Should I Build or Not

[huskyrider]

I've never knocked an owner builder, even those that I came to finish up on knick knack repairs. These are typically tile and coping or concrete issues.
I always ask how much they spent on the entire project. The savings are usually smaller than they'd have expected. the biggest problem they experienced was getting the already paid Sub to come back on knick knacks.
without the luxury of open invoices to hold over the sub's head they have no leverage. The subs will always charge an owner builder a little more money than they charge a smaller pool construction company. The smaller pool construction companies get charged more than the larger pool construction companies. I'm not intimate with your area but in ours the only time you can get a quality gunite contractor as an owner builder is during the off season, the best guniters have full schedules with their pool builders.

quote" I'm very anal this could prove to be rough on subs "quote

There's a big difference between being detail oriented and anal.

Most craftsmen, are proud, and want you to be proud of their work.
but, coming across as a bellyaching peckerhead to them about their work never helps you cause.

I've closed quite a few potential owner builder pools by simply sitting down with them and being open about their incurred costs of owner contracting.
I usually put a dime kicker on their incurred costs and try to close. The only reason I can do this versus my competitors is that I keep the bulk of the process in house and don't depend on subs. A pool builder who subs out everything is never interested in a super slim deal. Not that I am either, but a little bit of something beats a whole lot of nothing, and keeping my crews busy is of utmost importance.
I'd bet that with a little bit of legwork you could find a builder who'll work with you.

If you find that your determined to take the owner/builder route and have any questions feel free to contact me. I'll give you quality advice on any aspect of pool construction based on a lifetime career of building pool/spas.

Thanks for supporting the industry with your pool purchase.

See Ya,
Kelly

[duraleigh]

Kelly, that is an exellent post that candidly describes both sides of the coin. Too often on this forum, business people are referred to in negative ways that I think are unfounded.

Folks in business are just like the rest of us....they want to make money. And like the rest of us, some are good at it and some are not......but they have the same goals (and moral values, for the most part) as the rest of us.