Subcontracting your own pool project?

[CarlD]

I acted as my own GC on my pool. It's true it's an AG, built into my deck, but my ground falls off 2'6" from the SE corner to the NW one. I needed to have:
plans drawn up (me--I can draft)
Permits obtained (me)
sprinkler lines moved,
my deck trimmed off and railing removed (me),
ground layout/surveying(me)
shrubbery moved
a retaining wall-based pad built and filled with QP
an engineer who specialized in road building to guarantee the pad could handle the pressure of the pool.
Purchase and delivery (Fanta-Sea and me)
Rent Bob-Cat (me)
Pool assembly
Electrical contracting for wiring, banding and connecting pump and lights.
Custom cedar fencing, deck completion and gate (me).
Painting
RE-plumbing the screwed-up initial plumbing by the sub (me, after the sub left me a leaking mess)
Final inspections and CO. (me)
Outdoor speaker wiring and mounting (me)
Swimming (me et al )

Did I save money? I have NO idea. But I had control over the ENTIRE process and time delays were not a surprise, but were anticipated (the pool sat mostly completed with no liner all winter--I used the winter to do the fencing). I also knew the GC wouldn't stiff me, go broke, or refuse to complete the job the way I wanted it! Was it hassle free? No. Would I do it with an I/G? Not without at least a year's intense research into the process.

The results were a pool we love and one that I know EVERY detail of.

[sock monkey]

WOWeee WOW wow wow. What stories. I'm starting to feel better about our DIY job! It's a big one (I posted pics in this forum of our pool in progress) but one step at a time, we will get through it.

My heart really goes out to those people who paid so much money and ended up with nothing but poor craftsmanship.