How to choose the right contractor to turn your Outdoor Living Dream into reality

Top 10 Things you need to ask first

Contracting to build a swimming pool is typically one of largest purchases a family will make. It is crucial research and understanding the most common mistakes buyers make while going through the bidding process to find 'the right' contractor. Here is a list of some helpful questions to consider while choosing your builder.

  1. Are the pool builders you are considering accredited by the Better Business Bureau and are they in good standing? Click here to visit the Better Business Bureau's website. Starwood Pools is recognized by the Better Business Bureau as an "Accredited Business" and has always and continues to be in good standing. Click Here to see Starwood Pool's standing with the Better Business Bureau.
  2. Do they use a full line up of the same manufacturer of pool equipment and is it of high quality, like Jandy & Hayward Pool Products? Starwood Pools offers only the best line-up of pool equipment and proudly uses Jandy & Hayward Pool Products due to their high reliability and unsurpassed product support. This is important for many reasons, including product synchronization and warranty.
  3. Do the builders you are considering carry full coverage in liability insurance? Starwood Pools carries full coverage of liability insurance and has strict policy that any associated contractor carries liability insurance as well. It is important to know that any property or personal damage that could occur during the construction process will be covered.
  4. Did your pool builder take the time with you to understand what you need in a pool? Often times a under qualified sales person is sent out to your home and is often in a hurry and does not spend the necessary time to listen to your needs. This results in wasting your valuable time and ultimately results in costly mistakes and unwanted forced design changes during the construction process. At Starwood Pools, an industry expert will come meet with you, spend quality time to understand your ideas, offer professional suggestions, and gather important information that is needed to produce an accurate design that will be precisely fit when built.
  5. Are the builders you are considering using pressuring sales tactics to try to get you to buy with them? We firmly believe that the design, product education, and the company's integrity should allow you to make a decision about which contractor is right for you. Avoid the common sales tactics of rapidly inflating prices or resource scarcity as a method in swaying you to sign with a pool company. Your new backyard will last you a lifetime so take your time while deciding, before you build a swimming pool is the best time to learn about the process.
  6. Are the builders you are considering giving you a detailed estimate and design? This is vital!!! Be very cautious of the builder that won't give you a detailed proposal in writing accompanied by a detailed design that is design based on a scale. More times than not, the numbers will grow or items will be casually changed during the building process. Starwood Pools will give a very detailed written estimate and contract, as well as a thoroughly detailed set of construction plans for the building process.
  7. Are the builders you're considering offering a written warranty with good coverage? This will be very useful when you have something that goes haywire within a year or two after the completion of your new project. Frustration will set in when you are faced with having to pay to fix or replace something you just recently bought. Starwood Pools offers an extensive warranty package and all warranty specifications in writing up front.
  8. Are your potential builders' construction processes based on quality, or quantity? This is very important because many builders want to sell as many pools per year as possible. This often does not work out well for the consumer who chooses to do business with these companies as they quickly will realize that quality is sharply sacrificed. At Starwood Pools, we always put quality over quantity. We value EVERY customer and give the utmost in care to every project we encounter. You will have comfort in your decision and knowing that quality will come first in your yard.
  9. Will your potential contractor provide you with lien releases throughout the project? This is important as you pay a contractor who in-turn pays other contractors on your behalf. If they fail to pay their subcontractors and/or suppliers, even though you have paid the contractor, you can be held liable. A lien release is your protection from this common occurrence. Starwood Pools will always provide a lien release at the appropriate time when asked from our clients.
  10. Are the contractors you are considering listening to your ideas or are they simply designing the pool they want to build in your yard. By the end of your 'contractor interviewing' phase, you are exhausted from all the time you've spent explaining your pool ideas and concepts. You need a contractor who understands these ideas and translates them into the design that meets your needs, functionalities, and budget. Our designing process encompasses your ideas and blends them into a visual experience that will meet, and ultimately exceed your every expectation.
Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 10:44AM by Registered CommenterStarwood Pools | Comments1 Comment