So you’ve decided to add a pool to your home. Congratulations! And with the weather getting warmer, you’ll certainly be able to enjoy your decision on a regular basis. But before you can dip your toes into the cool water, you’ll want to find a good pool builder who you can trust with your property. Here are just a few of the qualities you’ll want to look for in a pool builder to help set you on a good path toward an enjoyable experience and all of those fun summer pool parties:
- References
These days, we review everything–coffee shops, dry cleaners, doctor’s offices, etc. Who you select to build your pool should be no different. The builder should have stellar references and a great reputation. You can check the Better Business Bureau’s website to see if there are any unresolved issues with the company, and you can even check Yelp.com. It’s not unusual for people to take to all sorts of review sites to share their positive and negative stories. Angie’s List is also a good place to find ratings for a variety of characteristics of pool builders. Lastly, a good pool builder will provide references when asked, so don’t hesitate to ask that question. Be sure to contact the references and ask important questions such as ‘How was the builder before the sale? After? During?’
- Communication
You want someone who will answer all of your questions, without frustration, and in a timely manner. Early on, you might be able to determine how communicative they are by asking questions related to their liability insurance, pool shapes, pool types (fiberglass, above-ground, etc.), and anything else that pops into your head. A quality pool builder will want to make sure you’re both on the same page and will freely share his or her knowledge with you. You definitely don’t want someone who won’t take your calls. Friendliness and professionalism go a long way, too!
- Certifications
The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP) certifies individuals’ commitment to quality, expertise, safety, and professional excellence with pools and spas. Courses provided by this association ensure that builders can perform the maintenance and building requirements for pools and spas. A certification like this or those from other pool-related agencies can help reassure you when you’re evaluating the many different options in your area.
- Price/payment options
If it’s a price too good to be true, it just might be. Whenever you’re building anything, you’re typically providing a down payment and then having the contractor draw funds from a predetermined account as the work is completed. If a contractor wants too high of a down payment or wants a larger portion of the funds before completing an equivalent amount of work, that could be a red flag. Be sure you check out their payment process way before you’ve signed anything. This is not the time to jump into a decision. After all, you’re adding value to your home–and you want to make sure you get the value from it!
- Overall experience
When you’re investing a typically substantial portion of your money into anything, you’ve probably done your homework. You may know that you want a fiberglass pool or maybe you’re a vinyl liner pool kind of guy or gal. Use your knowledge and choices to make sure you select a pool builder who has experience in that kind of pool.
Once you feel like you’ve gotten some basic information with the above items, start scheduling appointments to meet with the builders on your shortlist. This may go without saying, but the bottom line is to go with your gut. If you sense something’s not quite right, then don’t sign a contract. It’s not worth the time and money to work with someone who’s just not right for you. Keep looking–you’ll find the right match, and be happier for it.
Find yourself with more questions? Give us a call at 540.660.4995 or contact us – we would love to help answer your questions.
It is beneficial to learn that one should look at pricing options when choosing a pool builder. It would be great to find someone who can provide quality work for a price within your budget. Something else to consider would be to find someone who has a background in landscaping to ensure the pool will look nice in your yard with pre-existing greenery.
We are looking for ways to have our kids spend more time outside, and I thought that building a pool would be a good idea. It is good to know that certifications are important when it comes to hiring a pool contractor. I like what was said about how the APSP can certify that an individual is committed to quality, expertise, safety, and professional excellence. We will look for these certifications while hiring, thanks.
Communication is a pretty important aspect when it comes to someone building your pool, so want to make sure you take it into consideration. After all, you want the builder to listen to your ideas about the pool and try to incorporate them the best that they can. Of course, you need to be listening to the builder as well so that they can warn you if they’ve hit a pipe in the ground or something like that.