It’s been a long time coming, but you finally get the chance to put your dream pool into your home! The next step is for you to find the right pool contractor to turn your dreams into a reality.
Doing so can be tricky. Some contractors can fill you with empty promises and never come through. When you’re wondering “how do I find the best inground pool contractors in my city?” it’s best to look at their previous record of success.
See below for an in-depth guide on what you should look for when buying a pool and having it built by a pool contractor.
1. Look for Experience
There’s no better teacher in the pool industry than experience. There’s no way to shortcut that experience, either. You either have it or you don’t.
However, that won’t stop certain companies from using clever verbiage to make you think they have the right experience for the job.
Most often, companies will use the “years of service” tool to shine their contracting services under a brighter light. However, there is a huge difference between years of service and experience.
For all you know, that company might’ve been purchased by a new owner. You must speak with the people you’ll work with directly throughout this process.
What qualifications do they have for the job? How many inground pools have they installed (ballpark)? What custom features have they created that they are most proud of? What recommendations do they have for your pool installation specifically?
Having a pool contractor with experience can assure that your pool gets built on time, with results that you’ll love.
They can use their experience to foresee any potential problems and make adjustments if they occur.
2. Find Positive Online Reviews
Many people will recommend that you hire a pool contractor that one of your friends or family members have experience with. But what if no one in your network has had a pool installed? What if they didn’t like the results of the contractor they used?
The best way to learn more about a service before you hire them these days is through online reviews. You can read what previous clients have to say about the service that you’re looking into.
Take the ratings into consideration, but don’t use them as an end-all-be-all deciding factor. Companies of lesser quality can easily skew the ratings in their favor.
Instead, take a look at the comments. What are clients saying about the contractor that they used? Were they satisfied with the customer service they received? Were the results just as they’d envisioned? How long did the process take?
Be sure to take all of these factors into consideration. The best pool contractors will bring your dream pool to life while doing so on time. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice on either aspect.
3. Customer Support
Contrary to popular belief, customer support is a huge aspect of inground pool construction. You should never have to be left in the dark when it comes to the installation of your own pool.
Be sure to factor in customer support to the service that you hire. How responsive are they when you reach out? Do they give you thorough answers or are they short-worded and trying to push you off the phone?
A superior inground pool contractor will prioritize customer support above all else. If you have any questions or concerns, they’ll be happy to talk them over with you and fill you in on where they’re at.
If the contractor seems to be disinterested when you reach out to inquire or tries to impress you with their “busy schedule”, they aren’t worth your time. They need to be able to serve you throughout the entire process. Not just after you sign the dotted line.
4. Budget-Friendly Pricing
Having a custom inground pool installed in your backyard is a pricey venture, there is no doubt about it. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a contractor that’s willing to work with your price specifications.
Start by creating a budget for your pool. How much are you hoping to pay? What aspects do you have to have in your pool? Which features are you more lenient on? Is there a certain material that you want the pool to be made of?
A reputable contractor will work with the budget. If the price you come up with is out of the realm of possibility, they’ll take the time to hash out something that makes sense for both parties.
For example, they can point you to new materials that can cut your costs, as well as inform you of how sizing, location, and construction costs play a factor in the price. Your contractor often should have lenders they typically work with for pool financing if you decide to go that route. Be sure to ask them about details for how financing a swimming pool works and if it’s a good option for you.
5. Helpful Communication
Confidence is a huge part of the pool installation process. You want peace of mind that the contractor is keeping you in the loop with the construction of your inground pool.
For example, if there is a weather delay or problems at another client’s site, the contractor can call you, make you aware of the situation, and present you with a solution to keep the timeline you wanted.
Not all pool contractors have this skill. Make sure that you hire a pool building service that has a passion for serving their clients.
Inground Pool Contractors For You: Find the Right Fit
Now that you a guide to help answer your question of “how to find inground pool contractors in your city?” it’s time to start the search for yourself.
For more inquiries, please begin by finding a location near you and we will be happy to assist you further.