Five Essential Elements of the Swimming Pool Purchasing Process

Because comparatively little has been written about the process of purchasing a swimming pool, and because it is done so rarely in life, most prospective pool owners will be benefited by reading carefully the following five points.

1. All parties involved should be in agreement that the purchase of a swimming pool is a good decision.

Determining whether or not a swimming pool in your back yard is a sound decision is the first step to having the ability to determine the basic elements that affect your ultimate satisfaction with this substantial investment in your home.  Recently, a lady called and related to me how much she wanted a swimming pool.  She assigned me the task, however, of convincing her husband that he also wanted a swimming pool.  It was important for me to assure her that I could not accept that responsibility. I can only assist people who are committed to building a swimming pool to select the swimming pool and options that best meet their needs today and years from now as well. My recommendation to this individual was that she and her husband review the Pools of Fun website and articles on the nation’s top ranked pool blog.

2. Determine early in the process what is most important to you in pool ownership.

Perhaps low maintenance is important to you and your family.  For many swimming pool buyers, the pool is expected to be a thing of beauty which enhances the appearance of their entire property.  Some are more concerned with the ability to customize a swimming pool to meet a specific use.   Most thoughtful buyers have concerns about the warranty on their swimming pool.  It is important to consider what’s important to you and your family about your new pool in order of priority.

3. Determine what you are looking for in a swimming pool builder.

Some families want to be very involved with the pool building process while it is taking place.  Others just want to be notified when they can dive in.  Some people are profoundly interested in quality and workmanship.  Others care more about price.  These important questions should be addressed before inviting a pool builder’s representative to come to your home. Consumers who are solely price-motivated needn’t have as many in home visits.  When I am told that a pool shopper is primarily concerned with price, I suggest that Pools of Fun is not likely to be the company for them. It simply is not possible to provide the best workmanship and quality and price it lower than those who do not.

During the course of my career, I have submitted well over 1000 swimming pool estimates and on most of these, Pools of Fun was in the middle or at the top in terms of price.  During the same years, more than half of our competitors have gone out of business.  

4. Determine available resources and establish a realistic budget in advance.

Although the real estate market is recovering, property values have not returned to prerecession levels. Thus, automatic approval of home equity loans can no longer be assumed.  Marcus Sheridan, a well respected pool expert, wrote an in-depth article about pool financing, which can be found online.  The bottom line, however, is that it is incumbent upon the homeowner to research and secure financing prior to requesting pool quotes. This might appear to be “putting the cart before the horse” but in reality the exact opposite is true.  Last year more than twenty prospective pool owners signed agreements and gave me deposits with the intent of being added to the Pools of Fun schedule, only to find that financing was unavailable.   Resolving the financing issue in advance avoids subsequent disappointment and the wasting of the time of all parties concerned.

5. Become familiar with vinyl liner, concrete, and fiberglass pools in order to determine which best meets your needs.

Pools of Fun offers all three construction types and can help you better understand which pool will work best for your family’s enjoyment.   The Pools of Fun Design Center has examples of each type of pool, giving you an opportunity to see them and learn the advantages of each.

With these issues resolved, your pool buying experience will be more harmonious and less stressful.