While there are many factors that contribute to your pool installation going as smoothly as possible, one that doesn’t always get a lot of attention is the use of subcontractors. You may not even realize that the contractor you hired is actually using a subcontractor to complete the work, but it is a practice that can leave you with an inferior pool in the end.
Some, low-quality pool builders like to use subcontractors to try to complete more pools which makes money, and pay less to have the work done, which saves money. It’s important to know who has worked on each aspect of your pool, so you know who is accountable should something go wrong. Here are a few tips to help you make sure your pool company doesn’t use subcontractors.
Ask a Lot of Questions
Questions are a wonderful tool to help you decipher what a company’s literature really means and how they intend to do business with you. With a larger purchase such as a pool, the sky is the limit when it comes to questions. A quality pool contractor should have no ego when it comes to your questions, and show as much patience as is necessary to satisfy your curiosity.
And when you are going through your list of questions, don’t forget the one about using subcontractors for their pool installation. Ask if they use them, ask why they use them if they do, ask if they have ever used them.
Some customers seem to feel shy or awkward asking direct questions or questions that ensure the primary contractor is the one who will be doing the work. You have every right to ask these questions, so ask until you’re satisfied with the answers, and if you aren’t, find another pool contractor.
Reputation Means a Lot
The old adage, “you can’t always believe what you hear” is true to a certain extent when dealing with pool contractors, but reputation is still important. If you’ve read and heard good things about their prices, work practices, customer service and results, that’s a good start. But if you hear or read that a certain contractor uses subcontractors for various jobs, you may want to cross them off the list.
Get It In Writing
Even if all the questions are answered just the way you’d hoped and their reputation is ideal, you still want to get it all in writing before the job gets started. That includes the fact that subcontractors won’t be used in any part of the pool installation. Remember, if it is in writing you always have proof of the agreement if things don’t work out well.