How Much Is a Swimming Pool Worth in Shenandoah Estates, Baton Rouge?

Homeowners often ask how much value a swimming pool adds to a home—especially in large, established Baton Rouge subdivisions like Shenandoah Estates. The short answer is that a pool can add value, but the amount depends heavily on price range, home size, and buyer demand.

Importantly, appraisers don’t assign value to a pool in isolation. Instead, they analyze market data to understand how buyers actually paid for homes with and without pools.

Pools as Lifestyle Features, Not Guaranteed Investments

As longtime Baton Rouge REALTOR® Pat Guttery once noted, a swimming pool is best viewed as an investment in lifestyle and enjoyment—not necessarily a financial investment that returns dollar-for-dollar at resale. That perspective aligns closely with how pools tend to perform in appraisal analysis.

Shenandoah Estates Market Data (with credit)

Shenandoah Estates is one of the largest subdivisions in Baton Rouge, with roughly 2,800 homes. Its size makes it especially useful for studying buyer behavior because there is a large enough sample of sales to analyze features like pools.

The following analysis and data insights are based on sales research originally compiled by Bill Cobb, Appraiser, and are referenced here with credit.

Looking at home sales since mid-2016:

• A total of 129 sales were analyzed

• 111 homes (about 86%) did not have pools

• 18 homes (about 14%) had inground liner pools

With only a small percentage of homes featuring pools, buyer demand for pools in this subdivision appears limited rather than universal.

What the Sales Data Shows

Median results from the sales analysis showed:

• Homes without pools sold around $215,000, or roughly $106 per square foot

• Homes with pools sold around $237,000, or roughly $109 per square foot

Depending on how the data is interpreted, that suggests either:

• A gross difference of about $22,000, or

• A marginal difference of roughly $3 per square foot

However, these figures require careful interpretation.

Why Simple Averages Can Be Misleading

Sales in Shenandoah Estates ranged widely—from the mid-$140,000s up to the mid-$300,000s. Larger, higher-priced homes were more likely to have pools, which skews simple comparisons.

Using allocation methods rather than raw pivot table results, the supported contributory value of an inground liner pool generally fell closer to $8,000–$10,000, with variation depending on the specific home.

Lower-priced or smaller homes often see less contributory value from a pool—sometimes because the pool becomes an over-improvement. Higher-priced homes may support more value, particularly when the pool quality and overall property finish justify it.

Pool Type and Quality Matter

Not all pools are equal. Most pools in Shenandoah Estates are inground liner pools rather than higher-end gunite pools. Gunite pools, especially those with spas, upgraded finishes, or strong overall condition, may support higher contributory value—but require more detailed analysis.

As with most appraisal questions, the correct answer is: it depends.

Key Takeaways for Homeowners

• Appraisers do not “add value” to pools arbitrarily

• Pool value is derived from buyer behavior in the market

• Pools typically contribute a fraction of their cost, not full replacement cost

• Buyer preference varies—some buyers actively avoid pools due to maintenance concerns

• In mature neighborhoods, pools may even be removed by some owners

In established Baton Rouge subdivisions like Shenandoah Estates, an inground pool often adds value—but usually modestly, and only when supported by market data and overall property context.