Top 7 Myths About Swimming Pool Construction
Thank you for taking the time to download our SPECIAL REPORT. U•Build•It℠ Swimming Pools is Sacramento’s Oldest and Most Respected Homeowner Advocate. In this report we will disclose what the “Big Builders” Don’t Want You To Know.
1) Base Pool – There is no such thing! To use an analogy, saying there is a base pool is like saying there is only one Grandma’s Chicken Noodle Soup. We all know that’s not the case. In the simplest of forms, the soup has chicken, noodles and water. What’s different is our grandmother’s secret ingredients.
One builder’s base pool is different from the next. The list of included items is always different. One builder might use Pentair, while another uses Hayward. The footages and sizes of plumbing and electrical vary between builders. In reality, the concept of a “base pool” was conceived by swimming pool builders to simplify the bidding process for their sales people. A typical pool has hundreds of different line items to bid. Changes to one item can further change prices of three or more other line items. So in effort to systematize the bidding process, builders came up with the base pool.
2) Pools Starting At … This form of advertising should be a RED FLAG! U•Build•It℠ never advertises a CHEAP price to get you to call! Why?
- We offer custom swimming pools, each client is different. We don’t do Cookie Cutter Pools
- We don’t limit our customer’s choices
- We work with our customers to provide the most for THEIR budget
With U•Build•It℠ you DO SAVE MONEY! How much? Call us to learn more.
Other builders frequently use this ploy offering a Cookie Cutter Pool and a CHEAP price to get you to call. The number one problem with advertising a cheap price is, these pools are RARELY built. It’s the job of the designer to up-sell by adding on additional footages of plumbing and electrical not included in the advertised special. Most importantly, these prices typically DO NOT include concrete decking.
Here’s the dirty little secret! A builder will spend time figuring out the CHEAPEST way to offer the public a “swimming pool” by publishing a low ball price. In turn, the builder comes up with a fancy, eye catching flyer promoting their special complete with the obligatory disclaimers. The limitations are astounding. The builder will then present his sales people with the promotion. The sales person who actually sells the pool at the promoted price are compensated at a reduced commission. To make up the difference, it is the necessity of the sales person to up-sell to make it worth their while and cover their expenses.
3) Standard Tile – There isn’t! A standard tile from one builder is different than the next. Some builders offer 10 or more tiles to choose, others limit it to two or four. Why? Some builders will buy a truckload of a couple or more deeply discounted tiles. These can be the most popular tiles offered or discontinued styles. Now I ask, do you want your neighbors pool tile?
4) It’s Cheaper to Build In the Winter – Actually, it can cost a builder more to complete a project in the winter. Why? There are times when a builder has to have the gunite company come out to stabilize the soils by “flashing” the pool with a thin layer of gunite to prevent cave ins. That’s just one of the many items that can cost more during a winter build.
Here’s a question: Do you ever go to your job and expect to get paid less because of a certain season or time? One reason the claim is made, is it’s better to get paid something than nothing at all when business is slow.
5) It’s Included – Just because the salesperson told you it was included DOESN’T mean you’ll get it without paying more money. IF IT’S NOT WRITTEN ON THE CONTRACT it’s not included. To be clear, a construction contract for the construction of a swimming pool is the combination of a written contract and a plan. One without the other is worthless!
6) We’re not going to hit rock, hardpan, water, etc. – There are just too many variables for ANYONE to make that statement. For all we know, Geronimo is buried in your backyard. If we find him, we’ll have to stop all work, call the City or County, wait for the call from the archeologist, wait for carbon dating, and maybe we’ll get to finish your pool.
Sound CRAZY? Maybe it is and maybe it’s not! Moral of this example, no one can promise anything when it comes to existing site conditions. Even the soils engineers have a disclaimer when they perform test holes on a building site. We just don’t know.
7) Your money is safe by hiring a contractor. NOT!
Not too long ago, a swimming pool contractor in Sacramento, closed it’s doors and filed for bankruptcy. They left over 60 homeowners in various stages of the construction process. The worst part, many had paid thinking that the swimming pool contractor had paid their subcontractors and material suppliers. THIS IS THE DOUBLE WHAMMY. In the State of California, there is a law on the books called Mechanic’s Lien Law. Below is the quotation from the contractor’s license board:
A mechanic’s lien is a “hold” against your property that, if unpaid, allows a foreclosure action, forcing the sale of your home. It is recorded with the County Recorder’s office by the unpaid contractor, subcontractor or supplier.
Sometimes liens occur when the prime contractor has not paid subcontractors or suppliers. Legally, the homeowner is ultimately responsible for payment – even if they have already paid the prime contractor.
This can be a nightmare, it can happen to you!
If you would like to research this more, please visit the State of California’s Contractor’s License Board web site.
The ONLY THING YOU NEED TO KNOW
The only place your money is safe, is in your pocket. U•Build•It℠ Swimming Pools is a licensed and bonded swimming pool contractor in the State of California. Our team of licensed and bonded contractors never charges you in advance. When you build your own swimming pool, you hold the checkbook. Payments go out only when you say they’ll go out, and only to those who have truly completed the work to your satisfaction. Plus, no surprise charges will appear for work that wasn’t authorized.
Thank you again for downloading this special report. U•Build•It℠ Swimming Pools is your Sacramento Swimming Pool Advocate. We help you to get the most for your money by buying direct, thus saving thousands of dollars or more.
Call, Click or Email to speak with us personally to discuss your project.
