How to Choose a Pool Contractor

How to Choose a Pool Contractor

Choosing a pool contractor can be a little intimidating – especially if you don’t actually build pools yourself because that means you really don’t have a good way of gauging if someone really knows their stuff or not.

We’ve all been there at some point in our lives: having to hire a contractor to do something you really can’t do yourself. It can be a sticky situation. You feel somewhat incompetent and vulnerable (and you desperately hope that the contractor is oblivious to this!)

Here are some tips to help you choose the right contractor like a pro:

Licensing: You need a swimming pool contractor who is duly licensed by your state. Impossible as that may seem, there are actually “contractors” who are functioning without the appropriate licensing. In the State of North Carolina, it is required that a contractor be licensed for all jobs over $30,000. It’s important to choose a contractor that follows the rules. If they break the rules in one area, they’ll break them in other areas. You need to ask your potential pool builder: “Are you licensed by the State of North Carolina?” (or in whatever state your pool will be built). Get their license number. You can even do your homework and check to see if they are playing straight with you. Go to http://www.nclbgc.net/lic_fr.html and type in their business name in the” Licensee Name” box. This will tell you what licensing, if any, they really have.

Insurance/bonding: It is critical that the swimming pool contractor in North Carolina that you choose be adequately insured and bonded. While this may seem almost unnecessary to point out, here’s an example of what an uninsured or unbonded contractor could mean to you:

Imagine if one of the contractor’s employees gets hurt on the jobsite (working on your pool).Let’s say he falls into the hole while it’s being dug and breaks a leg. If the contractor isn’t insured . . . guess who gets to pay for the injured employee? Yep – YOU! Therefore, to avoid this happening to you, the question you need to ask the potential pool contractor is this: “Do you carry workmen’s’ comp and liability insurance?” You can also ask the contractor for a copy of his insurance certification. If he is not willing to do that, then he most likely doesn’t have it. And if he DOES give it to you, make sure you call the insurance company’s number on the sheet to verify that the insurance is current. (It is VERY easy to have a copy that “shows” that you have insurance – when in reality, the policy has lapsed due to non-payment of premiums or some other reason.)

Experience: Number of years in business is important. There are still companies operating out of the back of work vans, and you DON’T want to get hooked up with one of them. You want to make sure that your pool is going to be completed as agreed upon IN WRITING by your contract! Important questions to ask: “How many years have you been in business?” “What kinds of pools have you built?”

Tip: Many pool companies will say they have 25 years of experience – or 125 years of pool building experience. What they sometimes mean by that is this: Worker A has been in construction 10 years + Worker B who has done the same for 5 years. The one who digs the pools may have done so for 7 years, and the owner-contractor may have been in the pool industry for another 8. Now adding all those numbers up, the pool company may claim that they have “30 years of pool experience.” Really? Know what the contractor means by “years of experience.”

References: Last, but NOT least – ALWAYS ask for references. Always check the references. Any contractor can come up with a few good references. Then check them if you are able. Talk with your neighbors who have pools. One of the best ways to find out real info on a pool contractor is to ask around. Become a self-made expert on pool contractors. You can do it! Ask, “Can you give me some references?” Legitimate references will be listed on file in a contractor’s office. And, it goes without saying that there should be MORE HAPPY customers than not.

Following these suggestions will help you – hopefully – to be a happy customer as well!