Pool Consultant vs Pool Builder - Houston/League City

17 years ago

Glad I found this site. We need information, advice and recommendation and looks like I might have stumbled on the right neighborhood :-) Any help is greatly appreciated!

Step 1, we finally made a decision to build a pool!

Step 2, don't really know what we are doing so thought we can get advice from the experts and veterans here.

Step 3, here we go...

We are in discussion with a "pool consultant" who will do what I think a pool builder will do except guarantee/warranty the work. I don't really know anything about pool building warranty, if this is the normal process which makes me really uneasy. Hypothetically, we would be getting warranty directly from each subcontractor for each job (ironwork, gunite, plumber,etc) instead of the "pool consultant". I asked if this would mean we would be signing a separate contract with each subcontractor and the pool consultant said that they do not normally do that. My expectation is that I will sign a single contract with an person/entity who will guarantee/warranty the work but if we go with the consultant this will not be the case. Am I making a big deal out of this or is this a normal way of doing business?

We are in League City and we are working with Bill Davie (Propool Consultants) who used to be with Imagine Pools. Thank you in advance for any feedback you would like to share.

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Comments (9)

sceadu
17 years ago
Feel free to email me 4fiddy@gmail.com
livinthelife
17 years ago
A pool consultant huh? I figure if you went with a pool builder they will handle all the scheduling and be responsible for the project. Where as a pool consultant has no liablity and most likely no insurance so if there is an oops they can just walk away. There are plenty of excellent builders in your area. Good luck to you.
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just-a-pb
17 years ago
I dont know about your area,
but in this area they are all bottom feeders.
They are basically contracting without a license, insurance, or responsiblity. All of that is on you.
One sub can easily blame another for any problem that comes up.
If someone gets hurt on your property that is on you. Most of them get $$ from you, they give you a list of (not so great subs) and then they get a kickback from them.
You end up spending just as much money, had you gone with a reputable pool builder, only with a lot more hastle and responsiblity.
wolfeden
Original Author
17 years ago
sceadu: I sent you an e-mail...I appreciate any feedback.

livinthelife: pool consultant will do everything the pool builder does except for the warranty part which will be directly with the subs. I am not comfortable with this part and I'm not sure how common this practice is so I thought I post the question here. You mentioned there are plenty of excellent builders in my area... can you recommend a few you have had positive experience with?
tsunami
17 years ago
Do a search for PB's in Houston. It sounds like there's some good PB's in your area. Here's just one of the searches I found in your area.

Here is a link that might be useful: PB's in Houston/ League City
renovxpt
17 years ago
Most of our customers hire architects or Landscape Architects or PE's to act as pool consultants. Some hire all three. None of these professionals would ever reccommend or consider taking the pool contractor out of the process and suggest the owner act as the GC.

Find a high quality builder and you will be way ahead before, during and after the project is complete.
huskyridor
17 years ago
You have no idea how many come back calls I've had behind owner/builders and consultants over the years. I usually no bid them but always ask how much they spent so far.
2 or 3, at the most, have said 3 to 4000 less than I'd of built the same pool for. Most are at or near the same as my price was initially.
The consultants are almost always washout employees or failed business owners from within the industry, they only attract the less than desirable subcontractors who are typically charging them more than the service is worth.
The consultant has no leverage with an already paid sub on a come back call because there are no open invoices to hold back until it's handled. The comeback was usually his fault because he wasn't around while the work was done, but he made sure the sub was payed promptly so he could get his cut.
I'd rather go into a project blindfolded and handcuffed than pay a consultant, at least I'd have a reason to let myself off the hook if it went sour because I couldn't see what was happening and was unable to perform any of the work myself. He's the same, unable to do any of the work, and held TOTALLY UNACCOUNTABLE for any aspect of the job.

The funny thing is that I've, on many occasions, contemplated selling everything my business owns for cash, closing the doors, canceling my expensive liability insurance, and becoming a cost plus design/pool construction consultant.

This is a MAJOR chunk of cash and the biggest improvement to your property second only to the home construction.
It's a decision not to be taken lightly.

I'm not trying to discourage you, it's just my .02

I'd feel more than reasonably certain that you can find a builder in your area that'll build you a new pool at a price that's good for the both of you.

See ya,
Kelly
tfons1219
17 years ago
Kelly is right. A "consultant" is questionable. I have a guy I used for 2 pools as a consultant, but it was clear from the start I was the one who was liable for everything, and as I have said before, I understand the owner/builder situation and I am ready to do my part.

If I wasn't 1) very handy DIY guy, 2) had a really flexible work schedule 3) really thought doing it myself would be fun I wouldn't do a O/B pool. For $3k to maybe $10k, pay reputable pro and get a good product.
Erin B
8 years ago
Did you end up using Bill? I’m considering using him as well.