Click on any of the photos for a larger view!
Plaster is
done!
Pool is
being filled!
Landscaping completed!
Landscaping:
Here are a few links we found while trying to decide on plantings:
Plants
to Swim By
Landscaping
Around Your Pool or Spa
We
decided to go with:
Queen Palms
Pigmy Date palms
Star Jasmine
various lilies
Indian Hawthorn
We also plan
to plant a variety of colorful annuals.
What
we've learned so far:
(I'm sure there will be much more!)
Check their contractor's license, check references/look at jobs they've done/talk to the owners
Ask how long the entire job will take--there were lots of complaints from owners that there were long periods of inactivity on the jobsite. You may want to consider building the pool during the off-season when they are not as busy.
Make progress payments after each phase is completed and if necessary, approved by local building inspectors. INSIST on receiving written evidence that the subcontractors have been paid--do NOT pay up front! When we called to check on several contractor's licenses, we were informed that several had previous judgments for not paying their subcontractors. These subcontractors can come back and put a lien on YOUR HOUSE!
Have a contract before any work begins. Be sure to read the "fine print" in the contract. Make sure that everything discussed is written into the contract--be specific. Double-check all sizes, dimensions, number of spa jets, concrete square footage and even re-add the totals for accuracy. With all the excitement, it's easy to overlook the specifics.
When getting financing, you may want to consider asking for a bit more to the loan than the contract calls for--this can be used for additional landscaping or little "surprises" that may arise.
Feel free to e-mail us with any comments, suggestions or questions
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