[0:00]
10 super important questions to ask somebody you're talking to about building your backyard project and why they're important.
[0:07]
Jordan: I think it's important to ask a pool builder how long is the build going to take cuz I think you can see if they're lying to you or not.
[0:13]
Travis: For a lot of people, it's the biggest purchase they'll make outside of their home.
[0:17]
Jordan: I think understanding how the pool builders you're interviewing handle problems is one of the most important questions on this list.
[0:37]
Travis: Hey everybody, welcome back to Denali's Deep Dive podcast. Here with Jordan again today to talk about 10 important things. 10 seems like a lot.
[0:48]
Jordan: Yeah, but it's a big decision. It's a lot.
[0:50]
Travis: That's exactly right. A big decision. I think about that sometimes when I'm thinking about folks that come to us to talk about building a swimming pool in their backyard.
[1:03]
Some of them coming to talk about more than a swimming pool, too, right? Like they're talking about we're going to have a complete backyard makeover.
[1:10]
Jordan: It is for a lot of people the biggest purchase they'll make outside of their home.
[1:18]
Jordan: Right. Like this is a big deal.
[1:21]
Travis: Most folks I'd say it's the second biggest purchase they'll make in their life.
[1:26]
Jordan: Yeah. And so it warrants some pretty indepth question and answer sessions.
[1:35]
Travis: I think you and I have both been in the situation where people just want a ton of information and I'm always willing to give that to them to the best of my ability and be as transparent as we can.
[1:44]
Today, 10 questions. What are we talking about?
[1:53]
10 super important questions to ask somebody you're talking to about building your backyard project and why they're important.
[2:03]
Jordan: So I'll say the first one.
[2:06]
Travis: Who's going to manage my project day-to-day?
[2:11]
Jordan: You got to ask that. I feel like a lot of people are under the impression when they get bids from pool builders that the sales guy or designer is going to be there the entire time.
[2:24]
I sit sometimes and think about it like, man, if I had to design this, know all the codes, price it, pick the materials, and then build every aspect of it — that's a lot of hats on one person.
[2:42]
I think it's important to ask who's going to manage your project so you have the correct understanding and expectation as a homeowner.
[2:55]
I think if you can, it's good to try to meet that person because most of the time your sales guy or designer is not who will be managing the project every day.
[3:04]
Travis: You'll have a dedicated superintendent. So I think it's really important to ask.
[3:07]
I agree. As designer and sales folks, we want people to love us right away. But I think it gives you a look into how companies are set up too.
[3:22]
If a guy comes to your house and he owns it, runs it, designs it, prices it, and is sitting on the tractor — that's a very important look inside that company.
[3:35]
It can create problems, right? So knowing who's going to be on the job is super important.
[3:41]
Who's going to handle changes on my job?
[3:49]
Jordan: Different companies are structured different ways and I think you want to have the expectation of who to talk to when changes come up.
[4:03]
There are some companies that have the superintendent or project manager deal with change orders and materials. Some companies aren't structured that way.
[4:16]
We’re a little different at Denali. I don’t disappear. I handle the change orders through the process.
[4:25]
Travis: Experience matters too. How long have you been in business?
[4:29]
Jordan: You’d be surprised how many people don’t ask that. Looking back now that I've been doing this for nine years, it really does matter.
[4:51]
You should ask anyone you're interviewing with this big of a project and this expense of a project, how long have you been doing this?
[5:02]
Travis: It usually takes two to three years for a new company to get up and going and become profitable.
[5:19]
If you can talk to somebody that has made it through that phase and can now handle warranty issues without a bad job putting them out of business, that's important.
[5:47]
How many pools do you build a year?
[5:51]
Jordan: I think volume really matters because it tells you what kind of company they are and whether they’re a good fit for you.
[6:03]
Some folks want a one-man operation doing five pools a year. Others want a company doing 300 pools a year with a decade of experience and warranty examples.
[6:42]
I see a lot of builders advertise lifetime warranties on pool shells but they've only been around for two years.
[7:19]
Travis: In-house labor versus subcontractors.
[7:23]
Jordan: We get that question a lot. I think it's important to understand the structure of the company and who you're dealing with when crews come to your house.
[8:10]
References can be a big deal too. Can I go see some of your projects?
[8:18]
Jordan: If somebody immediately says yes and offers multiple projects nearby, that's huge.
[8:34]
People being willing to share names of past clients and let you see pools in person is a really big deal.
[9:04]
Asking about realistic build times and what causes delays is important too.
[9:14]
Jordan: I think asking how long the build will take lets you see if they're lying to you or not.
[9:33]
If one builder gives you a wildly different timeline than everyone else, there's a good chance they're overpromising.
[10:00]
Travis: What's included in your base price and what's considered an upgrade?
[10:10]
Jordan: You need to be careful because people can get tricky with that. Nothing is free. You're always paying for everything in the proposal.
[10:41]
Travis: I think about finishes and equipment immediately. Some companies give you only a few tile or material choices while others are fully custom.
[11:19]
You can't really compare apples to apples unless you understand the finishes and included materials.
[11:24]
What happens if there's a hiccup in my project?
[11:39]
Jordan: I think that's super important. We have rules at Denali for how we handle problems.
[11:47]
We use the one-through-one method. We meet in person, explain the issue, provide three possible solutions, and then recommend the best one.
[11:57]
We're not perfect. There are always going to be problems that come up. Understanding how builders handle those problems is one of the most important questions on this list.
[12:14]
Travis: Last question. What warranties do you offer?
[12:20]
Jordan: It's important to know what warranties they offer and what those warranties actually mean.
[12:29]
The lifetime warranty on a gunite shell sounds great, but what does that really cover? Is it smoke and mirrors?
[12:54]
Travis: As a consumer, I want to know how long you're guaranteeing your product and how you stand behind it.
[13:18]
Some companies go above and beyond industry standards and extend warranties beyond what subcontractors provide.
[13:45]
That's what helps consumers separate companies from one another.
[14:01]
Travis: All right, man. 10 good questions. Who's managing my project? How are changes handled? Experience, references, build time, warranties, upgrades, and what happens when problems come up.
[14:41]
Jordan: Great questions. All important.
[14:44]
Travis: All right, buddy. Appreciate you.
