Quote Originally Posted by blue_steel
$16,800 included the shell, complete pump, light, etc, delivery, excavation (took maybe 4 hours) and the stone. I did the electrical and another company poured patio. I broke the pricing down for you in my 1st post. The whole thing was a piece of cake. Only hitch was it took time to get the pool completely level. That meant lifting it and re-setting it in the pea gravel a few times, but no big deal. The excavator was recommended by WW and seemed to have a lot of experience. He lifted the shell from my front yard, over two fences and into the back yard very quickly. Total installation took 1.5 days. Blue Hawaiian and some others quoted me $35K and $40K for a complete FG pool with patio. I thought they were nuts.
Blue Steel is right about the FG prices that some careful shopping can get you.....at least in our area.

Maryland though........very pricey area overall. We spent a month there (near DC) last year and were surprised by some of the prices of property and services.

One thing you might try....drive the nicer neighborhoods and watch for pool crews at work in the back yards. Also signs outside the properties. Walk back and look at the pool and see if it suits you. If it does, ask the CREW if they would subcontract to build you a pool. This approach takes a lot of the gamble out of the deal, because you may not see the pool salesman again after you give him your first big check. (many pool companies are just salesmen that know where to find crews of workers that are experienced in building pools) Plus, you have some control if the subs don't look like they know what they're doing. (ask me how I know that....lol)