We have narrowed down to 32x16 rectangle pool, 50x34 paver deck, tiered sheer waterfall, sunshelf w/ bubbler, 4 lights in pool + 1 spa w/bubbler, chlorine system, propane heater and cage. The pool finish will be quartz v.s. pebble (wife's preference).
One builder is quoting 12 months (due to supply shortages) and 85k. The community is new and the builder uses these folks so fairly reputable. They use Jandy equipment and flagstone brand pavers.
The other builder is quoting 82k, says it could take 6 or 12 months since it all depends. Much smaller contractor and uses haywood gear.
Is 3k too little to risk going with a smaller company?
Is a bubbler in the spa a bad idea? Was told it is connected to pool pump and even if shut off some cold water can come in.
Both builders aren't including any automation. Easy to add later?
Any tips for what to make sure is in a contract?
Is a 7x16 sundeck something you use alot if you have one? My wife is for it, and I'm worried it's taking up too much space. What's recommended size for just two loungers?
Kids (twins) are 4... depth 3 to 6 feel right? Should I be thinking 3.5 to 6 instead?
I'll stop. Would love to hear your thoughts or questions. Awesome community here I can tell from just lurking!
One builder is quoting 12 months (due to supply shortages) and 85k. The community is new and the builder uses these folks so fairly reputable. They use Jandy equipment and flagstone brand pavers.
The other builder is quoting 82k, says it could take 6 or 12 months since it all depends. Much smaller contractor and uses haywood gear.
Is 3k too little to risk going with a smaller company?
Is a bubbler in the spa a bad idea? Was told it is connected to pool pump and even if shut off some cold water can come in.
Both builders aren't including any automation. Easy to add later?
Any tips for what to make sure is in a contract?
Is a 7x16 sundeck something you use alot if you have one? My wife is for it, and I'm worried it's taking up too much space. What's recommended size for just two loungers?
Kids (twins) are 4... depth 3 to 6 feel right? Should I be thinking 3.5 to 6 instead?
I'll stop. Would love to hear your thoughts or questions. Awesome community here I can tell from just lurking!
You could tell the bigger builder that you have a better quote and ask if they can come down a couple K. How long has the smaller company been in business?
And, I would not have a pool, if it were not a saltwater pool.. 
. I almost went chlorine but when I asked my PB and they said $1550 to add salt, it was a no brainer. $4200 sounds a bit high, but the different PB seem to make their money in different places. As for part numbers of pumps, etc, the PB did not give me that info, but I knew several people who had used them without issue, so decided to let it be. Build times do seem to have gone up since I since I signed at the end of February. It seems like every day I hear another story about how long it will be before someone’s build is going to start. My neighbor signed a few days before me with a different builder and he still has 40-something people in front of him. He had 90 to start. I forgot to mention, one advantage of the 3.5’ deep end is less of a transition from shallow to deep end. Trenton and Pyramid seem to be common choices in this area. My PB uses Tremron but can’t remember tile. They have a good selection of samples at their location in Sanford.