Glad you found us before you started, most excellent.
If I may, let me be the first to suggest going to pool school. Jump into the ABCs, and dig in. Ask all the questions you need too. You can find the links in my signature line.
Also from a suburb outside of Chicago...curious can I ask what size pool and what extras you are getting and then price $$....it seems where I am getting quotes it's all over the page with differences. My husband wants to get a Polymer pool over steel...
Welcome to TFP! For a wealth of pool care information please check out our free Pool School. If you are in need of specific help then we encourage you to Register and ask us here in the forum!