As your children are so young, it is hard to have them make something yet. As the previous person said, pictures are nice. Her picture frame sounded neat. What hobbies do the grandparents have--do they travel--do crafts---read - play golf--cards. If so maybe they can pick out something and "write/color a special picture. Marie

Thanks for the input udarrell! The main reason we're looking at the 15+ SEER units is to take advantage of the current tax incentives...should be able to get a more efficient unit for the same or less cost than a less efficient one (hopefully). As for heat gain we've replaced all the windows over the past couple years and are going to add all new insulation on the 2nd floor which should help out quite a bit with keeping the temps even (the 50 year old rock-wool is probably only worth at most r-8 at this point, haha). We're in the process of getting as many quotes as possible right now, hopefully one will end up a winner (both contractor and quote).

Things are a bit trickier here in Northern NJ than in many other parts of the country. We have fewer of what I would refer to as "actual pool builders" for in-ground concrete pools. I did not end up using a "national company." That being said, I realized during this process of discovery that the factors for choosing a builder were more complex than I initially thought and I wouldn't rule anyone out at the start. You'll see a range of nice pools from all types of builders on this site. To a vast degree what you get from any of the big guys will vary from each office or franchise and your experience will depend A LOT on who you get as a salesperson. There are posts with some fabulous custom pools from some of these companies on this forum. In many cases, it is the customer that deserves the credit for what you see on the surface (regardless of the type of builder) as there are some very creative non-pros out there. There are some very experienced, good people that work for the big guys and you can get a great looking pool built from them that may be just fine for your construction needs, aesthetic desires and your budget limitations. There are some small builders who are "johnny-come-lately," are financial risks, or just incompetent or inexperienced, while others are extremely professional, knowledgeable and reputable, but just have maintained a presence under a small business paradigm. Some of these builders are real artists who are a credit to their industry and others are just hacks that dabble in what has been a profitable sideline. In another thread about bids there was a discussion of is buying a pool the case where "you get what you pay for." We discovered some "less than good builders" who were smaller contractors that were willing to substantially over-charge the unsuspecting consumer versus other "good builders" who charged far less for quality workmanship and materials. There are very few "large" private builders as the northern NJ market just hasn't had the same level of demand for these high-end pools (or pools at all) as in other parts of the country or even to the degree as in other areas of our own state. Weather, burdensome zoning & regulatory restrictions & fees, soil conditions and the cost of doing business in NJ and particularly in this part of the state are all contributing factors. That being said, there are so many factors to consider starting with your preference of construction materials & methods, preferred equipment options, need for the builder or salesperson to actually help you in the design process, comfort level with how much they oversee the actual construction, what you expect in terms of their level of knowledge and expertise, how much you need to count on them afterwards for support, how close want or need to be to their location for service--if they even provide their own follow-up and maintenance service, what material options do they offer, what portions of the project will they let you DYI or do off-contract with other subs or suppliers, do you want them to just build your pool or do you want someone who will arrange for everything from your decking, landscaping and fencing all done through their company. Some of the smaller, custom builders have excellent reputations--but expect a higher price tag as they actually do more work that comes with being more hands-on and taking more pride in what they do (and justly so if you realize the time, effort and risks factors that come with a custom job). Smaller, however, doesn't necessarily mean more expensive nor does bigger necessary mean bad--there are just way too many factors here to consider. Yes, some of the more pricy builders are willing to reduce their profit margins now to get work these days-- in some cases it is because their material, equipment, and transportation costs may have been temporarily reduced due to the downturn in the economy and also because their subs may be cutting their margins as well. But some of these guys were the type that would have "blown you off" if you didn't bite at their first proposal or otherwise didn't start with a minimum 6-figure plus budget last season. However, hard working people do need to be fairly compensated-- bad economy or not you wouldn't like it if your income was arbitrarily expected to be cut or reduced through no fault of your own. There are plenty of professionals and salaried people who don't get hurt in this economy but expect to put the squeeze on others that do. I don't think it's fair to take advantage of anyone--pool buyer or pool builder. Yes, anyone who is building a pool is not "poor," but that doesn't mean that they haven't worked hard for their money and for some of us it represents a huge risk to spend our savings on a luxury purchase at this time or at any time. For others, they may be wearing more than the cost of a pool around their wrist or their neck. The more you shop around the more you'll get and idea of what's reasonable and how much you can afford. You'll never really nail it down to apples to apples, so go with your gut and who you think you can trust in the end. In my journey, I found builders who I thought would do a good job, but they met less of my needs criteria than others. I just didn't care for others, but they built nice pools for some neighbors. In a couple of cases, I realized I dodged a bullet by not choosing a particular builder after I learned more later on. Some PBs do a great job for one customer and then do a lousy job for another. There was a discussion in another thread about whether "you get what you pay for." I don't think it is just that simple. Again, it is a tricky process for anyone as a buying a pool is not like buying a trivial item like box of salt--and even that commodity varies in price depending on the brand! Do you research, learn what you can through this forum and from others (I really appreciate those who have been brave enough to discuss their mistakes and mishaps for the benefit of others). It is difficult to have "champagne tastes and a beer budget," so unless money is no object--be forewarned--reading this forum is hazardous to your wallet!!!! LOL You will want to feel as good as you can about your decision before starting because it can be a bumpy ride once you get going and you may never know if you made the "right choice" until long afterwards. Just do the best you can. The company we chose was the best fit for our needs at the time--not a perfect fit, but we felt we made the best decision in our case. Everyone should way the pros and cons of various PBs as it applies to them personally and you need to reflect upon the experiences of others with some perspective. Expect good and bad reviews on the very same builder--it's just how it is it seems. I met some very nice "strangers" through this forum who were very helpful to me even though they were located in areas where I didn't intend to use their pool builder. I have gotten good advice, information and support from both pool customers & pool builders and service & technical professionals throughout the country through this forum, therefore I try to return the favor when I can. If you like, you may contact me at NJFolks4@gmail.com for more specific information as I looked into several companies throughout our region. In any case, good luck to you.

WOW - thank you fellow Jerseyites!!!! All Marble and Granite came very highly recommended to my husband. We went there yesterday and because it was the day before Easter and they were closing early, we sort of got the "bum's rush." They were very agreeable to giving us a bunch of samples however. Problem is, the samples have only numbers, and I'm pretty sure a couple of the ones they gave me were not what I asked for. We're definitely going to go back to look again - at a time where we can actually go into the yard and look at slabs. I feel like out of the samples I took home, none of them are exactly "perfect" - but I also know I can't really go by a sample alone. I need to see slabs. Still just trying to get the best idea of what's out there. I truly appreciate the suggestions of other places around me to check. Everyplace mentioned in the posts above is doable from where we are. Thanks!! SQ