SOMETIMES QUICKER DECISIONS PAY OFF
I get the appeal of obsessing over every detail, but honestly, I’ve found that being decisive can be just as rewarding—especially if you’re looking at resale value down the line. On a few of my projects, I went with high-quality but readily available materials and wrapped up in half the time. Most buyers care more about overall vibe and condition than whether you spent weeks sourcing a rare tile. There’s definitely a balance between personal satisfaction and practicality... sometimes “good enough” really is good enough, especially if you’re juggling timelines or budgets.
There’s definitely a balance between personal satisfaction and practicality...
I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes taking a bit longer really does pay off. I spent extra time picking out unique finishes and, honestly, it made my pool feel way more “me.” Not sure buyers always notice, but I do.
HOW LONG DID YOUR POOL MAKEOVER REALLY TAKE?
- Took me about 7 months, start to finish. That’s with a couple of “life happened” delays and some scope creep (kept seeing new ideas on Pinterest…)
- Spent a lot of time going back and forth on tile and coping. Wasn’t just about color, but texture, too. I probably spent 2 weeks just ordering samples and holding them up in different light.
- Honestly, I get the urge to rush it, especially when you just want to swim already. But every time I tried to cut corners or pick the “easy” option, I’d regret it later.
- I do question how much buyers care about the details. My neighbor sold his place with a basic pool reno and got about the same per sq ft as houses with fancier finishes. But for me, I notice every little thing I chose. Makes a difference when you’re out there every day.
- Did all the tiling myself. Not gonna lie, that part took way longer than I thought. YouTube makes it look fast, but getting those lines straight and the grout perfect is a pain.
- One thing that surprised me: waiting for custom parts. The waterline tile I wanted was backordered for 6 weeks. That threw off my whole schedule.
- If I had to do it again, I’d probably spend less time agonizing over little stuff, but I wouldn’t skip the unique touches either. The pool feels like mine, not just something out of a catalog.
All in all, yeah, it took longer than planned. But every time I’m out there, I’m glad I didn’t just settle for “good enough.”
Funny you mention the details—my partner thought I was nuts obsessing over grout color, but now it’s one of my favorite things about the pool. Did you ever have a moment where you almost scrapped a design idea but stuck with it anyway?
Funny how those little details end up mattering the most. I almost ditched the mosaic tile border because it was a bit pricier, but I’m so glad I didn’t cave. Sometimes sticking to your gut—even if it seems minor or a bit extra—really pays off in the long run. Your grout color obsession totally makes sense to me.
