How To Choose A Superior Pool Company & Spend Less Money

By Author: David Adams
Total Articles: 1
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At Parkwood Pools we realise that when you hire a pool contractor to perform work on your swimming pool, you like things done right and at a reasonable price.

Over the last Thirty years, we’ve seen countless clients not get the results they anticipated by working with a ‘jack of all trades pool company’ that said they could do just about everything when it came to pools. In reality, they are able to do a lot…. of destruction, that is!

So, to safeguard your self from getting scammed by a pool builder, we ask you to don't forget to take these steps:

1. Verify the Pool Contractor’s Insurance coverage

A pool contractor’s workmans compensation insurance safeguards you if a workman is seriously injured on your property. Liability Insurance defends you if any of your property is damaged.

The swimming pool company that you select shouldn’t have any issues with you phoning the insurance company to make perfectly sure that the contractor’s insurance is recent.

You can also request to have your name on the insurance certificate. By having your name on the certificate, you're ...
... going to be informed if the contractor cancels the policy during your project.

2. Verify the Swimming pool Contractor’s License

The good thing is this is extremely simple to do. To check out your pool contractor’s license go to www.sunbiz.org. If a license is relevant for your project, the state may help protect you in the event of faulty workmanship. If a permit is needed, make sure the contractor gets it. If you employ a contractor without insurance or a license, you’re tinkering with fire.

4. Get Estimates & Warranties in Writing

Get all guarantees and prices in writing. It helps you make certain that the contractor knows precisely what you’re looking for and, it’s essential for both you and the contractor to prevent any misunderstandings over everything that you need done.

Also, you have to be sure that there aren't any hidden costs or fees. EVERYTHING that the contractor is charging you for should really be in writing. You also want to know very well what is incorporated in the warranty, the length of time the warranty is good for, and what sort of payment the contractor will accept.

5. Check References

Even before you start your research, it’s beneficial to request referrals. Nonetheless, the key here is to not feel obligated to use someone that your friend recommends just because they recommended them we strongly encourage each of our clients to verify our references or to talk with past customers and ask them if they would employ us again, verify that we obtained the job done on time and also ask if there was anything they didn’t like about our work.

If you just follow these steps, you’ll be a lot better off than most people hiring a swimming pool contractor. And you’ll save money on the cost of the job now and in the future.

What You'll Want To Know

While the law will provide some protection from less-than-reputable or unskilled contractors, it doesn’t guarantee honest transactions or perfect performance. Protect your purchase by being an well informed, cautious consumer.

All registered contractors will need to carry general liability insurance coverage.

A contractor should have a active business license, and if the contractor has employees, they must have workers’ compensation coverage.

Before you decide to employ a pool contractor:

Plan your project carefully. Knowing what you want done and can clearly explain it, you’re unlikely to not understand information or experience cost overruns.

Obtain references and then check them out. If possible, look at the work, meet the home owner and visit a site with work in progress. Ask for references of companies that the contractor works with and check out his or her payment record. Request a copy of the contractor’s insurance policy to confirm what is covered. Examine all the elements of the bids, like scope of work, warranties, references, time frames and price.

Try and anticipate issues and inconveniences, such as cost overrun or cleanup, and come to an agreement with your contractor on how they will be handled before the work begins.

After you've picked a contractor or remodeler:

1. Obtain a written contract that includes price, payment terms, sales tax, permit fees (if applicable), the specific work to be performed, materials to be used, warranties and start and end date. It is also a good idea to include change-order processes, final review and sign-off procedures and cleanup.

2. Make regular inspections and talk to your local building department about necessary permits. Be certain that all permits are in place and that inspections are in order.

3. When advancing money for materials, it may be possible to make checks payable to both the contractor and the supply house or to pay the supply house directly.

4. Put all change orders in writing and ask questions as work progresses. Avoid verbal contracts, and be very careful of paying for work that has not been completed.

5. Ask for signed lien releases from all of the major subcontractors and suppliers on your job prior to making final payments.

Other Factors You’ll want to know when working with a Swimming pool Contractor!

• If a contractor is already registered and for how long.

• If there is any pending or past action against a contractor’s bond.

• Some other business names a contractor may have worked under before.

• If a contractor has ever been cited for infractions.

Be wary of contractors who:

• Provide credentials or references that can’t be confirmed.

• Offer an exclusive price on condition that you sign today or use other high-pressure sales tactics.

• Accept just cash, need large deposits or the entire cost in the beginning or ask you to make the payment in their name.

• Do not produce a written arrangement or full bid.

• Asks you to pickup the building permit. In most instances, the contractor is required to take out the permits. Permits are your protection and help ensure that work will meet local building codes.

• Will offer you extraordinarily prolonged extended warranties.

• Expects to complete most or all the work on weekends and after-hours.

• Presents an offer that appears to be "too wonderful to be accurate."

Guard your self with permits!

• Building Permits

• Electrical Permits

Steer clear of lien difficulties

• If any supplier of materials, staff member or subcontractor is not paid off, a lien could be filed against your residence to force you to pay. You can actually pay 2 times for the same work. Or worse yet, an unpaid lien could lead to foreclosure on your your home. (For remodeling jobs, liens can only be filed for the amount left unpaid to the general contractor.)

• If you discover a "notice of intent" to record a lien on your home, ask your general contractor to give you lien release documents from the supplier or subcontractor who's sent this notice. The contractor is required to offer you more information about lien release documents if you request it.

Some Good Questions you should ask when Committing to Pool Contractors in South Florida

• Do they accept projects of your size? ?

• Are they ready to give financial individual references, from suppliers or banks?

• Are they going to provide you with a list of former clients?

• How many other jobs would they already have going at the same time?

• How long have they worked with their subcontractors?

The answers to these inquiries can tell you their availability, reliability, just how much attention they'll be capable of giving your project and also just how effortlessly the task could go.

Connect In person

It's imperative that you two correspond well because this person could be at your home or workplace for days at a time. Then again, don't let personality deceive you. Check in with your state's consumer protection agency and your local Better Business Bureau to make sure that the contractors don't have a history of disagreements with clients or subcontractors.

An Outstanding Company Will:

• Set a Payment Schedule

Payment schedules are also able to give you a clue of the contractor's financial position and work ethic. Should they want half the estimate in the beginning, they might have financial difficulties or be concerned that you simply won't pay the rest after you've seen the work. For large assignments, a schedule usually starts with 10 percent at contract signing, three payments of 25 percent evenly spaced over the length of the project and a check for the final 15 percent whenever you feel every item on the punch list has been completed.

• Put it in Writing

A very good contractor will draw up a contract that details every step of the project: payment schedule; proof of liability insurance and worker's compensation payments; a start date and projected completion date; specific materials and products to be used; and a requirement that the contractor obtain lien releases (which protect you if he doesn't pay his bills) from all subcontractors and suppliers. Insisting on a clear contract isn't about mistrust; it's about insuring a good renovation.

• Lastly, remember that as soon as a change is made or a problem uncovered, the price just increased and the project just got longer. The four most expensive words in the English language? "While you're at it...."

• Also Remember Don't Let Price Be Your Guide

Beyond technical competence, comfort should play an equal or greater role in your decision. The single most important factor in choosing a contractor is how well you and he communicate. All things being equal, it's better to spend more and get someone you're comfortable with.

Don't Enticed by These Contractor Lines

1. This offer runs out immediately.

Nearly all bids are good for 1 month so clients can mull over decisions and get loans.

2. You obtain a discount if we use your house as a model for our work.

A sales scam, this price is usually higher than the quote you’d get elsewhere.

3. I’ll offer you a price just from looking.

Bids come in writing, and only after careful examination. If you don’t really know what the estimate is based on, how do you work out a better deal?

4. I don’t give out details for past clients.

A good service provider is thrilled to give you personal references. Be sure that you follow up and make sure that those customers are satisfied with the work.

5. A simple handshake can do.?

Have it in writing. A contract safeguards you and the contractor should some thing go wrong.

6. I’ll cut you a deal if you pay with cash.

A contractor can reduce his rate by not reporting your transaction as revenue and, consequently, by not paying taxes. This is fraud.

7. You’ll really need to get the work permits.

A contractor who can’t get permits for a job probably isn’t licensed in your area, or his license was revoked.

8. For an added fee, I’ll provide you a guaranty.

Guarantees are built into a good number of contracts at no cost and cover the repair for a given period, usually one year.

About the author:

We are your trusted Pool Contractors in Sunrise Florida. We've been into pool construction for over 25 years. Visit Parkwood Pools (http://parkwoodpools.com/) for more information about swimming pools installation and maintenance.