Auburn Outdoor Living: Would You Rather Have a Pool or Outdoor Kitchen?
Auburn outdoor living can mean completely different things to different homeowners, so here’s today’s real estate either/or question: Would you rather have a swimming pool or an outdoor kitchen?
Give me the pool and a place to cool off during an Alabama summer.
Or maybe you’d rather have the outdoor kitchen — a grill, refrigerator, comfortable seating and a great place to entertain without ever leaving your backyard.
Both can turn an ordinary backyard into additional living space.
But if you’re buying a home in Auburn, Alabama, or Opelika, there’s more to consider than which one looks better in the listing photos.
Think about which outdoor feature you would actually use.
Table of Contents
- Auburn outdoor living and Alabama weather
- The case for a swimming pool
- The case for an outdoor kitchen
- Pool vs. outdoor kitchen comparison
- Think about maintenance
- Auburn football and backyard entertaining
- What buyers should consider
- What sellers should know
- Quick Q&A
- Auburn–Opelika real estate
Auburn Outdoor Living Gets Plenty of Attention
Outdoor spaces can be an important part of how people use a home in Auburn and Opelika.
Patios.
Covered porches.
Decks.
Pools.
Outdoor kitchens.
Fireplaces.
Grilling areas.
Fenced backyards.
Sometimes buyers walk through a beautiful house and then open the back door and realize:
This might be my favorite part of the property.
That’s especially true when the outdoor area feels like a natural extension of the house rather than simply unused space behind it.
Would You Choose the Pool?
Let’s start with the obvious advantage.
Alabama gets hot.
A swimming pool can give homeowners a place to cool off without leaving home.
It can also completely change the look and function of a backyard.
Add comfortable seating, landscaping, shade and perhaps a covered patio, and the backyard can become a major part of how the property is used.
But pools come with responsibilities, too.
Buyers should consider things such as:
- Routine cleaning
- Chemical maintenance
- Equipment
- Repairs
- Electricity and water use
- Safety considerations
- Insurance
- Landscaping around the pool
- Long-term upkeep
A gorgeous pool may look irresistible during a showing.
Just remember that you’re buying the maintenance along with the water. 😂
Or Would You Rather Have an Outdoor Kitchen?
An outdoor kitchen serves a completely different purpose.
Instead of swimming, you’re creating a place for cooking, eating and entertaining.
Depending on the setup, an outdoor kitchen might include:
- Built-in grill
- Counter space
- Sink
- Refrigerator
- Storage
- Outdoor dining area
- Television
- Fireplace or fire feature
- Covered seating
- Fans
- Lighting
And in Auburn, I can think of one obvious use:
Auburn football Saturdays.
An outdoor television, grill and comfortable seating can create a pretty nice place to watch an Auburn game when you don’t feel like dealing with the crowds around Jordan-Hare Stadium.
War Eagle from the backyard. 🧡💙
Pool vs. Outdoor Kitchen: Which Would You Choose?
| Swimming Pool | Outdoor Kitchen |
|---|---|
| Great for cooling off | Great for cooking and entertaining |
| Major visual backyard feature | Extends dining/living space outdoors |
| Requires regular pool maintenance | Appliances and surfaces require upkeep |
| Seasonal use may vary | Can potentially be used through more of the year |
| Requires safety considerations | May need weather protection |
| Creates a recreation space | Creates a gathering space |
Neither is automatically better.
The better choice is the one that fits how you actually live.
Don’t Forget About Shade
Here’s something I think matters with Auburn outdoor living:
Shade.
A beautiful outdoor space isn’t nearly as appealing if you’re sitting in direct Alabama sun during the hottest part of the day.
That’s why I pay attention to more than the flashy feature itself.
Is there a covered porch?
Are there mature trees?
Does the outdoor kitchen have a roof?
Are there ceiling fans?
Does the pool area have somewhere to get out of the sun?
How does the backyard face?
Those practical details can affect how much you actually enjoy an outdoor space.
Auburn Football Makes Outdoor Entertaining Interesting
You don’t have to attend every Auburn football game to participate in football season.
Sometimes home is a pretty good place to be.
You can grill.
Invite friends over.
Put the game on outside.
Avoid searching for a parking space.
And when everybody else is trying to get out of the Jordan-Hare Stadium area after the game, you’re already home. 😂
Auburn University (https://www.auburn.edu/) and Jordan-Hare Stadium (https://auburntigers.com/jordan-hare-stadium) are a huge part of the identity of Auburn, and football weekends can affect traffic and activity throughout the city.
Even away from campus, you’ll see Auburn spirit throughout the area.
Downtown Auburn storefronts display orange and blue.
Restaurants embrace game-day weekends.
Toomer’s Corner fills with Auburn activity.
And then you have homeowners throughout Auburn watching the same game from their own patios, porches and backyards.
That’s another side of living in a college town.
Outdoor Living Isn’t Just About Football
Of course, your backyard has to work the other 300-plus days of the year, too.
Maybe you like morning coffee outside.
Maybe you enjoy grilling.
Maybe you want somewhere to read.
Maybe you like gardening.
Maybe you simply want a covered patio where you can sit outside.
You don’t necessarily need an elaborate pool or a $50,000 outdoor kitchen to enjoy your backyard.
Sometimes the outdoor feature that gets used the most is something much simpler:
A comfortable place to sit.
What Should Auburn Home Buyers Look For?
When you’re touring Auburn homes for sale, don’t rush through the backyard.
Take a minute and look around.
Consider:
- Lot size
- Privacy
- Existing landscaping
- Trees and shade
- Drainage
- Patio or deck condition
- Fencing
- Outdoor electrical access
- Pool condition
- Outdoor appliances
- HOA restrictions, when applicable
- How the outdoor space connects to the house
If you’re considering adding a pool or outdoor kitchen later, don’t assume you can simply build whatever you want.
Property characteristics, utility locations, easements, setbacks, HOA rules and local requirements can affect what’s possible.
Do your homework before making plans.
What Should Sellers Know About Outdoor Spaces?
If you’re selling an Auburn or Opelika home with a pool, outdoor kitchen or attractive backyard, presentation matters.
Clean it.
Remove clutter.
Arrange the furniture.
Clean the grill.
Skim the pool.
Straighten the cushions.
Trim landscaping.
Make the outdoor space look like somewhere a buyer would actually want to spend time.
You don’t need to create some unrealistic magazine spread.
You simply want buyers to understand how the space can be used.
A Realistic Auburn Buyer Example
Imagine two Auburn homes that are otherwise fairly similar.
One has a beautiful pool.
The other has a covered outdoor kitchen and entertaining area.
A buyer who loves swimming might immediately prefer the first house.
Another buyer may look at that same pool and think about maintenance.
Meanwhile, the outdoor kitchen buyer might already be imagining Saturday afternoon:
Food on the grill.
Auburn football on the television.
Friends sitting outside.
No trip to Jordan-Hare required.
Same market.
Different buyers.
Different priorities.
That’s why there isn’t one outdoor feature every Auburn buyer should want.
Your Neighborhood Matters, Too
Outdoor living isn’t only about what’s inside your property lines.
Think about the surrounding area.
Some Auburn and Opelika neighborhoods offer community amenities. Others emphasize larger individual lots or different housing styles.
Some buyers want to be close to Auburn University and Downtown Auburn.
Others prefer more distance from university activity.
You can explore Auburn subdivisions at Auburn subdivisions (https://auburnopelikaalrealestate.com/auburn-al-subdivisons/).
For current school information, visit Auburn City Schools (https://www.auburnschools.org/) or Opelika City Schools (https://www.opelikaschools.org/).
For shopping, Auburn Mall (https://www.shopauburnalabama.com/) and Opelika Tiger Town (https://www.opelika-al.gov/397/Tiger-Town) are useful local resources.
Quick Q&A About Auburn Outdoor Living
Is a pool a good feature for an Auburn home?
A pool may be highly desirable to a buyer who wants one, while another buyer may prefer not to take on the maintenance. Personal preference and the condition of the pool matter.
Is an outdoor kitchen useful in Auburn, Alabama?
It can be. Covered outdoor cooking and entertaining areas can provide additional ways to use a property, particularly when they’re designed with Alabama weather in mind.
Does a pool automatically increase a home’s value?
Not by a guaranteed amount. Property value depends on the overall home, condition, location, market conditions and comparable sales. A pool can be an advantage for some buyers and less important to others.
Should I add a pool before selling my Auburn home?
Don’t assume a major outdoor project will automatically return its cost. Talk with a local real estate professional about your property and current market before making a large improvement primarily for resale.
Should buyers inspect a swimming pool?
Buyers considering a home with a pool should understand its condition, equipment and maintenance requirements and consider appropriate professional evaluation.
Can I add an outdoor kitchen to any Auburn home?
Not necessarily. Property conditions, utilities, permits, setbacks, HOA requirements and other restrictions may affect what can be added.
Which is better: a pool or outdoor kitchen?
That’s the fun part of this question: there’s no universal winner. Choose the feature you’re actually going to use.
So, Auburn: Pool or Outdoor Kitchen?
I’m curious which one wins.
🏊 POOL
or
🔥 OUTDOOR KITCHEN
No cheating and saying both. 😂
Okay…you can say both.
That’s what makes real estate interesting.
Two people can tour the exact same Auburn home and walk away loving completely different things about it.
Related Auburn–Opelika Real Estate Topics
- Auburn outdoor living
- Auburn homes for sale
- Opelika homes for sale
- Auburn homes with pools
- Auburn backyards
- Outdoor kitchens
- Moving to Auburn, Alabama
- Living in Auburn, Alabama
- Auburn neighborhoods
- Opelika neighborhoods
- Auburn real estate
- Auburn University relocation
Visit AuburnOpelikaALRealEstate.com for more information about Auburn–Opelika homes, neighborhoods and relocation.
Local Auburn–Opelika Experience Matters
Laura Sellers is an Auburn University alumna who has lived in the Auburn–Opelika area since 1988 and has been a REALTOR® for over 20 years. She is an Associate Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate, the Official Real Estate Partner of the Auburn Tigers.
Thinking About Buying or Selling in Auburn–Opelika?
Whether your dream backyard includes a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen or simply a peaceful covered porch, I can help you compare homes based on the features that actually matter to you.
Laura Sellers, Associate Broker, REALTOR®
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate
334-332-7263
AuburnOpelikaALRealEstate.com
Homes, y’all!
