THE ULTIMATE SWIMMING POOL BUYER'S BIBLE
(100% Free Swimming Pool Considering To Buy & Pricing Guide For Those Seeking Only The Highest Quality)
Learn What Drives High Quality, High Value Swimming Pool Construction and Costs In Nigeria Before You Take The Plunge!
CHAPTER 6
FIFTEEN POOL PRICING & BUYING COSTLY MISTAKES TO AVOID
Ownership of a well built quality pool is a very rewarding experience.
However, before you decide to take the “leap” in shopping for a pool, it’s advisable to “look” first.
Take out the time to get informed and educate yourself before making any investment decision.
Search out for top notch pool companies that have the heart of a teacher and not just a pushy sales person.
Before scheduling numerous contractors for site inspections and free estimate for a pool, read the following tips to save you some disappointment, frustration, money, time and buyer’s remorse.
Protect your yourself, your sanity, your property and your dream of the perfect pool by avoiding these common and expensive mistakes.
- Don’t Underestimate The Scope Of A Pool Project
There are lots of considerations when building a high-quality pool.
Where should the pool be located?
What size, shape, design and depth will work best for you and your family?
Where will the shallow and deep end be located?
What additional features will serve your needs?
What about the maintenance that keeps a pool running after construction?
What do you need to do to ensure that the construction phase goes smoothly?
What about safety measures will work for you?
To get the best results, be ready to do your homework.
You’ll not only need to give these considerations some careful thought, but more importantly, you need the right swimming pool builder with the heart of a teacher to educate and inform you so that you can make good decisions.
- Choosing The Wrong Pool Builder
The pool builder that you choose to construct your pool, will ultimately make or mar your customer experience.A high quality pool should be built right the first time within budget and on time.
A poorly built pool is usually a big financial loss to the owner, because most often than not, such pool builders run away leaving a big hole in the ground for the owner.
Work with professional pool builders that will not throw you under the bus or to the hungry wolves, not some low quality cheap pool builders.
"If you think the cost of a Professional is expensive, wait until you hire an Amateur."
The cost of repairs of a faulty, low quality cheap pool by the owner is almost the same cost of building a new pool.
A reputable pool builder should have the requisite technical knowledge, experience and stability to guide you through the process of designing and constructing a high value, top-quality pool free from defects and failure.
Be wary of any pool builders who cannot offer a list of references and satisfied customers to prove their competence in the delivery of awesome pools.
Do your due diligence to find an expert pool builder you can trust will ultimately save you a great deal of headache and trouble.
The right pool builder should keep your best interests in mind and will help educate you about the best possible solutions for your backyard.
More on how to find the right pool builder is discussed in later section of this guide.
- Lack Of Understanding Of Your Budget Before Shopping
Most prospective pool buyers do not have a good understanding of how a pool works or what high-quality swimming pools cost.
In such a scenario, their budgets for a swimming pool is usually based on guess work and not informed decisions
A basic, standard, professionally built and awesome swimming pool has cost budget from about ONLY N3.5m upwards with all the benefits of being high value, high quality and excellence.
Of course, there are always lower cost budget for low quality, cheap pools.
The deciding factor here is what exactly are you looking for – A “Mercedes Benz” pool or a “Toyota” pool?
Also be sure to include in your budget, the cost for pool additional features like baby pool, fountains etc that you may desire.
- Focusing Strictly On Price Alone
This mostly ends in buyer’s remorse because the lowest bidding contractor has boosted his profit by using inferior or low quality materials and equipment.
Shopping for cheap pools by looking at price alone, eventually results in disappointment.
Bottom line is you usually get what you paid for.
Unlike a car or a house, an inferior quality pool cannot be resold or traded in if you are unsatisfied with the results and outcomes.
If you are fixate on price alone, you are definitely not going to get what you really want.
If you decide to choose the ”lowest bidder” or the “cheapest guy in town”, you should expect to receive the lowest quality or workmanship.
The cost of a professional is not expensive, but the cost of hiring an amateur is very expensive.
Beware of bait and switch tactics used in advertising.
- Making Price The Priority
While price bargains are good, never put pricing over high quality as this can turn out to be an expensive mistake.
Pool buyers who choose low quality cheap swimming pools most often than not always find themselves dealing with shoddy, bargain-basement materials, equipment and workmanship.
Ironically, a low quality cheap pool is more expensive in the long run because they result in frequent repairs and replacements of defective materials and equipment.
Please, RUN the other way if you see any advert like “We Build Cheap Pools”
Why? The long-term cost of those savings from such adverts adds up to frequent repairs, equipment failure and structural problems.
- Comparing Apple And Orange
Swimming pool construction bids should be compared on the same parameters like design, features, size, shapes, construction process, location, materials and equipment to be used etc.
A good and quality pool bid should show specifications, technical details, itemizing all components and explain how a price point was reached.
- Not Asking Enough Questions
It is a costly assumption that every pool builder has the knowledge or ability to educate you on your pool investment.
While a good pool builder should be able to do the above, the responsibility is still on the prospective pool owner to have the knowledge and understanding to make excellent buying decisions.
Do your homework and due diligence. There are endless resources at your disposal to use.
This guide and other valuable contents on the internet are examples of such resources.
- Shopping Over The Phone Only For A Pool
Shopping over the phone alone may be necessary and good but is never sufficient in making a final buying decision
It is advisable that the swimming pool builder comes to your to your site to conduct a site inspection and analysis to be able to provide you with an accurate and custom estimate quote.
Why? No two sites are the same. Every site has its own peculiarities and conditions.
- No Proper Analysis Of Quotations
This is another costly mistake been made by some prospective pool buyers. They invite and get more than 12 or more quotations from pool construction companies and cannot make an informed decision because all the information gets conflicting and confusing.
It’s always better to do your homework and research thoroughly and then finally request 3 or 4 written quotations from professional and reputable swimming pool companies specifying what materials and equipment they will use.
Pay close attention to how the quotations are written.
Are they detailed and presented in a format that is not confusing but that is easily understood and are all the items clearly articulated?
When you ask questions about the quotations, are you comfortable in their knowledge to produce your dream pool?
Afterwards, you make your decision and stick with it.
- Not Reading Contracts And Skipping Over Fine Print
It is very important to make sure you understand the contract you are getting into. Thoroughly read and understand your contract with your swimming pool builder, the specifications, terms of the contract, terms of payment and the warranties that comes with your pool and its various equipment components.
It may be tempting to skip reading the fine print, but please do read them to avoid mistakes.
Make sure everything is in writing. Review all your contracts carefully before signing.
If something is promised to you verbally, make sure it is in writing. Be sure to understand exactly what is included in the purchased price.
Get all the specifications on your pool, materials and equipment as well as information on delivery.
A good understanding of your rights and responsibilities will make your pool construction and its usage an enjoyable experience for you.
- Focusing Only On The Aesthetics
All pools are not built the same and while the way your pool looks is an important factor, a good pool builder will also think about your pool usage as well as its maintenance
A professional and experienced swimming pool builder should help you select a pool design that has the aesthetics look you desire, the functionality you need and the practicality you require.
- Ignoring Safety Concerns
Well built, high-quality swimming pools are fun, a great place to unwind, relax, entertain, exercise, and just enjoy the outdoors.
However, they can also be dangerous.
Protect your loved ones by educating yourself about pool safety and the types of safety features that can be incorporated into your pool design.
Make sure you protect the ones you care for, and protect the ones that cannot protect themselves.
- Not Asking For A Warranty
Be sure to ask for a warranty for the pool and its equipment.
Usually, a well built, high value, high quality pool should have a lifetime warranty on its structural members and a three to four years warranty on equipment.
Be sure you fully understand that warranty – what is and isn’t covered.
- Not Starting Now.
You sure can save some good money simply by getting your pool project underway right now.
Swimming pool prices have never gone down and increase each year due to equipment and material cost increases.
When you start your swimming pool project now instead of procrastinating, you save yourself the stress of price increase in the future.
- Not Planning Ahead.
The completion period for a well pressure-tested concrete swimming pool is about 6 – 10 weeks depending on the terms of contract. Larger projects and tight backyards will typically take longer.
Plan your pool construction job ahead to avoid pressurizing the pool builder to deliver within a shorter time frame.
Some pool builders in a bid to induce a contract award, overpromise to deliver a concrete pool in less than 6 weeks.
The results of the two scenarios above are usually leakages and pool failure that are very expensive to repair.