Unless you're big into the do-it-yourself scene, you'll probably want to hire a contractor to build your pool. You'll want to get estimates from at least three companies. You can find pool contractors in the yellow pages, possibly on the web, or if you have friends who have had work done, you may ask them who they used and if they were happy with the work.

Once you have a list of companies, visit their offices/showrooms to see what kind of impression they make. If they advertise membership in any professional organizations, contact the group to verify their claims. Look the contractors up with the Better Business Bureau to see if complaints have been made. View this much like eBay feedback--one or two complaints may not mean much, but if there are a number of criticisms, you should probably look elsewhere.

Once you've weeded out the chaff, invite the remaining contractors to the site and interview them, much like an employer interviewing a potential employee. Building a pool is a major investment of time and money. Don't be afraid to grill these folks. Some questions you can ask are:

• Do you have references? (Check them personally)
• How long have you been in the business?
• Are you licensed and insured? (Check liability insurance and Workmen's Compensation)
• Can you provide a written estimate? (They should definitely be able to)
• When can you begin?

Collect estimates from all the contractors who make the cut. Compare the figures. Don't automatically go with the lowest figure, especially if the estimate is significantly lower than the others (the contractor may not have understood everything you wanted).

Once you select a company to work with, get a written contract. Make sure you understand the contract in its entirety. According to federal law, you have three days to change your mind after signing the contract.

Your contract should contain:

• Cost estimate and payment schedule (you should not make a final payment until you're satisfied with the work done)
• Description of the work and parts to be used
• Start and completion dates
• Agreement that the contractor will acquire the necessary permits

In the process of building a pool you will be contracting with earth movers, form-up workers, shotcrete blowers, tile men, plumbers, electricians, flat concrete folks, plasters, and landscape guys. These people are the salt of the earth and generally great to work with. There is no pool contractor flim-flam, just straight forward and usually honest folks. On the other hand, they obtain most of their business from general contractors and the individual homeowner is lower on the food chain which means that sub-contractors over book their schedule and go with the general contractor if he asks them for immediate help. This really becomes apparent after rain-delayed construction begins. So, it's a fact of life, the subs will always work with the general contractor first and then come see you. By the way, a sub-contractor will always say whatever you want to hear over the telephone, but it's no indication that he will actually show up for the job. You have to decide how long you are will to be strung along before you decide to move on to another sub-contractor.

How do you find a sub-contractor? Look in the Yellow pages under their profession. Ask the sand & gravel, equipment rental, and building supply people which sub-contractors do a lot of work. Usually, they have known subs for many years. After talking to a few people, it will not take long to come up with a short list of possibilities.

When a sub-contractor first arrives on the job site, they will probe to see how much you know about construction and try to get a higher price than what they would normally get from a general contractor. One of my favorite probes occurred when a flat concrete sub was examining the rebar in a driveway form and said they would have to charge extra because the men would be tripping on the rebar. So you have to be prepared to stand your ground and justify why you want to do something one way or the other. These are hardworking laborers and generally I did not want to haggle on price even though I knew they were asking for more than the going prices quoted by the sand & gravel or building supply people. (But I also have to admit that after being stung by one sub-contractor, I took it out on the next few.)

Once they see what you are about, they are more than happy to pitch in and do the job. And last but not least, sub-contractors do not get paid to do design or offer design tradeoffs around a job site, they just do what you tell them to do. Sometimes, they do offer a good suggestions, but be careful of those suggestions that save labor for the sub and has the possibility of detracting from the quality of your project. For example, I wanted the two main drains separated by 8 feet, but the sub put them next to each other, I can't even remember his reason for doing it now, but I wish I had stuck to my guns when we were setting them up. In other words, if given enough freedom, subs will slack off and cut corners. They require supervision and correction which means you cannot leave the job site for extended periods. If something does not look right then, on the spot, you must tell them a) you want it fixed and b) if they don't fix it you will deduct X hundred dollars from the agreed price.

Make sure everything is in writing--assume nothing. Although you might believe that a "contract" should look like a contract, anything you sign could be used as authorization to go forward with your project. This means that any bid you sign may become the contract; therefore, do not sign anything until you completely understand what you are signing, and you agree to all the terms.

Be sure to ask questions until you fully understand the contract and what the work will look like. Before signing anything, you may wish to discuss the proposed contract, plans and specifications with an attorney.

Since a written contract protects both you and the contractor/sub-contractor, all agreements should be put in writing. A specific, detailed contract will help eliminate misunderstandings between you and your contractor/sub-contractor and help establish a "meeting of the minds." Among other elements, the contract must include a description of the work and the materials and equipment to be used.

Also, a plan and scale drawing of the shape, size, and dimensions must be included as part of your swimming pool contract.

Make sure everything you are paying for is described in the contract. Specify all materials to be used, such as the quality, quantity, weight, color, size, or brand name as it may apply. Also, include everything you feel is important to the job, including cleanup and removal of debris and materials. You may give instructions regarding pets, children or areas where materials may not be stored.

Hire only licensed contractors.
Check contractor’s license number at www.cslb.ca.gov or (800) 321-CSLB.
Get three references and review past work.
Get at least three bids.
Get a written contract and don’t sign anything until you completely understand the terms.
Pay 2% or $200 down, whichever is less, for swimming pool projects.
Don’t let payments get ahead of the work.
Don’t make final payment until completion of the final plastering phase of construction, and until the installation or construction of equipment, decking, or fencing required by the contract has also been completed.
Don’t pay cash.
Keep a job file of all papers relating to your project.