Other contractors approach the walk-through less formally. When the home and pool builders have a solid, long-term relationship and have collaborated closely throughout the project, they may not feel the need for documentation. “A lot of it depends on the particular home builder,” says Jordan Clarkson, sales manager and designer for Pools by John Clarkson, in Jacksonville, Fla. In addition to going over the aquascape itself, the walk-through between the custom home builder and pool builder should take into account those areas where the pool builder’s work stops and another contractor’s begins.
One aspect to think about is finishes. Does the pool builder’s deck flow nicely with another contractor’s patio or raised planter? If the pool builder didn’t handle the decking, has the deck installer added a joint with expansion material between the coping and decking? It’s also a good idea to flood the decks during the walk-through to make sure they drain properly. Also flood planters to see if dirty water spills over into the pool or on the deck.
Finally, plumbing and utility connections should be checked out. Other contractors may handle hookups to the auto-fill system, heater, controls, and other devices. It should be determined that they’ve been dealt with properly, and that plumbing and gas lines deliver the right flow.
The walk-through: Builder and customer. No matter how informal the walk-through may be between home and pool builders, one thing is certain: It must be done properly with the customer, and it always requires documentation. This can be easy to overlook. But builders like Michael Holland learned the value of a homeowner walk-through. “Before, it was a he-said/she-said type of scenario whenever a problem came up,” says the president of Holland Pools & Spas in Longwood, Fla. “This eliminates that kind of conflict.”
Walk-throughs also make homeowners accountable. Knowing it’s their last chance to ask for changes or repairs, they’ll pay closer attention to the project before signing off. “If you don’t [walk through the project with them], they’ll call you every week with something new,” says John Smieszek, a partner in pool builder Liquid Evolutions in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The final walk-through helps preserve everybody’s reputation, including the home builder’s. “The custom builder has recommended us, so we want to make sure that the clients leave with a good feeling about us as well as of the general contractor,” says Greg Wolfe, president of Aquarius Pools in Sacramento, Calif.
Pool builders often handle the walk-through, especially if the homeowner is paying them directly. They have the most knowledge about the subject and can give the clients a thorough tutorial on how to use the equipment. Many pool contractors collect the last payment before plastering, so that’s when they perform the final walk-through. That way the homeowner feels more confident about handing over the payment, and the pool contractor can make changes without damaging the final finishes.
But some home builders may prefer to handle the customer walk-through themselves. In those cases, the pool builder may want to participate to hear questions and concerns.
Whoever conducts the walk-through should insist on doing it face-to-face, Wolfe says. His superintendents have tried handling some over the phone, but it rarely worked. Crews would make the changes, only to hear it still wasn’t right. “[The homeowner] may just say, ‘I just want one other rock added here,’” Wolfe says. “But unless they’re looking at it with my masonry guy or my superintendent, it’s hard for them to convey that in words or in writing.”
Documentation. Regardless of who does the walk-through with the homeowners, it’s important to be thorough. Use a formal punch list with the homeowner, checking off each satisfactory item and noting any agreed-upon repairs. Then the homeowners should sign it. Below are the areas to inspect:
Then look at the aesthetic issues:
