When you spend 20+ years in the swimming pool installation industry, you see the best and the worst. On the positive side, it’s a great feeling to show someone a brand-new patio with a calming, crystal-clear pool that’s ready for swimming and relaxation. You can see the joy on their faces as they imagine cookouts, parties, and lazy summer afternoons spent by the water.

 

The downsides are more related to the business itself. While we love the manufacturers we work with and enjoy meeting our peers from time to time, the sad fact is that some companies aren’t completely honest or transparent with customers. The result is that homeowners can end up paying more – and in fact, much more – for the fiberglass pool installation than they expect.

 

In today’s post, I want to break down how this happens. Then, I want to show you exactly what you can do to make sure you get a fair price for the work to be performed on your property. Let’s begin by looking at why fiberglass pool installation quotes aren’t always what they seem to be.

 

The Truth Behind Pool Installation Quotes

For years, I have had to deal with homeowners telling me that my quotes for swimming pool installations were high, or that my numbers went above and beyond what the competition was charging. I couldn’t understand how that was possible, given that I know exactly what kinds of costs are involved. Eventually, I started talking with homeowners who didn’t hire us after their work was done and got to the bottom of things.

 

What I learned is that many pool installation companies will draw up a quote that involves only the basics of a job – essentially the materials and a few man-hours to dig a hole on your property. That sounds reasonable except for two issues:

 

  •       First, the most basic quote is never a realistic estimate
  •       And second, most homeowners don’t want a pool by itself

Let me give you an example that illustrates the first point. I was recently shown a quote by a homeowner for a fairly typical fiberglass pool installation project. I noticed a few issues straightaway.

 

I won’t list them all, but one of the most obvious problems was an estimate of three hours for backfilling. That might sound reasonable to someone who hasn’t installed pools, but even a simple job is likely to call for around 50 hours (or a whole day of one crew’s time).

 

The contractor in question had not included any budget for backfilling materials, either. Again, this might not sound like a big deal if you don’t know better, but dirt isn’t sufficient because it doesn’t compact. You need stone material that has to be put down in layers.

 

These kinds of hours and materials aren’t really “extras” for pool installation and they can add up quickly. In fact, the homeowner who showed me this quote ended up paying more than double the figure they were originally given. They didn’t have a choice. Not only did the contractor word the agreement in a way that tied them to additional charges, but it would have been hard to abandon the project once their backyard had been turned into a giant hole.

 

In the same way, the original quote didn’t include anything for a patio, lighting, retaining walls, or even leveling the area around the pool. So, the homeowner had to shell out even more money to get something other than a fiberglass pool surrounded by bare dirt.

 

This is a terrible way to do business, in my opinion, but it’s surprisingly common across fiberglass pool installers. So what can you do to ensure that the numbers a contractor is giving you can be counted on? I have a couple of answers.

 

How to Get a Fair and Accurate Quote for Fiberglass Pool Installation

I know I would be pretty angry if someone quoted me a price for a landscaping project, destroyed my property, and then demanded even more money to finish the job. I definitely don’t want to see that happen to any of my neighbors. With that in mind, I have a couple of tips to help you avoid these kinds of traps.

 

The first is to simply get more quotes. Compare them and look at differences critically. I’ve already mentioned this, but homeowners tend to say our quotes are a bit higher than the competition. I’m sure they are, but that’s because we are giving real figures that include everything and then standing behind them. The more figures you see the easier it will be to spot offers that are actually too good to be true.

 

The second thing you can do is ask lots of questions and get everything in writing. If you don’t understand something in your agreement, have it spelled out differently. Ask about potential issues in writing and then keep the signed responses. Make sure any quotes you receive are fully itemized. Get guarantees and follow up on any assurances by speaking with former customers. They’ll tell you how forthcoming a patio renovation company was about costs and timelines in the past.

 

Another way to get at the real costs of a project is to get an audit of your quote. Maybe you don’t think you can afford the best patio renovation company in your area. Call them anyway and ask them to not only give you a quote but to look at others you have received. If they’re anything like me they’ll be happy to tell you what does and doesn’t look right. I’ve been in business for 20+ years. I know not everyone is going to hire me and my team. But by helping homeowners to avoid problems I can continue to grow our reputation and earn future referrals.

 

It’s unfortunate that there are companies out there hiding their prices and holding homeowners hostage during their pool installations. But if you follow the tips I’ve laid out in this article you won’t be one of them.

 

And of course, if you want to work with the best in the business – and get a fiberglass pool installation quote you can take seriously – then I hope you’ll reach out to the Stefano’s patio renovation team. Homeowners throughout the Saugus area trust us because we’ve been delivering for decades, and every project begins with a free consultation at your home. Contact us today!