If you're reading this right now, chances are you're considering who to choose to build (or rebuild) you a swimming pool. Just 6 months before writing this, we'd finished a number of improvements & renovations on our home of 10 years. We stood outside and looked around, saw this empty space, and decided we wanted a swimming pool (*again* - we'd each grown up with pools). It was truly a spontaneous decision.
Doing research, and meeting with 3 different builders, I quickly learned what red flags to watch for in pool contractors. The biggest problem, at least in our area, is their taking on a seemingly infinite number of open jobs at once - thus dragging out the timelines forever since they're unable to adequately service them.
The second red flag is ambiguity in proposals. When you see a contractor unwilling to estimate an integral part of the job (like decking), claiming that a partner contractor will have to price that separately, it's because it's an opportunity to raise the price. Make no mistake, they'll take a cut of that "separate" cost.
The 3rd is overly sales-driven practices. It's not a horrible problem, but it doesn't work in your favor as a client. The company sends a "Design Consultant" to first meet with you. They're not really a designer, as much as they are a salesperson. Their method is to tell you what you need to spend, tell you that they're your primary point of contact, and - here's the part they're not so upfront about - massage your feelings through the process. They won't actually make the process go any faster or better, but you'll pay a premium to "feel" good about them as your builder.
What I look for in working with people, and what I believe everyone should look for, is passion for their profession: People who truly love what they do - you can hear it in their conversation, and see it in their face.
Of the three proposals who came to visit with us, Gabriel Pires of Supreme Pools is the only one who is the actual contractor (the others were a "job manager" and "design consultant"), and Gabriel clearly loves his line of work. You know he cares, and he sees his work as a reflection of himself.
Gabe is also driven by solutions. During the design process, he saw an opportunity to better conceal our equipment with the cascade wall. Our 36 inch cascade wall raised to a 48 inch for this to happen, without extra cost.
The most obvious plus we noticed - while recognizing this may not be the case for all projects (in our case, the stars luckily kept aligning) - was how well the phases managed, schedule-wise. Signing the contract to final inspection, less than 4 months. The duration of actual work, from breaking the ground to filling up the pool, was just under 60 days.
That can't happen in all projects, please understand that. But it rarely if ever happens with any pool builds, even in the easiest circumstances. The difference is that Gabe pays attention - and when he sees the opportunity to move things forward, he takes it.
Just the same, when Gabe sees an opportunity to do something better for you, he suggests it, and keeps the cost manageable in those situations. He's not looking for ways to "take more" from you, he's looking to leave you with a better end result.
An important thing I want to get out of the way: I recognize we live in a world where some people expect everything to go off without a hitch - anything less than perfect every day will be met with outrage. If that sounds like you, please do not build a pool, let alone do anything to your house with your direct involvement. You'll need to disappear and hire someone else to handle your projects. I say that to you as a friend!
I'm a homeowner who loves being his own project manager - it's a lifelong thing. And I know, and I accept, there will ALWAYS be hiccups. There are things we cannot see until after we begin a job, and there are even some things we can't see immediately until after we've completed a task. Building a swimming pool is no exception to that reality.
The rule to remember is take just a moment to recognize the problem, then quickly put all your focus on the solution (not the blame, etc - that's just wasting time). That is just free advice I'm giving you readers, having nothing to do with Supreme pools specifically. It applies to every home project you'll ever do.
Building a pool is one of the most intensive, at times disruptive processes an existing home can go through. Not all personalities are meant to connect (i.e. some people prefer to pay for that "Design Consultant" aka project therapist I mentioned earlier).
But Gabriel Pires is the best, most caring pool contractor I've ever met. His team, project manager Bruno and partner/photographer Delilah, are wonderful contributors to the quality of the end results. The end results, for us, are a beautiful, serene, sleek yet natural oasis of a back yard.
Supreme Pools - I like to call it "Pires Pools" - is the best home decision we've ever made. read more