks that run through it. The realitor told me I got a great deal because creeks, rivers, and streams add value to the property. I paid the same per acre for my land compared to local land without creeks. I would venture to say, a pond has a similar value to a creek.

Boomer2, one comment....if you have the choice of making your pond within view of a road, or the public in general vs. having the pond be totally out of public view, I would vote for the pond not being in public view.

Sunil,

I am curious why you would have the pond being build out of the public's view? I would think it would add more value to the land.

Round here ponds add value cause they gives ya somewhere's ta bathe,water cows and wash yur clothes.

Asking the question here on a form where everyone loves ponds is like asking a question as to the value of sports cars to a gearhead on a Muscle car group. You know the answer you will get before even asking the question. You will get a positive answer and statements that it adds value.

Truth is that if there are few properties around with water features and there is a demand for water features, then it will add value. If however there are lots of properties around with water features and there is not a great demand for it, then it won�t add value.

On the positive side we can find many reasons we feel it adds value. Just ask us and we can come up with many. But on the flip side it is an insurance risk. For some it takes more work to maintain than grass. For others the smell and what it attracts is undesirable. You also may have to deal with regulatory bodies that you would not with land and no water features ...etc The list and issues go on and on.

So the answer is for those of us who love water features it is desirable and would add value. For those who don�t it doesn�t add value. The trick is selling to someone who does value it and doing it in an area where it is unique and not common place to have water features.

Thus the best bang for the buck is to build a good pond that holds water in somewhere like Arizona and you can be assured you have a good investment. But if you build one in Minnesota ( land of 10,000 lakes ) you may not get back the money you invested in building the pond.

As for the question of viewing from the road you run into the same issues of it depends. Some would say for initial viewing and a draw to the property it adds more value for it to be seen from the road. For others (like myself) it is a major detractor to have it seen from the road. One of the joys and value of the pond is to give a piece of wildlife and peace and quiet without the outside wolrd peeking in. I personally think that it adds more value when it is contained and not viewable from the road and here is why. When you can see it from the road, so can others and when others can see it there is a chance that they will visit it without your knowledge or approval. You could then have people fishing or worse yet dumping fish into your pond and you lose control over your investment. I wont even go into the legal problems you may get into around people coming on your property ilegally and getting hurt and taking you to court over it.

I think that a pond viewable from the road may bring more people in for a first look but if it is out of view you will get people who will pay more for that privacy than he people wanting a view from the road. Thats just my $0.02.

Boomer2, as Eric has mentioned, the more folks who can see your pond, the more you will have people trying to "use" your pond.

This will range from kids all the way to adults who feel that they have every right to your pond.

That's worth at least $.50, Eric.

If a pond can be seen from the road, chances are the road can be seen from the pond. I'm not interested in this at all. I'm waiting for trees to grow some more so I can't see anything off my property from the pond.

I have rottweiler protection. I don't think many people will want to fish on my property.

I lean with Sunil and Theo. For me, it's all about seclusion, privacy, and communing with nature. I want to be immersed into another world where I can hear my own heart beat as the twigs snap beneath the hooves of the deer at the other end of the pond.

Yarrrrgh!

Good points Eric. Like everything else, it all depends. Water gives you a lot more options. With it, you can fish, swim or raise livestock. Without it, none of those things are possible.

In Texas, it is said that acreage under water has 10 times the value of dry land. Of course, the tax assessor feels the same way.

Another observation. When I travel, I stop and buy small town newspapers. The voyeur in me wants to know what life is like in other places. I have noticed that land with trees, hills, erosions, rocks, draws, creeks and ponds sells for a premium. Useable land that can be farmed and actually produce something of value is much cheaper.

Boomer,

If they can see it, they WILL come... dogs or no dogs, cameras or whatever security systems you can think of. There are those in this world that think everything is free to them or just think the rules don't apply to them.

Personally, my pond is my retreat. I do not want it seen from any roads or my house and there are lots of people who have been to my house who have no clue there is a 6 1/2 acre pond just over the hill.

But, that's just me. I know others like to show off their pride and joy. Whatever works for you.

Dan

I see everyone's points and concerns. I guess I never realized that trespassing was so common. My land is in Northern Alabama but I am currently living in Florida. Where I come from you don't even think about jumping someone's fense as there are too many people with the names "smith" and "Wesson".

one of the downsides to my property.....its at the end of the road with a pond. sounds good huh? Usually it�s fantastic, private, quiet��.but there are times���..

no trespassing signs are posted for over 1/2 a mile on the way in, two big ones say "no trespassing - residents and invited guests only"....... several more say "no trespassing, no poaching......we put a stop sign in at our gate (which we leave open for fire dept., deliveries, etc.) right next to three different no trespassing type signs.....once they go through all these, i made a sign down by my pond...."you have been trespassing since oak ridge, keep out, private property".

at least once a month sometimes more, people drive, ride (horse, motorcyle), or walk down just to see the pond. some are from neighborhood and I know them, it is tolerated, but most are out of towners......usu. w/ dogs... If they are truly lost I�ll help them out, if they give me the �just looking around� ��lets just say I aint very friendly�� Some apologize, most feel and act oblivious to private property rights.

one night around midnight these guys came down, parked truck, starting gigging bullfrogs.....they were met w/ friendly shotgun blast into the hillside...its my front yard, i dont know who the hell it is at midnight, that was two years ago, they've never been back and I suppose i'm lucky for not gettin in trouble, but the point is (dittos DAN) if they see it, they WILL come, and that is a downside of end of the road pond ownership.

Dave, you are one obnoxious, unfriendly son-of-a-gun. Me too. Sometimes it's the only way.

Ditto, Dan.

My ponds are not public. My land is not available for public hunting or anything else. Unless, of course, someone needs a place to get a kid into the outdoors.

One word of caution. Some trespassers are much meaner than DD1 or Dave. If you confront them always have the upper hand and don't give them a second chance or a second to do you harm.

Funny thing. Since clearing out hundreds of tallow trees, the pond is visible from the road(when there is more water). When I deepen it, I am considering mounding the dirt up so that it cannot be seen from the road.

Keep in mind that if someone knows that a pond exists, they may actually feel more secure poaching a pond where they won't be visible from the road. I'm not sure you can win.