Questions to ask your pool builder

 November is a great time of year to start planning for your pool in the next year. If the weather allows for it, you can start winterizing your swimming pool. Or if you are planning on purchasing a new pool, you can begin the process and start gathering information.

If you’re in the latter category and building a pool seems daunting, here are a few things you can ask your builder about.

Basic business information

Ask your potential pool builder questions about their business. Put together a list of things like:

• How many pools have you installed?
• How many did you install last year?
• How long have you been in business?
• Are you licensed and insured?
• Can you provide references for pools installed last year?

The idea is for you to know about your builder’s reliability, experience, and technical ability. If they cannot provide you with a list of references, they probably can’t provide the kind of service you are looking for.

Swimming pools are not a small investment! So be sure to actually talk to the people whose references the builder provides.

Materials

Make sure you know what materials your builder is using. That way you can run your own independent check on the reviews the materials are getting. You can also check on warranties, prices, and anything else you deem relevant.

Also ask you builder about their workmanship warranty. How long does it last? What all does it cover? Are repairs and maintenance included? And, as with anything else you talk about, make sure to get it in writing.

Installation

At a certain point in the conversation, you’ll reach the topic of design and installation. When you do, have your builder talk you through the whole process so there are no surprises. This is a great way to find out what makes your builder unique and whether or not they will be a good fit for you. 

Price

You should know how much you are going to pay before you sign anything. Before that, you should have a general idea of what you are going to pay before you even have to read a contract. And you should have a price range in mind before you take up serious amounts of your time discussing everything mentioned above.

Final product

Know what you are getting. Talk to your builder about size, location, type, and purpose of the pool. This will inform the rest of process on the builders end of things. It will also provide you with the opportunity to ask about chemicals, tools, and other materials needed to care for a swimming pool.

If you have trees in your yard, ask about removing debris. If you have a dog that likes to swim, mention that to your builder. Don’t be afraid to gather the information that is important to your situation whether you think it is normal or not.