In almost any part of the country, it’s possible for a pool builder to hit rock as he’s digging your pool. There are several ways for a pool builder to handle this. Some pool builders may come to you asking for more money to compensate for their unpreparedness. Others may offer you a “rock clause” or insurance policy in advance, to “protect you from pos-sible additional expense.” Yet another approach is to set up a “rock allowance.” If the time digging the pool exceeds the allowance, and heavy equipment has to be brought in, you’ll probably have to pay more money out of your pocket.
Ultimately, none of these approaches are “right” or “wrong.” The most important things are that the agreement related to “rock” or “water,” electrical work, etc., is spelled out clearly in the contract, and that you fully understand the agreement and are comfortable with it.
There are dozens of factors that impact the cost of a pool. An ethical pool builder will never quote you a price without a yard survey and a specific design for your yard. Many contractors will give you an artificially low price to induce you to have a salesman come to your home. Any pool builder that uses this “bait and switch” technique should be avoided.
This is critically important! The greatest nightmare for any homeowner buying a pool is to pay 60% to 75% of the money for the pool and have the pool builder skip town when he’s only done 20% of the work. These shysters invariably leave the subcontractors unpaid, which means they’ll all come knocking on your door looking for payment.
A lien waiver is a receipt showing that funds have been paid to a supplier or subcontractor, and that they have no lien rights against your home. When your pool is complete, you should have lien waivers from all vendors and subcontractors to prove you don’t have to pay them again. A professional pool builder will provide you with lien waivers for all work and materials used for your pool - no questions asked.
If your pool builder has survived the first 14 questions, congratulations! You may have found a good solid pool builder to handle your project. But there’s still one more issue - how do you feel about them personally? There is no right or wrong answer to the above question, but it’s a great way to get a sense of the personal integrity of the person you’re dealing with. This question should let their true personality shine through. After all, you’re going to be working closely with this person for the next two to three months or more (depending on the size of the project). You’ll want to make sure it’s someone you feel good about, and can trust.
We hope this list of questions helps you make the best possible decision when buying your new pool. With these questions in hand, you should be able to get a sense of which pool builders can be trust-ed, and which pool builders are at risk of creating an unpleasant experience for you. Having a pool built should be a fun and exciting time for you and your family. At Houston Cool Pools, we want you to be delighted with your pool—no matter who you buy it from.
If you ever have any questions about pool design, construction, or this report, please give us a call. We wish you many years of healthy fun and enjoyment in your new swimming pool.
