From structures and furniture to installing anchors for umbrellas, these are the types of accessories that can provide higher profits on renovation projects. Photo courtesy All Seasons Pools

By Jill Thompson

For Fort Worth Custom Pools, backyard living spaces and outdoor living have become a large part of its renovation business. For instance, this type of work in the past, which includes designing and building arbours, gazebos, outdoor kitchens, as well as selling patio furniture and other related backyard accessories, represented a mere five per cent of the company’s business. Today, however, it represents nearly 40 per cent.

Renovating backyard living spaces has also grown exponentially for All Seasons Pools.

“From structures and furniture to installing anchors for umbrellas, these are the types of accessories that can provide higher profits on renovation projects,” says Lenz. “Our goal is to remain in the backyard and do everything we can for the client. We strive to offer one-stop shopping for everything in the backyard.

“In the past we would tell customers to call a landscaper to get their paver, concrete or other landscaping and hardscaping work done. Now we do everything ourselves.”

In fact, re-doing concrete and paver work has become a large part of Bama Pools’ renovation projects, as well. The company says this work is sometimes out of necessity when replacing old, plastic drop-in steps that are leaking and cracked.

Read the full article: Tips for increasing renovation profits with accessories

By Jill Thompson

Technology also plays a key role in swimming pool renovation projects and continues to be a major profit centre for builders. High-tech accessories and equipment such as variable-speed pumps and automation devices are constantly being updated to operate more efficiently. Whether part of a renovation project or not, even a pool installed five years ago can benefit from a technological overhaul.

“Variable-speed drives are a big part of our renovation business—especially for our older clients who are trying to lower or control their monthly operating expenses,” says Clark. “A variable-speed drive can reduce electric bills for consumers by approximately 70 per cent.”

Many builders have also found high profits in automatic control systems, as homeowners love the digital/gadget experience.

Read the full article: Tips for increasing renovation profits with accessories

By Jill Thompson

When it comes to accessories such as games and rail goods, many pool owners are unfamiliar with what may be available to them—especially if their pool is already built.

For example, many builders have experienced increased profits by offering built-in gaming products such as basketball and volleyball equipment. The in-deck games are more attractive than typical plastic versions on the market and installing the deck anchors is easy.

“The basketball hoop is a prime example of the importance in offering a wide range of accessories,” says Rowland. “Most people think the plastic sets they find at big box outlets are their only option. However, when I show my customers there is a high-end basketball hoop available, which installs directly into the pool deck, they are happy to know this option exists.

“These products are also a great profit centre for renovation projects,” Rowland adds. “It takes no more than an hour to install a unit that sells for approximately $900 to $1,000, which translates into a profit of about $350 per unit.”

Read the full article: Tips for increasing renovation profits with accessories

Water/fire bowl accessories are great profit centres that can be easily added to any project to give the pool a quick facelift. Photo courtesy All Seasons Pools

By Jill Thompson

Additional backyard accessories builders are finding success with are water features and fire pits. In fact, companies like Sterling Pools and All Seasons Pools (Orland Park, Ill.), say water features are one of the top accessories they sell on renovation projects.

More specifically, deck sprays have been extremely profitable and popular for Sterling Pools in the Peterborough region, while structural water features, which can run $10,000 to $15,000 per job, have been the number one accessory for All Seasons Pools.

“In the grand scale of a renovation project, water/fire bowls are great profit centres,” says Bullard. “These accessories can be easily added to any project to give the pool a quick facelift. When I show clients they can spend $20,000 to $30,000 and get a pool that looks brand new, they get really excited.”

Read the full article: Tips for increasing renovation profits with accessories

Whether they are standalone products or custom designs, slides and diving boards offer builders great profit potential. Photo courtesy Forth Worth Custom Pools

By Jill Thompson

Whether they are standalone products or custom designs, slides and diving boards offer builders great profit potential. Many homeowners had pools built before they had children or when they had older children. Now that they are grandparents, with young children coming over to enjoy the pool, this has changed. As a result, this can be a key factor in up-selling slides and diving boards.

“Slides are key to our renovation projects,” says Bullard. “Not only are custom slides a great profit centre for us, they also help distinguish us from our competitors. We sell a lot of these accessories by taking our customers to completed job sites, which incorporate these accessories.”

For builders interested in a faster profit centre, standalone slides or diving boards, which do not require additional rock and concrete work, are also popular among pool renovators.

Read the full article: Tips for increasing renovation profits with accessories