Helpful Tips for Finding a Reliable Pool Builder

In this third article in our series (see Part 1 and 2), we’ll consider some more ways to select a trustworthy pool contractor for your in-ground home pool installation. Our first article mentioned the importance of looking at any potential pool builder’s online reputation, including reviews on social media and search engines such as Google. Aside from such reviews, there are some other clues you can look for to help you make a wise choice.

See if Customer References are Provided on a Company’s Website

If a company has done exceptional work, they’re usually more than willing to share their references. Likewise, if a company is reluctant to share references, you can consider that hesitancy a big red flag. If you’re working with a company whose website doesn’t include references, be sure to ask for a complete list. If you want to feel confident that the company does top-notch work, contact some of the other homeowners in the area who have done business with the company and ask them to share a detailed, honest opinion of their work.

A word of caution is in order when it comes to references. Some companies don’t always do great work, but they may have managed to compile a list of their few satisfied customers. If they want to try to inflate their reputation, a mediocre pool contracting company could provide a very incomplete sample of references that only includes a small fraction of their total number of past customers. To avoid being hoodwinked in this way, you can ask the contractor how many pools they put in during the past year before asking them for references. If the number of pools they tell you they installed is much greater than the number of references on their list, it may be a good indication that the majority of their customers weren’t satisfied enough with their work that they feel comfortable recommending for you to contact them.

Take Notice of Whether or Not They Post Photographs of Previously Completed Pool Projects

As with sharing references, many skilled contractors are so proud of the work they’ve done in the past that they go out of their way to display it on their websites. If you’re dealing with an established company that’s done plenty of work on pools throughout the area, they should have plenty of pictures posted to show off their capability. If you don’t see pictures of previous jobs on their website, you have to ask yourself why not. Or, better yet, ask them why they haven’t posted any pictures of the pool contracting work they’ve completed!

Check Out the Website’s Overall Level of Organization and Professionalism

Not every pool contractor who is skilled in their trade will necessarily be tech savvy enough to put together a highly impressive website. However, the level of professionalism and organization of any company’s website reflects their awareness of how important it is to make a good impression on potential customers. If a company’s website looks sloppy, haphazard, or neglected, it may be an indication that these negative qualities could be present in other aspects of their work. The same can be said for the physical condition of their office, their company vehicles, and the manner in which company employees conduct themselves over the telephone or during in-person meetings.

Though websites can give a positive or negative first impression, there’s much more involved in finding the right pool builder than just seeing a sophisticated website. In the next article, we’ll check out some of the other ways you can tell if a pool contractor has what it takes to install the backyard oasis you want and deserve.

Lyon Financial

Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.