Don't know the costs for your area but I hav a problem with the 2 returns on a 2HP pump. Seems like a major backpressure situation to me.

One additional question regarding the payment schedule.
I've read so many reviews with people voicing concerns about paying before final inspection. The contract shows the following payment schedule. Would you ask for any of this to be changed or is this pretty normal?? This company does all the work themselves (they do not subcontract)

40% due at excavation
55% due at concrete application of shell
5% minus $250 due at application of interior finish
$250 due upon securing CO

Is it safe to only have $250 outstanding at the completion of this project?

Thank you!

Hello Mrs. Mack,

I am in NJ as well and we recently signed our contract. I thought I'd let you see my quote to compare, it's not exactly apples to apples but also being in NJ I thought it might help some.

700 SQ. FT. POOL (ANY SHAPE)
RAYPAC 400,000 BTU HEATER
40 SQ. FT. SPA W/8 JETS & LED LIGHT
JANDY PDA-PS8 WIRELESS POOL & SPA REMOTE
96 SQ. FT. SUNSHELF 6" DEEP W/ UMBRELLA SLEEVE & BUBBLER
6 JANDY DECK JETS
POLARIS 380 AUTO VACUUM SYSTEM
AUTOMATIC IN-LINE CHLORINATOR
500 SQ. FT. TEXTURED CONCRETE
TEXTURED CONCRETE CANTILEVER COPING
60 LIN. FT. GAS LINE W/HOOKUP (10$ additional sq. ft.)

All Electrical
Custom Pool Design And Pool Layout
Engineering Plans/Building Permit
Normal Excavation/Soil Removal
Crushed Stone Base
½" Steel REBAR Reinforcing
Electrical Bonding
4000 LB. MIN. PSI Gunite Application
Commercially Rated 60S/F D.E. Filter
Whisper-Flo Pump
Automatic Time Clock
Six Way Multiport Valve
2" Schedule 40 PVC Plumbing
Four Shallow End Steps
6 Ft. Bench Off Shallow End Steps
6 Ft. Love Seat/Swimout
8 Ft. bench in front of spa
2 Deluxe Skimmers/2 Returns
LED Lighting System/Changes Colors
Transferable Lifetime Structural Warranty
Safety Double-Bottom Drains
Solar Recirculating System
Stub Plumbing For Automatic Cleaner
Backwash Hose
6" Band of Water Line Tile
3" Tile Trim On Steps/Benches/Swimouts
Marblite Plaster Finish
Natures 2 Clear Vision Purification System
Free Water Analysis/Chlorine & PH Test Kit
Initial Start-Up/Instructions/Indoctrination
Rope, Cups and Floats

I think that covers it.. we settled at $55. Yes it was sticker shock for us as well, but it will be well worth it next year when the sun is shining. :)
I had 3 companies come out Swim-Mor, Sylvan and Ashley. Swim-Mor was the most reasonable, but we felt their fit and finish was not the greatest. Ashley, we didn't have a good feeling about for some reason, and Sylvan we decided just had the experience and the salesguy has been great. We did the pay half now, pay the rest next year program, so no matter how far they get this year, we don't have to make final payment until next year in May.

Good luck on your decision... it's a $$ one !

Moocat - can you expand on your comment about Swim-Mor's fit and finish? We are seriously considering them...

Hi Hawkfive,

Sure I'll expand and I mean no harm to them, the saleguy was really nice, and I am sure they would build a nice pool for you. We are just very particular about certain things.
When I say fit & finish I am referring to things like tile not being even, coping and grouting to be sloppy and the way their raised beam ends in comparison to other PB's. My husband had even pointed things out in their own sales brochure photos, which should be the best of your best. I knew that if we chose them I'd be picking at everything and I'd rather spend the extra $ and be happy. I know that they use all in house workers which means all the work I've seen is kinda what everyone gets. I also felt there was not much variety, which I thought was due to the same people doing the same stuff over and over.
I am picky.... and I know I am not in the majority. :)

I think that everyone has their own reason for going with one company or another whether it be budget, comfort or referral. It's a personal decision for us all.

Good luck in you build. :)

Hello Mrs.Mack. We just had a pool built in less than 30days in GA. Awesome pool builder. First let me say that 38k is not shocking it's actually a good price. One thing I would like your PB to state in the contract that if he has miscalculated on his estimate that he would absorb the additional costs. Second, the payment plan. I don't like it. Way to much at excavation and way to much after concrete shell. 45 the 55. I personally would not do business with a company who wants that kind of payment plan. Our PB had a very reasonable payment plan. 10% down payment to get things started after signing the contract. 14% after excavation, 14% after concrete shell. All other phases 10% upon completion. So pretty much 10 payments total to complete the pool. Another thing I would ask for is 2 skimmers and 4 return lines or what he calls inlets. If you want your pool to have good water circulation. Below is our specs to compare with yours. I also provided a link of our completed pool project with pics of all phases start to finish. Our pool bid was less than 50k and we have an fantastic pool. Worth every penny. Fencing and landscaping was additional. Hope this helps. Everyone who sees our backyard loves it.

Our pools specs follows:
18x36 freeform shape
Escavation and final grade for landscape
Depth: 3.5'-5'-4' (Sports Pool)
Custom entry steps with 6' of wing benches with Umbrella sleeve on first entry step.
Engineered steel pattern with #3 and #4 rebar rods
All plumbing 40PVC with 2 skimmers and 4 return lines
Shotcrete Shell with 12" Flagstone Coping around pool
4' Sheer Descent waterfall with separate 1.5hp pump
AquaLogic PS/4 with AquaPod Remote, 1 1/2 HP Hayward Pump
Hayward Cartridge Filter
Hayward Natural Gas Heater 400K BTU w/Electronic Ignition
Electical Bonding of Pool and Equipment
800sq Ft of Sundek finish concrete decking with steel rods and 2 umbrella PVC sleeves
1-500watt pool light
Four inch drain line: 100ft
52ft of 2ft raised bond beam faced in Stacked Flagstone
36ft of stone finger ledge in raised bond beam wall
6" ceramic tile around entire pool at waterline
StoneScapes Carribean Blue Pebble Plaster
Double Main Drains in deep end of pool
GoldLine Salt Purification system SWG
Polaris 280 Automatic Pool Cleaner with separate pump.
Start-up service and instructions
Maintenance Kit: Telescopic Pole, Brush, Net, PH test kit

Here is a link that might be useful: SALSAJOSES POOL COMPLETED LINK

Moocat,

Can you contact me at hawkfive@comcast.net to discuss further?

Many thanks.

After looking at my quote I forgot two things..

Two colorlogic 500 watt lights in pool
Solid safety cover with pump

I know the cover which is a custom shape was around $4000. and the extra light close to $900 I think.

My schedule was awesome. I didn't pay a dime until the gunite was shot, tile and coping installed, equipment, and decking poured. Then I pay 90%. The last 10% comes after startup.

40% due at excavation
55% due at concrete application of shell
5% minus $250 due at application of interior finish
$250 due upon securing CO
So, 15K in the pocket for about 5k worth of work...I'm guessing the extra 10k you are forking out is paying for plaster on the Jones's pool across town. That's front loading and it's illegal.

The $250 should have another zero if you want to get anything wrapped up in time.

You have about 5K in equipment so to keep his payment schedule, assuming he won't budge, insist that ALL equipment and plumbing materials be ONSITE when you cut that check along with a lien release. That would at least be close to what the out of pocket would be.

We've had problems trying to get our builder to finish up the details. They started building a pool for us in the spring, and we are still trying to get them to finish up the final details. I recommend withholding about 5-10% of the total cost until after final inspection and you are completely satisfied. We gave them the final check almost 4 months ago, when is was close to being done, and the quality and effort they put forth pretty much disappeared immediately. I've tried to talk to the owner to resolve it, but no luck. Our payment schedule was:
40% at excavation
35% at gunite
15% at tile and coping
5% at decking
5% at plaster

I am a gunite builder in the midwest and the price sounds pretty low for what you are getting, but I agree with "repair guy", 2 inlets are not enough for a 2 hp pump. Don't get hung up on pump hp, look at the flow rate and hydraulics. I would also like to see 2 skimmers on this because if the main drain valve is closed, one skimmer won't supply a 2 hp pump and it will keep the surface cleaner with no dead areas. Also, the payment schedule is bad. We get 10% down and 10% on final inspection, with the remaining 80% based on progress benchmarks depending on the project.