Planning your pool is a very important process for any individual or family. As with any investment, it must be planned with care and input from an experienced advisor. The advisor must be capable of understanding your needs and then formulating a plan which reflects those needs while also considering the practical realities of space and site requirements, safety and costs.

A professional swimming pool builder should possess the technical expertise, imagination, and integrity to be such an advisor. Selecting a qualified builder is therefore, vital to the planning process.

Swimming pool design and construction is a highly specialized field and the technology going with it changes continuously. The builder you ultimately choose to work with should bring to you the latest in available products, building techniques, and services. Only builders who are thoroughly committed to their industry will offer you this.

Some characteristics of a commitment pool builder are the following;

• He is a member of a builder’s guild or a professional organization.
  
  
• He involves himself in industry education programs, technical seminars, and trade shows where new ideas and products are displayed.
  
  
• He can provide you with a reference list of both recent and older projects.
  
  
• He is capable of bringing to you a wide range of products and services for your consideration without overwhelming you.
  
  
• He presents his products and services fairly without attacking competitive products and services.
  
  
• He has a strong support network like a Guild which he can call upon to inform himself if he is lacking information on a particular item.

Determine how long the builder has been in business. Other good sources for qualifying a builder are engineering and Architectural firms in your community, for a proven track record of excellence by a pool builder will always be recognized by other professionals.

Depend On Your Builder

Once you have selected a reliable, ethical independent guild or association member builder, rely on them to advise you on making decisions with respect to quality, equipment and safety. Study your final proposal careful to be sure you are satisfied with all aspects of your plan before work commences. Changing the plan during the course of construction can result in unanticipated delays and cost considerations. Time and effort applied during the planning stages will pay off in real dividends in the long term enjoyment of your swimming pool.