O.K. ... You've decided you want an in-ground pool. What's the first thing you need to do? Before you even consider meeting with a pool company, you need to find your townships’ “setback” requirements. This is the distances from your property lines and house that the pool must be to conform with zoning codes. Most townships have a brochure available which lists all requirements, including fencing specifications. Your next step is to decide the size and shape of the pool you want. Ordini’s suggests taking a length of rope and laying the outline out on your ground. Since the base price of any pool is usually determined by the length of the perimeter, measure and record the total length of the rope on the In-ground cost estimator . Finally, you need to obtain a copy of your plot plan, which is a drawing of your property showing all buildings, water lines, easements, etc.: You should have received a copy when you bought your house, but if you cannot find it, one should be on file with the township.

Now that you have all the required information, it's time to choose a pool company. If your schedule permits, we would suggest visiting the showrooms of all the builders you are considering. Do they have a pool on the premises to show you what the finished product will look like? Do they have samples and displays of the pools they install? Are they members of the National Spa and Pool Institute and/or the Better Business Bureau? How long have they been in business? Do their showrooms and representatives present a professional demeanor?

Once you've decided which pool and company is right for you, it's time to make an in-home appointment with a representative to examine the site. Please allow one or two hours to take measurements and work out the final details.

Remember, an in-ground pool represents not only a large investment, it is also the beginning of a long, hopefully satisfying relationship with the company that builds it. Price becomes a secondary factor if you're not comfortable with the people doing the job!

We hope this guide has be helpful in making your pool buying decision easier. We believe an informed client is a happy client. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at: