EJ - happy to have any thoughts on Presidential. Send me PM if you'd like.
This weekend we reduced the list of 5 to a list of 3, but still a ways to go. Changing a few design criteria and probably 95% happy with current design. Still imagine a few more changes but nothing tremendously major. Big decision to eliminate the in-floor pop up cleaner system. That will save a lot of dough...and with four kids, I'll put them to work keeping the pool cleaned.
It's a bit of an apples to oranges comparison on the 3 current bids...but if I adjust as best as I can, it seems like the results are:
1. Boulder Creek - cheapest. Smallest company at only 20 pool builds per year. This is the "cost plus" builder. So his bid could be high, or well, low. So this is a crapshoot. He verbally tells me that, in the end, he'll probably come in thousands cheaper than what he has provided, but can't guarantee it. I pay only the actual costs at each stage, and 20% more for his management/oversight costs. He has refused to tell me who his sub's are, while the two companies below have been much more open about who they work with. This is probably because he worries I'll just sub this out directly and manage it myself, so I don't blame him for not telling me. Yet I like to check the ROC's of the sub's as well. He said that any issues will go to him to manage, and his ROC is at risk - not his sub's. I suppose this is true....I'll put some thoughts in how to narrow this down...maybe ask for a "not to exceed" quote. (Best of both worlds?) His warranty is less than other two of course, and the chance of him being out of business compared to other two is higher of course. His ROC is clean; unknown rep. I will call references for all 3 companies.
2. Presidential Pools - About $3k higher than #1. Better warranty but they charge $85 per visit for "fixes." Least supportive salesperson of the 3 and least imagination/creativity so far. No cost estimate on our sunken bar part so I need them to commit to that part. (I used the same cost that BC gave me to compare bids) I think they have only 8 year warranty on pebblesheen. Least cooperative on the fancy in-ground spa that we want. But ROC and rep is fairly solid.
3. California Pools - I like them the best, but wow, they came in a solid 10k higher than Presidential, so 13k higher than BC. They have a fantastic warranty, including lifetime on pebblesheen. 3 year bumper to bumper with no visit charge. Pretty solid designer/salesperson (after I switched from two I didn't like). Solid ROC and reputation. They use Hayward rather than Pentair equipment but I can live with it. Is the warranty worth 13k? Tough to say. Probably not.
Next steps: (am I missing anything?)
1. Send revised requirements list tonight and changes such as no in-floor cleaning system.
2. Ask for revised bids from each by next Friday. Call references this week and next.
3. Review warranties and contracts very carefully and send clarifying questions by Wed.
4. Ask CalPool for reduced price submission (try to get preferred company to reduce price) - by Feb. 1st.
5. Make final decision by ~mid feb. Make final edits to design. Sign contract after careful review.
6. Submit plans to HOA committee by mid feb (ugh!!!)
7. Start dig by March 1.
8. PARTY ~May 15? (2 1/2 month process)
I can dream, can't I?????? (just don't let it be a nightmare...)
RK
(on separate note; very distracted today. Had to take our 14 year old dog to Vet to be put to sleep. RIP, Snicker. We'll miss you forever)
