“Wyatt, if this was your house, what would you spend money on?”

I think that is a great question because every homeowner wants to know where their investment matters most.

My answer is always the same: Focus on the things you will experience every day.

A pool is not just about having water in the backyard. It is about creating a space where you want to spend time.

If this were my home, the first thing I would focus on is the design and layout.

A well-designed pool should feel like it belongs with the home. The shape, placement, and surrounding space all matter. A beautiful pool that does not work well with the backyard is not going to give you the experience you are looking for.

After that, I would invest in quality lighting.

A lot of homeowners think about how their pool looks during the day, but in Southwest Florida, many families enjoy their outdoor spaces most in the evening.

Good lighting changes everything.

It creates atmosphere, highlights the design, and makes the backyard feel like an extension of your home.

I would also put money into finishes that create a timeless look.

Trends come and go, but quality materials and thoughtful design will continue to look great years later.

When it comes to features, I would choose based on how I plan to use the pool.

For some homeowners, that may mean a spa. For others, it could be a sun shelf, water feature, or an outdoor entertaining area.

The biggest mistake I see is homeowners trying to add every possible feature instead of choosing the ones that actually fit their lifestyle.

• A great pool is not about having the most options.
• It is about having the right options.

That is the approach I take with every project—understanding the homeowner first, then creating a design that fits the way they want to live.