Greetings from South Florida

[BuckBarker]

Thanks for the warm welcome. Researching a purchase is no easy task. Everyone says they have the bestest, longest lasting, easiest to install, etc.
One would think there would be a wealth of pool retailers here but I certainly haven't found them yet. I am certainly leaning toward a 21' resin pool and will probably buy online.

[PoolDoc]

Yeah, unfortunately, there are no "Consumers' Reports" on contractors or pools.

One might think that there'd be a market for a nation-wide reliable builder, but one would be wrong if one thought that! The reasons are complex and confusing, but nearly impossible to overcome.

The unfortunate fact is that there's no easy way to distinguish from a builder who IS selling an excellent product, and one who is not. Many of the best builders I know of are small operations, with very 'homely' sales presentations.

So, the best I can offer is the suggestion that you ACTUALLY check out the references your builder gives, and ask for recent installations like yours. That, and wishing you good luck!

[kelemvor]

You might try Angie's list for reports on contractors. I've definitely filed reports for the guys I've hired for other things; someone may have filed reports for other contractors in your area. Unfortunately it's a pay site, though.