Alabama 20x40 L Shape Build.

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randal106

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Jul 19, 2017
32
South Alabama
Hi Guys! First Post but have been reading alot. Just got my first quote and was not impressed with the level of detail in the quote..

My question I have is if a non-detailed quote is normal? Then when we pick a PB, will they work to nail down the details? I don't want to go back and forth with every PB during the quote process if its not needed or normal.
I have attached my drawing that I did in Visio (Everybody likes visuals right?) I gave the PB this drawing as well, and discussed many extra things above the "Standard" pool package that everybody seems to do around here. I specifically asked for an Itemized quote... but i guess i did not specify that I want to see model numbers, etc..

Can you guys take a look at the quote and my questions / Response I have ready to send to the PB before i make a fool of myself? My drawing, PB Quote and my questions are attached.
 

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Hi Randal106! And welcome to TFP! :wave:

I had to laugh, because my pool quote was worse than yours... and I accepted it!!! I hadn't found TFP yet, so I really didn't know any better. My quote was on a poorly copied sheet with fill in the blanks and lousy handwritten notes on the blanks. But, I really trusted my PB.

At least your quote was typed, but it is very sketchy. I looked at your questions, and I do have a suggestion.

See how the PB typed out his? A list with few words (yes, that's a problem). Your questions are in sentences requiring time to read. I guess that sounds silly, but your PB isn't going to want to read all that, and probably doesn't have time if he's really doing his job of keeping on top of the pools he has in progress now.

So..... reformat the questions to look more like his quote. Use blanks for him to give that 1-2 word answer he likes. If you add to this for other PB's before they give you a quote, it might be easier to compare apples to apples. You began that with this PB by giving him the drawing/dimensions you wanted.


Example using your questions: Make these fit what you want, if I didn't. Add any other questions you may have. For an L-shape and that size, I would want more returns. Others here may have a different suggestion.


Are all items below included in your quote? If not, please indicate upgrade costs.

1. depth required for the diving board ___________________

2. diving board itself ____________________ (I'm not clear what your question is here? Dimensions? In his quote he states the diving board is not included)

3. liner included: _____________________

colors (any or certain levels) __________________

thickness ________________

brands _________________


4. steps: full-length _____________ steps: Vinyl lined __________________

5. tanning ledge size: same as I provided in the drawing ________________


Brand of equipment _______________________

6. sand filter model # ________________________

7. Pump and Variable Speed Motor model # ___________________

8. Skimmers - one or two considering my pool size __________________

9. Salt cell size and model # ________________________

10. How many LED lights - I think 2 are needed _______________
type of light or size ___________________

11. Sharkvac model # __________________________

12. All pool equipment connected with PVC unions ________________________


13. 6 ft deck with textured finish ________________

14. Extra $5 per sf additional also with textured finish ________________
we probably need about 900 sf extra

15. Pool equipment placed on a concrete pad? __________________
poured pad __________________

16. Extra soil relocated to the side of the house and graded ______________
 
Some PB's want to first speak in generalities. You get to know him, and he gets to know you (he might not want to work with you, imagine that! Lol!) That's ok, but you can always give him some type of form like I posted above for him to take with him. He can send it back if he wants.

Send something similar to this PB you met and see what response you get. Then make a new one including info from this guy's original quote for upcoming PB's you plan to interview. I hope that makes sense. I wish I had done that. The quotes I received from 5 PB's were all over the place, so it was almost impossible to compare apples to apples. Of course, I was clueless, but you aren't. You know exactly the design and shape you want, etc. You're way ahead, so you might as well compare apples to apples as best you can.

Take care,
Suz
 
Suz, I like the form format, I may use that and send to him. We really liked the meeting with this pool builder and he explained in detail most of what is not on the quote (Brand of equipment - Hayward, Liner Brand - VynAll, extra grading, textured concrete, diving board, full-length steps, etc) but when we got the quote, I was a little un-impressed on the detail. Hard to compare quotes if I don't have all the details. I got two more PBs coming out this week.
 
randal106 said:
Suz, I like the form format, I may use that and send to him. We really liked the meeting with this pool builder and he explained in detail most of what is not on the quote (Brand of equipment - Hayward, Liner Brand - VynAll, extra grading, textured concrete, diving board, full-length steps, etc) but when we got the quote, I was a little un-impressed on the detail. Hard to compare quotes if I don't have all the details. I got two more PBs coming out this week.
Click to expand...

I wondered if those things I improvised on were already discussed. But you would need that for other PB's.

Was it the PB you met with rather than a salesman? Sometimes, it's a salesman, therefore, the reason I asked. If it was the PB, ask (if you haven't already) if he will be the one you communicate with, and if he will be supervising. Or will there be a Project Manager? Make sure you've met whoever will be the main person you will be dealing with. And liking that person is very important. You may not want to marry him, but make sure the communication is good and ya'll can get along without needing counseling later! Lol!!

It really is hard to compare quotes when they are so different. That's why your uniform info sheet might be helpful. My only hesitation with this type of sheet is: would the PB stretch things a bit in your favor without something so specific, especially if he finds you easy enough to work with. Sometimes being too cut and dried isn't the best, but in some cases it's necessary. (yep, they call me wishy-washy!!!) I just want to make sure you think things out.
 
SuzfromTexas said:
I wondered if those things I improvised on were already discussed. But you would need that for other PB's.

Was it the PB you met with rather than a salesman? Sometimes, it's a salesman, therefore, the reason I asked. If it was the PB, ask (if you haven't already) if he will be the one you communicate with, and if he will be supervising. Or will there be a Project Manager? Make sure you've met whoever will be the main person you will be dealing with. And liking that person is very important. You may not want to marry him, but make sure the communication is good and ya'll can get along without needing counseling later! Lol!!

It really is hard to compare quotes when they are so different. That's why your uniform info sheet might be helpful. My only hesitation with this type of sheet is: would the PB stretch things a bit in your favor without something so specific, especially if he finds you easy enough to work with. Sometimes being too cut and dried isn't the best, but in some cases it's necessary. (yep, they call me wishy-washy!!!) I just want to make sure you think things out.
Click to expand...

I met with the PB himself. He will run the crew, no Subs, they have there own work crew minus Gunite - but doing a Vinyl pool anyways. This is supposed to include a Pool Studio design as well with this PB. Regarding the PB stretching things in my favor with non-specific items, that was my main reason for creating the thread... If I come across as a Penny-Pincher, or nit-picking, will that hurt me more than help me... lol
 
randal106 said:
I met with the PB himself. He will run the crew, no Subs, they have there own work crew minus Gunite - but doing a Vinyl pool anyways. This is supposed to include a Pool Studio design as well with this PB. Regarding the PB stretching things in my favor with non-specific items, that was my main reason for creating the thread... If I come across as a Penny-Pincher, or nit-picking, will that hurt me more than help me... lol
Click to expand...

I like his set-up with his own crews and him running things. I feel the same as you about not wanting to be a pain in the neck. Some of that form I'd keep for the model #s. In fact, for me, I'd use something more informal, especially if I had great reviews on the guy and liked him. Sort of like, "Hey, can you shoot me the model #s for the equipment?" Then maybe add the few things you have questions about (in a list) and ask him to call. Make it suit your style.
 
I just shot him a very informal e-mail "Hey, I had a couple questions about the quote, can you give me a call?" Everything I was worried about was basically included, and he had already thought about. Quick Question though. KoolDeck is an extra $3500 over just textured concrete. Is it worth it?
 

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Hi. It may have been discussed but will there be a floor/main drain? If not I would be sure to have 2 skimmers. 2 would be nice anyway with that size/layout (though 1 will do the job). If you only have 1 with no main drain and if you ever have problems with that only skimmer you need to resolve asap otherwise you can't run the pool. I worked for a pool service company and saw it happen. If you had a main drain in the floor or a second skimmer you could still circulate water and thus put off a potentially expensive/yard disturbing repair to the off-season.
 
Our builder was similar to what you're describing. Owner is the salesman, his quote is very general, he says he has does everything in house.

We are mid-build now and things are going ok but we have learned some lessons. A biggie -- "I do all the work myself" doesn't mean what I thought it did. He drive the bobcat himself to do our dig, but still has "a landscape guy" (whose teams build the pool floor, and do the grading...), a concrete guy (who does the decking and features like vinyl covered stairs/swim outs), an electrician..... So even though it's "all him," we have still found ourselves waiting for the electrician to get to us, then for the concrete guy to get to our job, and now for the landscapers to get down here to finish the pool bottom so we can order the liner.
I suppose it may be different than "no subcontractors" but it doesn't seem that different really, at least from our POV.
 
I have gotten two more quotes, one was almost identical to the first quote I got, just a number with no real specs. The 3rd quote I got was extremely detailed, and laid out everything, called out PVC type and size, equipment model numbers, number of returns, skimmers, leds, etc. Was about 10K above the other quotes though but it included Pavers instead of textured concrete decking and steel walls vs. wood walls...

Questions: It seems that most PBs around this area are still building wooden wall vinyl pools. Is is it worth it to spend the extra 10K and go with steel walls and pavers from the 3rd PB quote i got? or save the 10K and go with wood walls?

What are your guys thoughts on pavers vs textured concrete decking?
 
I like pavers a lot. My neighbor is all pavers and looks so much better than concrete. Too much for our budget but it is something we can do on our own so we are considering getting just the minimal 3 feet of concrete and putting in the pavers ourselves.
 
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