This forum is a great resource. Here is another link which has provided for some informative reading.
http://www.howibuiltmyownpool.com/index.php

I haven't subscribed yet to see all the pages, but the free stuff seems pretty thorough.

1. have done everything but the pool itself, but I am married to a contractor

2. do a ton of research on the net and the phone

3. tips/regrets/success stories ? that's a book : )

this forum has great info, good luck, Barb

Building a pool is a very large and fairy complex project. If you have never had one built before and don't have any PB experience, expect a lot of issues. Remember, you're the one holding the accountability bag. Expect finger pointing. Expect to be very stressed.

To a subcontractor, you are a one time deal where a PB may get him more jobs. This will affect both attention span and pricing.

Best of luck.

Scott

I've done 2 - one in 2004, one in 2008/2009. I'm in a Hou Tex suburb.

Here are a few tips off the top of my head -

1) Hire a consultant/designer. Mine charged $1200 for design, spec sheets, and was there when the excavation guys determined the level of the pool **(very important)**

2) You need to have a job (or not a job) that allows you to be at the site maybe 4 or 5 crucial days...and then time to call/fax/etc.

3) If you offer to pay cash to the sub when the job is complete - they will be at your house tomorrow at 7:30 am, even if tomorrow is a Sunday/Holiday/the sub's kids first day of kindergarten etc. Nothing speaks to a sub like Cash.

4) Be nice to the subs, hand them Gatorade/water, tell them if they are doing a good job, or be polite if you want them to redo/fix/adjust something. Flys and honey is the quote I believe.

5) No matter how much money you think you can save - digging trenches for electric/plumbing is a crappy job to try to do yourself.

6) Put in now things hard to add later - like a spa, extra decking, lots of electrical outlets, etc. It doesn't cost twice as much to make things twice as big.

7) Make the equipment pad really big and your plumber and electrician will think you are cool.

8) Everything costs more than you are expecting - but you will save maybe 20% off hiring a PB. Your time/effort may not be worth that amount though - so you have to like doing DIY stuff for owner/builder to make sense.

9) Plumb in an extra set of drains and a pump for a water feature even if you don't add it now.

10. Have the electrician add a motion sensing spot light over the equipment pad - murphy's law says you never need to adjust a valve unless it's dark.

11. Don't skimp on drainage.

12. I love salt water - no matter what any builder says.

13. Colored lights are too expensive and red water creeps me out.

14. Don't forget speaker wires in the plan.

15. Running gas lines are expensive - so don't screw up that part of your plan.

16. Buy a 400k btu heater - no reason to get smaller - spa heats up in minutes.

17. Have fun and remember - it won't turn out perfect - but when your kid jumps in the water that first time - neither of you will care!

Good Luck

Thank you so much for your advice! We are doing a lot of research now. I'll keep checking in to see if you all have any more tips.