Nice pool and back yard! Looks like you've done a great job to maximize use of space. What equipment models are you using and how are you chlorinating? My only other question is how comfortable are you with the contract? Specifically:
- Is payment based on easily measured milestones for progress and quality? Or just the builder notifies you he's ready for the next draw?
- Is there a release of liens provision before final payment?
- Is there a defined performance test prior to each payment and prior to the last payment?
- Is the scope of work very clear? For example: what does final cleanup consist of? Who disposes of debris? Who does permits? What substitutions are allowable?
- Is there a schedule with milestones? Has builder verified availability of materials and labor?
- Is warranty very clear?
- What are your obligations other than making payment?
- Have you gotten a certificate of "named insured" from your builder's liability coverage provider.
The reason I ask this is that most pool builders have their contract written by their own attorney who's job is to protect the builder. Almost all are written "one-way" but can easily be modified to be fair to both parties. Many (or even most) pool owners don't check their contract so they sign contracts that are patently not fair. This doesn't matter if everything goes fine. But there are many, many threads on here that describe what happens with a poor contract and construction problems. I am not trying to imply pool builders are not good constructors. It's just that when it comes to contracts nobody that works for the builder is looking after you. You have to do that yourself. Pools are fairly complicated construction and things do go wrong. When that happens the most important thing governing your recourse is the contract.
I hope this is helpful.
Chris
