Samples and Examples

When you are deciding on a contractor to build your pool, don't go with the first person you find. It is important to see samples of a builders work before you make your final decision.

Show Me Something
One of the first questions you should ask of any building company that you are considering employing is whether they have any examples they can show you. Any reputable company will have a portfolio of some of their best work. If you want to be a really savy customer, then ask if you could possibly visit some pools that they have built. Obviously, the company will first need to check with their previous customers to make sure it is not any trouble for you to take a look at their pool.

Larger, more established swimming pool builders will likely have their own display store where you can see the types of pools they can build. Whenever possible, you should always visit your builders display store in order to get a better sense of the company's ability as well as to have a cleaer idea of just what your pool will look like.

References
Most reputable contractors and builders should be able to supply potential customers with references. This could be in the form of written letters of satisfaction from previous customers or actual phone numbers of past customers who have agreed to vouch for the company.

Another great place to find out about a company's reputation is through the Better Business Bureau. Contact your local BBB to find out if any complaints have been filed against the company and, if so, how the complaint was dealt with. If you know you contractor's license number, you can also check with your local Registrar of Contractors of any complaints or lawsuits filed against the contractor.

Some of the best references you can get, though, come before you've even contacted a company. Once you have made the decision to install a pool in your backyard, ask all your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers who have built a pool as to who they would recommend.

But don't just ask which company they used, find out how satisfied they were with the work, whether it was completed on time and how well their pool has lasted. You may also want to inquire about any warranties that particular company offers on their pools.

While it may seem like a lot of work, it is important to make sure you are dealing with a reputable company. Otherwise, you may find yourself out of a lot of money and with no pool to show for it.

Talk to other DIYers about your swimming pool questions in our Pools forum!