Pool Companies

There are few things as enjoyable as having your own swimming pool. Depending on where you live, and for sure if you live in a hot and humid location, having a swimming pool to take a dip in and relax nearby is a must. Your family will thank you, your friends will adore you, your psychological well-being will be enhanced and everyone around you will suddenly become a whole lot more friendly to you.

Pools bring good vibes, but it is wise to take care before jumping into bed with a contractor. Pool companies need to be properly vetted to ensure you’re not wading into troubled waters. Like most things these days, online is where you’ll hop on first. Dig into a cursory first search of local pool company websites. Pay attention to the quality of the websites, information on their personnel, links to former projects, designs and styles that appeal to you, and of course, reviews. Now, beware, reviews on a pool company website were likely uploaded by the same company and no company is going to upload reviews that are unfavorable. In fact, the reviews you see on the site will be flowery, speaking to the professionalism and absolute dedication said pool company has provided. It will be the best commentaries you’ve ever read, guaranteed!

With that said, the next stop should be sites like Yelp. You need to get a full understanding of the company, good and bad reviews, and really see what folks are saying. In the pool business it is always good to go with a provider that has a CBP (Certified Pool Builder) on staff. This designation cannot be given to a company. Think of it like an MBA, for example. IBM has people who work for them with MBAs, but IBM cannot award them MBAs. A reputable pool company has people that work for them who are CBP, and if they don’t have the budget to go out and hire said people, then that’s a red flag.

Along with what you’ll see on the website as well as Yelp, getting customer references is a must. Ask the pool company to provide you with references, which good ones will, but again, they will give you the folks you know will say positive things. So, you should then go out and ask friends and neighbors who they’ve gone with when constructing or re-doing a pool. Referrals, referrals, referrals. This cannot be stressed enough. After the referrals come in, take your time. Rushing into a decision can be calamitous over the long-term and this is a significant investment so don’t get too hasty. There are hundreds of moving pieces when constructing a pool and the right contractor will put you at ease and make you believe that 100 steps are only 10 to 15. This is what you want, so don’t rush into a decision. A bad one will cost you tons of money and even more headaches.

And lastly, go to the pool company’s store. Some have them, others do not, and this isn’t to mean that the ones that don’t are less reputable. But if a showroom is available, take advantage of it. Seeing what’s going to go into your backyard after all is useful, right?