Tips on Having a Swimming Pool Built
Having a new pool built is no small project. For the amount of money that the project will cost you and the fact that it will be a permanent part of your yard for years to come - you don't want to make any mistakes along the way. Surprisingly there are no concise guides out there for you to follow to avoid costly mistakes. This series will hopefully change that and give you a blueprint for having the pool built so that you are completely happy with the project without regrets.
Choose a Design and Get at Least 3 Bids
Look online at different pool designs, visit friends and family that have a pool in their yard, check out pools in your neighborhood, etc. Do everything you can to see as many designs online and in person so that when you do call a builder you will have a good idea of what you want a bid for. Do you want a free-form pool or a more geometric design? Water features such as waterfalls or deck jets. Do you want a pool and spa combo or just a pool? You should have a good idea of all of this and of course, the builder can also help you sort out what would be best for your yard and your needs.
Now you want to set up an appointment with three different pool builders in your area. You can get more bids if you like but Mike suggests that three is sufficient. To make sure you are getting fair pricing for your project make sure all three bids are identical. Same pool size, same pool surface, similar equipment, etc. so that the prices can be compared to each other. Then you will want to make an appointment with the builder's previous clients to see the pools that have been built by that particular builder. If the builder cannot get you an appointment to see a built-out pool I would be leery of that company.
Look at the pools built by the builder you are considering and see if the result is something that looks good. There is no better way to judge a company than to see its previous workmanship. And of course, check out the reviews of each company online to see if there are any negative or bad reviews. You should be 100% confident in the builder that you accept the bid. If none of the three you received bids from feels good to you, get three more bids. There is no rush and you want this done right.
Get a Quality Pool Built and in the Right Location:
Visit some pools by the builder that were done over a year ago or even two are three years ago and see how they look. There will be some normal wear and tear but the pool should still look good in most respects. If they don't then there may be a quality issue and the builder is probably not the one you want. If the older built-out pools look fine then you may want to consider the builder for your project.
Don't feel you are asking too much by visiting past clients, you are going to invest a sizable amount of money and once the pool is completed you don't want to have any problems. Correcting a bad or low-quality pool install will cost you even more money, resources, time, and headaches so you want it done right. The builder should have no issues with you looking at his previous pools.
Location and overall functionality should be a primary consideration when you pick the pool location. Having the pool installed 4 feet from your sliding door might suit you just fine, but think resale when you are picking the spot. If you decide to sell your house the buyer might not like it as close as that and moving the pool is expensive. Try to think over all of the pros and cons of the location before you break ground on the project. I have been to too many pools where the new owner is questioning the logic of the seller in the selection of the pool location. If you plan on adding on later or building a patio this also becomes a huge factor in the pool's final location. So choosing the right spot for your pool is also factoring in the future use and functionality of the location. A competent builder will be able to also guide you in making the right location choice.
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