Hiring a swimming pool contractor
How do you hire a swimming pool contractor? Here are ten tips for making sure your swimming pool contractor measures up. Scroll down or click on the links for more information.
- Hire only licensed contractors. (Most states require licensing.)
- Get three references and review past work.
- Get at least three bids and don't sign anything until you completely understand the terms.
- Pay 2% or $200 down, whichever is less, for swimming pool projects. (Figures recommended by California's Contractors State License Board.)
- Don't let payments get ahead of the work.
- Don't make final payment until completion of the final plastering phase of construction, and until the installation or construction of equipment, decking, or fencing required by the contract has also been completed.
- Don't pay cash.
- Keep a job file of all papers relating to your project.
Swimming Pool Contractor References and Recommendations
One of the best ways to select a licensed swimming pool contractor is to seek out personal recommendations from friends or relatives who recently had similar work done. You may also get recommendations from trade associations, such as a local builders' exchange or a swimming pool and spa association.
Follow up with references. Ask the builder for the names of clients -- one current and one completed -- and talk to them about the job and their satisfaction.
Some questions to ask include:
- Were you satisfied with the contractor's work?
- Did the contractor keep to the project schedule?
- Did the contractor stick to the contract terms and costs?
- How did the contractor deal with changes and corrections?
- Did the contractor resolve problems?
Swimming Pool Contractor Bids
Solicit at least three bids from licensed, qualified contractors, and remember the lowest bid may not be your best choice. To accurately compare quotes, each bid must be based on the same specific set of plans and descriptions. A substantially lower bid may indicate the contractor made a mistake or did not include all of the work quoted by competitors.
Also, be sure to find out who you're dealing with -- the builder or the builder's salesperson. Homeowners who are considering swimming pool construction may be contacted by, receive a bid from, and negotiate a contract with a contractor's salesperson -- not the licensed contractor.
The swimming pool contractor information above was edited by Chris Whitten based on the brochure Before You Dive Into Swimming Pool Construction from California's Contractors State License Board.
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