Have you always dreamed of becoming a pool owner? You can just see it in your head: BBQ by the pool and frolicking with the kids. But before you take that plunge, you have to ask yourself an important question: Who will build your pool?
There are a lot of pool builders out there in Sydney such as www.bluehaven.com.au, and you have to be very careful who you choose. You’re talking about a considerable amount of investment and the last thing you want is to experience stress and frustration during the construction process and, most especially, after. Let’s look at some things to remember when scouting for that ideal pool builder:
1. Professional Service and Experience
How long have they been in the industry? The pool building industry is very specialized and everyone involved needs to be highly skilled. Feel free to ask about projects they’ve handled and the common challenges they face. Bring up any concerns you want to be discussed. How they handle your queries would give you an idea of their level of expertise and professionalism. And they will be glad to oblige to show you that they know what they’re doing.
2. Track Record and Customer Experience
But of course, they have to walk the talk. Take everything with a grain of salt, and actually confirm what you’ve been told. Ask for references from customers. You would want to know firsthand what they think of the company’s service, how the construction went, any problems encountered and how they handled it and were they satisfied with the final outcome of their pool.
3. Accreditation, Licenses, Membership
Another way to verify their experience and training is through their affiliations. These professional associations have trainings and membership and not everyone can join them. A reputable company always thinks of the long-term, keep their skills up-to-date and always wants to be connected to the big guys. In turn, these organizations want to take care of their image so they tend to get only the most qualified members.
4. Customer Service including Support after Construction
There are just too many horror stories in these kinds of big projects: from sloppy workmanship, safety concerns, to abandoned projects. And you could avoid these kinds of nightmares if you were able to assess from the start their level of customer service (or the lack of it!). Review your agreement, note your “what ifs”, and discuss any issues you might have. It’s best to lay it all out on the table before you even start construction. Were they able to address your concerns in a friendly, timely and professional way? If so, you might have just hit the jackpot.
5. Pool Warranty
Ideally, you should have a warranty on:
(1) the pool itself from the manufacturer,
(2) the pool equipment’s (heat, light, pump systems, etc.) manufacturer; and on
(3) the installation job from your pool builder.
Make sure that they’re all explained thoroughly and compare them with different builder’s warranties as well. You’d want to get the best deal on this, aside from the actual service and final product. Now that we’ve covered the good stuff, let’s have a quick recap by giving you some red flag signs that tell you NOT to take a builder.
1. Always be careful with cheap bids
Remember, cheaper is not necessarily better. Quality products and services always come at a price. Cheaper prices in construction almost always translate to low-quality materials, subpar workmanship and non-existent customer service.
2. Not easy to get hold of, lack of communication, not enough follow-through
Can you reach them when you have concerns or problems? Do they keep simple promises like calling you back or sending you that proposal you need? Or is it that sometimes it seems they’ve disappeared from the face of the planet? If you’re just in the negotiation stage and you’ve experienced any of this, coupled with cheap bids, then it’s time to head for the door.
