Here is what I have gone through and learned so far.
To start a pool project you need: big desire to have it, funds to pay for it (it is too hard to get financing for it), place to build it (pool can be built even on a hill). Pool is not an investment. It will add only about 50% of the pool price to the house value. It will also add to your electric and water bill. It will not add to your home insurance (unless you do not have a fence), but it will require monthly maintenance, and also some part replacement from time to time. Pool requires permits, including permit from a tree department - this part should be covered by the pool builder. But from another side, pool is lots of fun. At least this is how I think now :) It is important to get bids from several contractors, read as many reviews about them as possible, check their license and projects they have built (they should have photos). Simply ask to take you to the pools they have built in the area, or ask for phone numbers of the people and call them to talk in private. When going through the bids, ask about every item! Why is it needed? Is there an advanced option? For example, outside control of the equipment vs remote. Read about what needs to be in the pool: tile, coping, heating equipment, lights, hot tub, number of jets, pool cleaning system, including little robot running on the bottom, stairs, amperage, pool shape, size, cover, etc. Ask about each of these items when going through the bid. Also do not listen to what they try to sell to you. Listen to the facts. Negotiate for everything! And the most important thing to remember is the following. You are the boss before the contract is signed. A pool builder, like any other contractor, wants your business, and will give you maximum discounts for everything you ask for to get it. Once the contract is signed, and you want to get something extra, you will pay the full price. It is not because contractors are bad people, it is simply because there will be no reason for them to give you a better price.
If you want to build a patio or a deck, it is time to get bids for them as well. Usually pool builders partner with landscape contractors, and they will recommend them to you (make sure you get landscape bids without pool builder's price mark-up). Talk to them as the whole project should go smoother if you work with well partnered companies. But make sure you get bids from other contractors as well. It is your money and you deserve the best deal. Just like with the pool bids, ask about each little detail. Everything needs to be questioned: material - basic vs colored vs special shape or stamp, drainage, type of wood or pavers, pump for concrete, and whether it includes stand-by and hose length, removal of your current concrete or pavers, etc. Make sure they take you to the projects they have completed. Nothing will ever compare to a couple of live pictures.
If you want to add lights or plants to your project later on, think about them at this point as well. You may need to get conduits put under concrete or pavers to be able to put electric or water pipes through them from one side of the backyard to another, and you will not be able to put them afterwards.
Think, think, think. Do not let anybody pressure you. Before the contract is signed - you are the boss.
We signed the contract on March 17th. John, the sales manager, said the pool should be ready within 8 weeks, if the weather permits. The pool design was submitted to the city the week after, because the engineer was out of town, and once he was back, it took him a couple of days to put everything on the paper. About a week later a tree person from the city came to look at our backyard. He noticed a little tree growing behind the fence, and said that he would put a note on the permit that the pool is in the close proximity to that tree needs to be excavated manually. How is that possible? No idea. But apparently this was not a problem at all, since on March 28th we received a phone call from the pool office confirming that permits are signed off, and that Michael, the work manager, will be contacting us soon. This was Monday. On Tuesday we went to the pool office to look at tiles (still working on what tiles to select) and Michael was there. He and John were discussing that the pool should be dug next week because the soil has still not dried from the heavy rains we had for the whole week just a several days ago. However, they are ready to come over and remove the old concrete that we need to replace with the new one to build a patio. I asked whether this would be a loud type of work and received a positive answer. So we asked them to come at a certain time, because we work from home and cannot be on conference calls with loud external noise. John and Michael promised to warn us every time some loud work will need to be done. The next day, which is yesterday, Michael called us to warn that the crew is coming. It was a good timing. They showed up 20 minutes later: John, Michael and the concrete removing crew. John gave them very detailed instructions on what to do and how to do in order not to damage the house. He also told them not to drill close to the house, because someone else will come and remove concrete from there manually. Well, nice attitude! Indeed, a person named Roberto, who appeared to be the building lead, came and broke concrete with some non-automated tools wherever it was close to the house and the pole that holds the patio roof. The drilling guys also removed our fence gate and put it at the patio door to protect it from the concrete pieces flying in all directions. Nothing has been damaged so far :) They promised to return today to move the broken concrete pieces closer to the fence from where a truck will remove them later. So today they showed up, just an hour later than promised, at 9am, vs 8am. Not bad. Two other people came at 8am. Apparently those were the landscaping crew who came to disconnect the irrigation system pipes to save them for the later. It was right on time. This team works separately from the pool company, so we had to coordinate their work on our own. The next step is expected next week, and it will be for the management team to come and spray the shape of the pool on the ground for us to confirm if we like it. Apparently we can change the shape, the size and the location to some extent up to the last moment. Cannot wait!
