Does a Private Pool Increase Vacation-Rental Income in Myrtle Beach?

Myrtle Beach is a family beach destination, and outdoor amenities can strongly influence where guests choose to stay. A private pool gives families another place to relax and spend time together beyond the beach.

This guide shows how to evaluate the decision using local comps and the full cost of ownership: how a pool affects income, how to compare similar Myrtle Beach rentals, and how to tell whether a private pool makes financial sense for your property.

How Can a Private Pool Affect Vacation-Rental Income?

A private pool can affect vacation-rental income in four ways: higher rates, better booking conversion, stronger occupancy, and a longer usable season. A pool strengthens a good listing. It rarely rescues a weak one.

💵 Higher Average Daily or Weekly Rates

A private pool may support a premium, but only against genuinely similar homes: same area, similar beach distance, same bedroom count, and comparable reviews. Top-earning pool homes often win on size, location, or management, not the pool alone.

Many guests also get resort or community pool access, so a private pool competes with that, not with no pool at all.

🔎 Search Filters and Booking Conversion

Airbnb and Vrbo let guests filter by amenities, including pools. A guest who filters for a pool may never see a home without one. Clean, well-lit photos with usable deck space help turn those views into bookings.

📅 Occupancy: What a Pool Can’t Fix

A pool can tip the choice between similar homes, but only if location, reviews, photos, pricing, and upkeep are already solid. A dirty pool or broken heater can also hurt reviews.

🔥 Heated Pools and Shoulder-Season Demand

Unheated, a pool here is most comfortable from late spring through early fall. A heater may make the pool usable in spring and fall, but it adds energy and equipment costs, and some owners charge a heating fee to offset them. Heating does not guarantee off-season bookings.

How to Test Whether a Pool Could Increase Your Rental Revenue

Before adding a pool, compare your home with similar Myrtle Beach rentals. The goal is to learn whether the pool drives higher revenue or if something else does.

1. Build a Matched Group of Comparable Rentals

Compare your home only with properties that match it on:

• Neighborhood and beach distance
• Bedroom and bathroom count
• Maximum occupancy
• Property type
• Oceanfront, ocean-view, or inland location
• Renovation quality
• Reviews and ratings
• Professional or self-management
• Other amenities
• Available rental dates

Skip the top earners. A matched group shows what a pool may realistically add.

2. Compare the Right Performance Measures

Revenue alone can mislead. Track:

• Average daily rate (ADR)
• Occupancy rate
• Revenue per available rental night (RevPAR)
• Average length of stay
• Seasonal performance
• Booking lead time
• Total owner revenue

A pool may lift one measure without moving the others.

3. Why Top-Earning Pool Homes Can Mislead You

A high-earning pool home often has other advantages:

• More bedrooms
• Better beach access
• Stronger outdoor space
• Updated interiors
• Better photography
• More reviews
• Stronger management

Comparing pool homes with the overall market proves nothing. Only a close match shows what the pool itself adds.

Calculate Net Income Before You Build

A pool can add value to a rental, but the decision should rest on net income, rather than bookings alone.

Also include the upfront investment. A pool that adds bookings but costs too much to run may not improve profit.

📈 Potential Revenue Gains

• Higher nightly or weekly rates
• Additional booked nights
• Better conversion on competitive dates
• Pool-heating fees
• Possible shoulder-season bookings

🧾 Costs Owners Should Include

• Pool design and construction
• Routine cleaning and chemical service
• Additional turnover checks
• Pump and filtration electricity
• Heating energy
• Water
• Repairs and replacement reserves
• Management-company fees
• Safety equipment and inspections
• Landscaping and deck upkeep
• Lost rental days during construction or major repairs

For a starting point, Premier’s Myrtle Beach cost guide puts most inground pools at $70,000 to $125,000, based on its local projects, with permits and design approvals at $2,000 to $5,000. Use a property-specific quote in your model, not an average.

📊 Model Three Scenarios

Build three outcomes instead of assuming one return:

Scenario	What It Assumes
Conservative	Smaller gains in rates and bookings
Expected	A realistic estimate based on comparable rentals
Optimistic	Stronger demand and better seasonal performance

Payback varies by property, market, and operating costs, so don’t rely on a single estimate. Get real numbers from:

• A pool builder’s estimate
• A rental manager’s revenue projection
• A maintenance estimate
• Verified comparable rental data

Which Myrtle Beach Rentals Are Most Likely to Benefit?

✅ A Pool Has the Most Potential When the Property:	⚠️ A Pool Is Less Compelling When:
Sleeps larger families or groups Competes with other whole-home rentals Lacks convenient community-pool access Has enough private outdoor space Is far enough from the beach that an on-site amenity sets it apart Has room for good pool photos and usable deck space Earns enough to cover maintenance and reserves Is professionally managed or reliably maintained	Guests already have strong resort or community-pool access The property competes mainly on low price The yard is too small or awkward Maintenance costs are unusually high HOA rules prevent or limit the project The property isn’t legally approved for short-term rental The revenue lift only works in the optimistic scenario

Gunite or Fiberglass for a Vacation-Rental Property?

The right pool type depends on the guest experience you want, your property layout, and your investment goals. Premier Pools & Spas of Myrtle Beach offers both gunite and fiberglass pools.

Gunite Pools: Best for Custom Designs

Gunite may fit owners who want a pool built around their property and their guests. It allows a custom size and shape, so the pool can be designed to suit the lot and the number of people the home sleeps.

It also suits owners who want a resort-style look, with an integrated spa or a shallow lounging area. If the goal is a larger outdoor entertainment space, gunite offers more room to design the pool, deck, and seating as a single connected area.

Fiberglass Pools: Best for Simpler, Faster Installs

Fiberglass may fit owners who prefer a more standardized design with fewer decisions to make. The shell is manufactured in a factory, which gives the pool a smooth finish and may shorten on-site installation.

A shorter build can mean fewer lost rental days, though the actual timeline depends on lot access and the builder’s schedule. Here, fiberglass typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from breaking ground, against about 3 to 4 months for gunite. Fiberglass may suit owners who want a simple, guest-friendly pool without a complex design process.

How to Choose for Your Rental

The best choice depends on:

• Lot access and available space
• Rental capacity
• Intended guest experience
• Construction schedule
• Design requirements
• Maintenance plan
• Budget

A large luxury rental may suit a custom gunite design. Another property may be better served by a simpler fiberglass pool that meets guest expectations without extra complexity.

Check Feasibility, Licensing, and Safety Before Relying on Revenue

Inside the City of Myrtle Beach, any zoning district that starts with “R” does not allow short-term rentals, except the RMV district, and a property that isn’t already in an allowed zone can’t be converted. Anyone renting a property also needs a City business license.

The City of Myrtle Beach’s short-term rental zoning map shows that visitor accommodations are permitted only in certain zones and require a valid business license.

For applicable Horry County properties, official guidance requires pool barriers, gates, and alarms before final approval.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission also recommends layers of protection for home pools, such as barriers, door alarms, pool covers, and self-closing, self-latching gates.

How to Make a Rental Pool Easier to Own and Manage

A rental pool has to hold up to frequent guest use. Design it so that maintenance, safety, and daily operation are easy. Key features include:

• Durable, slip-conscious deck materials
• Clear sightlines to the pool from the home
• Secure self-closing, self-latching gates
• Simple controls guests can’t easily change
• Pool automation and remote monitoring
• Easy access to pumps and equipment
• Low-maintenance landscaping
• Practical lighting for evening use
• Storage for pool supplies and equipment
• An outdoor shower or rinse area
• Enough seating and shade

Pair the design with a documented maintenance and emergency-response process covering routine cleaning, water checks, and equipment problems.

Will a Pool Pay Off for Your Property?

A private pool can raise the earning potential of a Myrtle Beach vacation rental, but it is not a guaranteed income boost. It pays off when the pool fits the property, the target guests, and the rental strategy.

A pool is most promising when:

• Matched local listings show a consistent premium for pool homes
• The property serves family or group demand
• The revenue lift holds up under conservative assumptions
• All operating and risk costs are included
• The property and lot can support a pool
• Management, maintenance, and safety responsibilities are clearly assigned

Before deciding, compare real rental data, understand the full cost of ownership, and work with an experienced builder who knows Myrtle Beach properties.

Thinking about a pool for your rental? Book a site visit with our Myrtle Beach team or call (843) 560-5242. We’ll walk the lot, show you a 3D design within 48 to 96 hours, and handle the permits.

Frequently Asked Questions