WOW be careful here.

just because he owned a pool company does not mean he did good work.

You can save a lot of money. You can have just as many issues as those who use a PB, if not more. There are warranty issues to deal with. I know folks who have had no problems whatsoever, but for others it has been a nightmare. We spent the extra 15,000 and hired Premier because we wanted a company to stand behing everything. We were going to install our own solar as we are literally total DIYers. But after dh got on roof and thought of the danger factor our roof posed, we spend the extra 1900 to have someone else be liable and responsible for the job.
As for your guy's offer. That is a lot to pay someone to do the same things you could do yourself. Maybe he could just give you his list of tradespeople for less and you can be your own foreman. You can tell them "Johnny" referred you.

Thanks you guys for responding to my post. The $5000.00 is a lot but the saving is worth more. He said he will progect manage the whole process plus be there everyday to make sure everyone is doing there job right. He will also get us cost on whatever he can for our pool.Who know???? I'm hoping the right answer will come to us!
Thanks again!

I hired my pool consultant for $3,000 but only AFTER I checked references. Should you do this, it's important to pay him in stages rather than all upfront.

I have a lot of thoughts about this... I researched this extensively, because I didn't particularly want to pay a pool company the full mark-up, and DH wanted to do owner/builder. I looked around on this forum for other owner builders in my area at the time and wasn't able to connect with anyone locally, though I know out in California there were several who are doing it.

At any rate, then I found out about a pool consultant who does much the same thing that this guy you're talking about has offered to do. However, our pool consultant is also a licensed pool builder-- they do design and engineering and give us our permit package, but they walk us through all the rest of the steps-- we took the permits to get stamped and we choose among the bids for each step and pay the subs directly. For that they charge a consulting fee, or else they'll do the full pool build for a more traditional pool (plus price). They had also been registered with the Better Business Bureau for four years, which also made me comfortable, and they had no complaints.

However, I also found some discussion on this forum of people who have been seriously ripped off by pool consultants and ended up paying twice what they expected just to "get it right." I'd say if you don't know this guy really, really, well, BE CAREFUL and pay him in stages-- after each stage of work, for example, rather than up front. I felt a lot more security with our consultant because he's actually licensed, and we got references, etc.

We're up to the post-gunite electrical phase right now, and so far everything has gone smoothly. We're also saving about $8000 less than what we would have paid a traditional pool company. If you happen to be in Central Florida, let me know and I can recommend this consultant... maybe houseful could also give a recommendation for another region?

We were total DIY and my recommendation would be to first do your own research on selecting and developing your equipment list; see what you could purchase it for online. Then see what he could get it for. That might also give you an idea of just what value he will bring and assure you of getting really the correct equipment for your needs.

My view is trying to save money as a OB, DIYer, or PB is not the issue. The main thing to focus on is a quality, trouble-free pool for years of enjoyment . . . quality always cost somewhere.

Ive been in the game for a long long time and will gladly break down your thread for you based on my observations of the industry and the men who conduct this type of business within it, and the buyers like yourself who make the purchases from guys like these.

Quote" We have a guy that has been in the pool business for 35 years and used to own his a pool company but now he is retired "Quote
If this is the case, why isn't he still in the business? My very long term competitors have enjoyed family business which was passed on to their children.

Quote" and has no licence but he said he would take on our project for a small fee $ 5000.00. "Quote
This would scare me because the guy isn't in any particular legitimate business.

Quote" He know everyone in the business he would have us do it as O/B. "Quote
I seriously doubt he knows everyone in the industry, and those he does, who provide service, will certainly give him a kicker on the tab. Of course he'll have you do it as an owner/builder, that's what suits him best.

Quote" We are worried about our risked involved. Quote
I'm certain that he isn't worried about the risk involved because he has none whatsoever.

Quote" We got bids for a new pool, bbq, hardscape, firepit and landscaping. Well all the pool company's came in 25,000 higher then O/B. "quote
This may well be possible. I'm curious, how many of his finished backyards with an equal amount of work have you actually seen, and more importantly, how many of these buyers did you get to engage in an intimate conversation in his absence to discuss the process.

Quote" What do you think? "Quote

I think that you'll find that the only difference in price between owner/builder and consultant is minimal. Subs will always charge an owner/builder more than a legitimate pool construction contractor. If they're interacting with an ex-industry insider they'll charge you more than they'd do the work for another builder for. The only difference is that they'll be giving him a cut of the ticket. He and they both know the actual value of services rendered. His take goes above it.
If you go owner/builder, do it on your own. Don't pay the subs higher prices and him too. Our areas pool consultants are builders who couldn't make it as a legitimate business in the pool construction business. They were washouts from the game and chose the only opportunity left available to them. It's very simple formula.
Pass all the risk off to the buyer and have him pay more for service than a builder who builds many pools a year would pay. This way you can easily double your 5000 take.
If there's is a problem it's really no sweat because he isn't the contractor of record. Your name is on the building permit and your the contrctor of record now. If there's a problem your completely resonsible.

Quote" But the savings is great! "Quote
Is it really?

See ya
Kelly

Kelly,
Amen brother

All I can say is, saving money isn't always the best way to go. :) I am half way through my remodel, was really happy with the saleman/Co I chose (via referal, also checked the BBB & ROC)), he gave me a discount on this & that, the price was the best around & now I am paying for it.

My re-model, new tile, pebble, new light - nothing added to the pool, no new decking was to take 2 weeks, 3 at tops, I am now in week 4 with a mess & still no pebble. Promises & deadlines that were supposed to happen are not. The actual workers doing the job tell us that the saleman doesn't know what he is talking about & don't listen to them. Nice!!!!

Sorry, I am just a little bitter today, if you can't tell. :)

Fauxnecian, sorry to hear about all the issues you are having. It sure is frustrating when things don't go as planned.

I can see where zumo is tempted to try and find cost savings in building a pool. It is such an expensive project.

We went the pool builder route mainly because my husband is very busy and we wanted to be swimming in June. I don't know the exact savings we could have obtained by going owner/builder, but I figured as first time pool owners it was probably best for us to go with a builder. Perhaps if we built another pool in the future we would consider owner/builder.

I do feel like the pool builders contacts with subs worked out to our advantage. They obviously knew the better subs and I think it was reflected in the quality of work that was done. Better yet it was pretty much on schedule and we will enjoy most of the summer swimming.

Looking back on our experience I think word of mouth/references from other customers and seeing pools that the builder did was the most helpful. Don't be shy about asking for references and talking to enough people until you get a comfort level with your decision.

I wouldn't do it. Either do owner-builder or hire a licensed contractor. Just too many red flags for me with your guy.

Good my yearly rant about this subject and I didn't even have to bring it up.....lol
Some people are perfectly suited to do a O/B, some aren't. Some projects go well either way, some have problems either way.
Being in the swimming pool business for 30 years this summer, I'm not a huge fan of O/B. It cuts into my customers business [I'm in wholesale dist for those that don't know].
It seems this started as a California phenom. Here in Dallas Ft Worth, there are only a few pool "consultants".
I bet it's a little harder here to do a O/B without one. He has the connections.
For instance. You can't buy your equipment, tile or plaster, chemicals or games, from any distributor in the area.
Alot of the subs are "captured", in other words they work for only one, or maybe two builders. They provide enough work to keep the sub in business year round. They would find another sub if they found out he was doing side work.
Doesn't sound fair? It's not, but it's capitalizm.
I get calls from people almost daily that want to buy from us. I explain we are wholesale only and they get mad, want to cut out the middle man. I tell them this is America, and it's the american way. Most have hung up by then....lol
Distribution brings all the products to one location so a builder doesn't have to have an inventory. He sells you a pool, calls us and we deliver.
The best thing about using a builder is, anything goes wrong it's his problem. That brings us to my yearly rant about checking out builders before hireing them, but that's another subject.
However you go, good luck!

OH MY GOSH Thank you, Thank you for answering my post! I LOVE this web site. I want to answer all your post so I will later I have last day of school for my twins and a new baby so I have no time today I will address everyone tomorrow.