Checklist for Hiring a Pool Contractor
What you need to know!

• Talk to a minimum of three contractors about your project. Look for firms that have been in the pool and spa building industry for at least five years.

• Always check past and prior financial status of potential contractor. Many pool builders are here one day and gone the next.

• Never allow a builder to rush you into signing a contract, and never sign a contract that you don't understand. Don't be embarrassed to take a few days to study a document before you sign it. Ask questions, questions, and more questions.

• Always make sure that a contractor is insured and licensed. Ask to see insurance certificates for both general liability and workers compensation, and a license in the name of the individual building your pool or spa. Call the insurance companies and your states Contractors Board to confirm validity.

• Have a prepared pool/spa plan and materials list drawn up and take bids on each.

• Questions to ask include: Did the builder start and finish on time? Were there any surprises during the job-such as a change in price? Was it easy to get in touch with the contractor while the construction was in progress? Would you hire this contractor again?

• Ask to see a job being currently installed.

• Always check credentials and talk to references, especially the firms' three most recent clients.

• Does the contractor have a place to view pools and all the equipment that they sell? It is always best to visit the contractor's place of business before you buy!

• Remember that the lowest bid is not always the best. Take a critical look at all bids, estimates and offers-and make sure you get them in writing.

• Contact the firm's primary material supplier to ask if the contractor pays bills on time and whether the supplier would recommend the firm.

• Never pay more than fifty percent of the estimate as a down payment. Plan to pay the remaining amount in installments linked to the specific phases of the project.

• Never pay a contractor in cash. Use cashier's checks or money orders and get a receipt.

• Is your pool builder a member of the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals and Better Business Bureau?

• Never make your final payment until you completely understand how your pool/spa and related equipment operate.

• Remember, the more time you spend planning your pool/spa project and checking out the credentials of your contractor, the less time you'll spend complaining later.

Six Deadly Pool Purchasing Mistakes

                                              Part 1

Mistake #1:

 

Not Designing Your Pool for its Intended Purpose

 

You might have heard the phrase, Form follows function. To know what type of pool you want, you need to know what you'll be using it for. The type of pool you'll select should depend on what you'll be using it for.

More often than not, people considering the purchase of a pool have a specific purpose in mind. It is important to write this down and have it ready when you start to talk to pool builders.

 

The Myth of the Large Diving Pool

 

An interesting phenomenon frequently happens when the majority of first-time pool buyers desire a large pool with a deep end and a diving board. After about a year of pool use, new owners discover that the deep end rarely gets used and the diving board becomes more of a safety hazard. Most of the games that are played by the kids are done in the shallow end and that is where the adults spend 95 percent of their time. Because they decided to build a large pool with a deep end, only 35 percent of the pool gets utilized, resulting in unnecessary expense and low usage. It is also important to consult with your insurance agent regarding increased premiums with diving boards. Having a large pool does not mean that you need to have a deep end. There are many large pools that are available with a gradual slope offering more area for play and use.

We have added a new supplier!  Be sure to check out all that Leading Edge Fiberglass Pools has to offer at www.leadingedgepools.com.  For more information or to schedule your free in-home estimate, visit us at www.expertpoolbuilders.com!

A Bit About Expert Pool Builders

Creating your own backyard oasis is closer than you think with our staff at Expert Pools. We are extremely proud of our quality work and unique craftsmanship that goes into every pool we build. We are pleased that you have expressed interest in our company, and we welcome the opportunity to work with you.

As the “pioneers of fiberglass pools in the Midwest,” our company has been installing residential and commercial pools for over 16 years. Recently, we have been featured on ABC TV’s “Extreme Home Makeover,” installing a Viking pool for the Vardon family in Royal Oak, Michigan. Expert Pools has also won numerous sales and service awards and has been featured in Pool and Spa News and America’s Registry of the Greatest Pool Builders, Luxury Edition.

Common Mistakes When Purchasing a Pool

Mistake #1

Not Designing your Pool Correctly:

It probably seems basic. You look out into your backyard one morning while quietly drinking your coffee and begin to realize just how nice it would be to be able to sit with that same cup of coffee beside your state-of-the-art pool.

Before running out the door and down the street to the first pool installer that you can find, it's important to note that there are several basic mistakes (easily rectifiable) that people in your shoes make when purchasing a new pool. So, take off your running shoes, refill your cup of coffee and read on.

Diving Boards

Many, many people, when designing a backyard pool, believe that they "need" the deep end and the diving board only to realize after installation that the deep end is hardly used and the diving board is gathering dust. Most families, mine included, spend all of their time in the shallower end of the pool- where the smaller children are safer and where the adult can stand and lounge. Not only that, but most pool games are set-up and played within the safely of the shallower end, as well.

Another great reason to seriously re-consider adding a deep end to your pool is that for most pool owners, their insurance is substantially less when the pool is all the same depth. The risk for injury or drowning decreases a great deal with a pool that does not have a deep end.

Be sure to think about the big picture- not only what you want your pool to look like but also what your vision is for your entire yard. Discuss this with your pool installer BEFORE you sign with them to ensure that they will be able to provide you with everything you want.