Health & Fitness
Check Contractors Out Before Diving Into A Pool Project, BBB Advises
The Better Business Bureau has a new video and nine tips to help you find a reliable pool contractor or maintenance company.
It's only natural for this week's hot weather to make you long for a pool to cool off. But before you hire a contractor to build one, the Better Business Bureau has some tips and a video that can help you get the pool you want.
The BBB has received more than 8,500 complaints about pool contractors, pool repair and service companies nationwide in the last three years. Customers have complained of shoddy work, poor customer service or a failure to honor warranties.
One customer recently complained that a pool leaked so much that it had to be refilled every other day. The contractor tried to repair the pool several times, but the homeowner still had problems that could not be resolved.
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BBB Business Reviews can show you whether a contractor has a history of complaints and how those complaints were resolved. The reviews also have information about how long a company has been in business, who owns it and how to contact the company.
The BBB's 9 tips for consumers considering a pool are:
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- Obtain at least three bids and compare them. Make sure the bids specify the quantity, brand, size and color of materials.
- Make sure the contractor’s paperwork is in order. Ask to see the contractor’s license and certificates of insurance. If you have any questions, contact the appropriate licensing board.
- Ask for references and check them out.
- Check BBB Business Reviews to see whether a contractor has been the subject of complaints and whether complaints have been resolved.
- Find out who will be doing the actual work – the contractor’s employees or subcontractors.
- Ask the contractor for lien waivers upon completion of the project. A lien waiver shows whether suppliers and subcontractors have been paid.
- Find out whether the builder can make site and soil evaluations for your property. Consider whether grading or landscaping work will be needed to finish a pool to your satisfaction.
- Ask about warranties, maintenance and repairs after the pool is completed.
- Do not pay the entire amount in advance. Make the final payment only after the work is completed to your satisfaction.
The BBB video is available at: http://youtu.be/dqfjHG92x48.
For more BBB news, go to the BBB website or follow the BBB on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.