http://www.DallasOutdoorPools.com
HOW TO FIND YOUR BEST POOL BUILDER
So you have decided it is time to add a pool as a wonderful amenity to your home. No matter what type of pool you have in mind there are many things to consider when making this important decision. There are many pool builders to choose from…each offering a wide variety of design options, pricing, quality and service. However, perhaps the most important consideration is what do “YOU� really want. This process is not just about finding “THE� best pool builder. It is about finding the best pool builder for “YOU�…based upon your needs, desires and goals. This guide is designed to walk you through this process and help you make an informed decision that both you and your pool builder should be comfortable with.
Things to consider when selecting your pool builder
1.) How long have they been in business? While length of time in business is only one factor to consider, it speaks volumes about the stability of a business and the soundness of their overall business model. Let’s face it, any business that produces a poor product or doesn’t take care of its customers typically doesn’t stay in business very long. Therefore, if a pool builder has been in business for many years, there is at least a good chance that they have the ability to complete the job and hopefully service you after the sale. On the flipside, if a pool builder is brand new or only in business a few years, you should give careful consideration to the risks you may be incurring by doing business with a relatively new business.
2.) Do they have a good record with the Better Business Bureau? A pool builder’s reputation in the local community is one of the best indicators of whether you should consider doing business with them. Good news spreads quickly but bad news spreads even faster. Therefore, be sure and check with your local BBB to see if the pool builder has a high number of complaints with the BBB and whether these complaints were resolved effectively by the company. Let’s face it, some customers are just difficult to deal with and no matter what you do you probably won’t make them happy. So, it is possible for even quality pool builders to have a few “bad apples� in the bunch. However, how they respond to these complaints will give you some idea of the character of the pool builder.
3.) Are they a licensed contractor with the state? In many states, pool builders must be licensed with the state in order to conduct business there. However, Texas is NOT one of those states. There are currently no registration requirements for pool builders in Texas. However, some pool builders may also have Licensed Landscape Architects as part of their staff or design team (which are licensed and regulated by the State of Texas). We will cover this more in the “Design Considerations� section, but it is generally a positive sign if a pool builder has a Licensed Landscape Architect as part of their design team.
4.) Are they financially sound? Most pool builders are privately-held companies and don’t release their actual financial statements to the public. However, there are other questions you should ask to determine their overall financial stability. Some example questions would include: a. Do you own or rent the building in which your office is located? (Owning the building generally means they intend to be a part of this industry for a long period of time); b. How many employees do you keep on your payroll? (This really tells you more about their overhead and liabilities than their profitability. However, if they’ve been able to carry employees on the payroll for an extended period of time, they are probably financially sound); c. Do they own their own equipment? (Once again, owning vs. leasing equipment doesn’t necessarily indicate financial health. However, owning equipment is an indicator of a long-term outlook in this business).
5.) What type of insurance do they have? Pool builders should carry a minimum of one million dollars of public liability and property damage insurance. However, higher policy coverage amounts are an indicator of more financial strength of the company. Important note: Don’t just ask them if they have insurance. Ask for a copy of their “proof of insurance�. If they resist providing this information, that probably means they don’t have sufficient coverage. Insurance agents can quickly and easily fax or email this proof of coverage for their clients.
6.) How many pools do they build each year? The answer to this question can work either for or against a pool builder (depending on what you are looking for in your pool builder). A pool builder who builds hundreds or thousands of pools every year probably has standardized construction and quality control procedures which means they probably have a fairly routine process for getting the job done. This may be fine for someone who has a fairly standard design and desires quick turnaround or low costs. However, if you are seeking a highly-customized “out of the box� design, a large volume pool builder may have difficult adjusting their methods and procedures to accommodate your needs. In addition, production pool builders are not known for producing the highest quality of installations due to their focus on speed and completing jobs.
On the other hand, smaller pool builders (building less than one hundred pools per year) must focus more on quality, customization and service in order to differentiate themselves from the larger, well-known pool companies. However, smaller pool builders may also suffer from a lack of standardized methods, have minimal quality oversight and produce inconsistent results. However, they may be able to overcome these shortcomings by providing superior customer service during the process.
If a pool builder builds less than 20 pools per year, you should be particularly cautious about selecting them. You should carefully review the other considerations in this report and make sure they satisfy the majority of these considerations in order to offset the inherent risk in selecting a smaller operator who is more likely to experience financial setbacks and may even go out of business.
7.) Who will sell, build, and service your pool? In today’s economic climate, the number of “employees� a company has is not as strong of an indicator of financial health or quality control as it used to be. With rising healthcare costs and liabilities associated with “employees�, more companies are choosing to outsource certain aspects of their business to independent sub-contractors. However, many pool builders have “outsourced� their pool construction and servicing to such an extent that they have no real control over the quality, scheduling and costs associated with building a pool. As a result, it is important to understand the relationship between the pool company that is “selling� you the pool and those individuals or companies that will actually be building and servicing your pool. A few good questions to ask are: a. Will my pool be built by your employees or by sub-contractors? b. If sub-contractors, are they insured? c. What are the names of the people that will actually be building my pool? d. How long have these individuals or companies been building pools for you? e. How much turnover do you have within this staff? f. Who will be servicing my pool after it is built? g. How long have these individuals or companies been servicing pools for you? h. Will the salesperson who sold me the pool be with me during this whole process? If not, who will be responsible for making sure that what was sold to me is actually what gets built?
8.) What references can they provide? Ask for a list of the last three customers they have built pools for (or) at the very least, three customers they have built pools for in the last year. Contact these customers and determine if they are happy and if the company delivered on what was promised?
9.) What warranties do they offer on the pool installation and equipment? There are usually several different components of the pool which should be covered by warranties including: (a) the actual structure or shell of the pool, (b) the equipment used to operate the pool, and (c) the labor or workmanship of the pool builder. Be sure you understand the warranties associated with each of these components.
10.) What Professional Associations are they affiliated with? Associations are not necessarily an indicator of quality, customer service or character. However, pool builders who are actively involved in multiple professional associations tend to operate their business in a more professional manner and take more pride in the quality of their work. The following are a few of the associations that many reputable pool builders belong to: a. APSP (The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals) b. ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects)
11.) What Certifications do they maintain? Likewise, certifications may not be worth more than the paper they are printed on. However, pool builders that actively maintain certifications are more likely to conduct themselves in a professional manner and take great pride in their work. The following are some of the common certifications maintained by pool builders: a. APSP CBP (Certified Building Professional)
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