Many homeowners want to invest in their home because they love it, not necessarily for resale concerns or market value. Their house is their hobby, the thing they most like to spend time on making more beautiful and distinctive; therefore, optimizing their outdoor living spaces is a top priority. They sometimes run into frustration, then, when they’re presented with generic options, unimaginative or unattractive designs for architecture, landscape features, and construction. BEFORE PICTURE:

CONCEPT PICTURE:

Many people believe that a paid designer, whether it is an interior designer, an architect or a landscape architect, is only for an elite few who have money to spend on extravagant endeavors. This is an illustration of the old conflict where builders are seen as realists and pragmatists on the one hand, and “designers” are “dreamers, not grounded in reality,” on the other hand. Some of this perception is earned by architects and designers who possess little practical building experience. People in the industry expect salespeople from building companies to provide design services for which the majority has little to no formal education in art or design. The result is that the general public is stuck with mediocre design, and they are forced to live with the consequences. Also, people often underestimate the real cost of construction by at least 50% and have to either cut corners or scramble to find the funds at the last minute to get what they really want. However, there is a second, smaller group of people who believe in design services and recognize it as an essential component of any built endeavor. This group has a sense for what true construction costs are and are willing to pay for quality. Below are some valuable designer tips that will assist you in finding the right landscape designer and swimming pool construction company.

• There is a common misconception that qualified architects are only needed for extremely costly outdoor living spaces projects. In fact, every project needs a good designer. A good design assures that you will end up will a tasteful and more valuable project.
• Avoid tacky design. Find yourself a real designer/builder, not just a “pool salesman.” Any pool builder can draw a “cool” design with a waterfall at one end. But it takes someone with actual architectural design and construction experience to design and build you a pool and landscaping that is tasteful and that is in keeping with the architecture of your home and backyard.
• The designer/builder is the person who has the vision, ability, experience, education, and desire to build you your dream – not just to “sell you a pool.”
• Find out if you are dealing with a production-oriented company by asking if they have sales goals and quotas for those who can sell the most. If it does, you are probably dealing with a company that values quantity over quality.
• In contrast to the impersonal approach to customer service that production-oriented companies take, consider the personalized service you will receive from companies where the designer is in constant contact with the builder.
• Call the Registrar of Contractors and check on the records of the swimming pool construction companies you are considering.
• A good designer/builder doesn’t just know his subs, he knows them by name.
• If you really want to find out if a company has its act together when it comes to supervision, call the company’s sub-contractors. They will tell you everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
• Last but not least: warranty. All of the equipment installed with your pool is actually warranted by the manufacturer, regardless of what pool company installed it.