3 Things That Your First Pool Appointment Should Always Include

So you’re ready to put your dream pool in your backyard and schedule your first appointment with a pool builder. Are you wondering what you’re going to need for that meeting and what will be covered? We understand it can be an overwhelming thought when you aren’t sure what to expect from that initial meeting.

At California Pools & Landscape, we’ve helped over 35,000 customers get into a new pool. Through years of doing this, we’ve learned and developed what we think is the best possible process for a first pool appointment. As you are evaluating bids and looking at multiple contractors, this is what you should be looking for to get the most out of your initial consultation.

If you’re getting ready for your first appointment, that means you already know the companies that you’re interested in doing business with, and you’ve established an overall budget for your project. Now the fun begins!

What a designer does during this first appointment is discuss aesthetics and function. Basically, you’ll talk about what you want the yard to look like and what you plan to do in the living space. The designer will take the consideration of aesthetics and function along with your budget, and merge them together to create a design that you love.

So how do they do that?

In this article, we’ll break down exactly what to expect on your first pool appointment so you can be one step closer to swim time!

First, a designer will evaluate your yard

First the designer will need to look at your yard. They will evaluate the elevation, access, utilities, and determine if you need any demolition work. Your jurisdiction will also play a role with building codes and regulations as they establish what is going to happen to your yard for construction to get started.

You’ll select your design elements

The second phase is determining what you want the backyard to look like. This can happen in a variety of ways. You can bring pictures you found online. You can take inspiration from a neighbors house or whatever elements that you might have. In some cases, you might have sketched your own backyard.

However you choose to bring your vision to the designer will be helpful. This is an important conversation to have with your designer during this first appointment. This will help establish an overall feel for the design and give them a vision of what you want things to look like.

Make sure you focus in on the functionality of your yard

Now that you’ve discussed your ideas with a designer, you need to focus on the function of your backyard. Having a pretty backyard is one thing, but having a yard that looks beautiful as well as functions the way you want is really the key to a good quality design.

If you are just focused on one aspect of the yard, you’re really not taking into consideration the yard as a whole. Having a holistic view of the yard and looking at it from all aspects, no matter if it’s something that you’re going to be doing now or in the future, is really a key in this process.

This will ensure that you maximize your investment and enjoyment in your home. Here are some important questions to ask yourself before this initial meeting.

Do you need a pool fence around your pool?

Something that has a large impact on both function and design is safety. If you have young kids and want to put a pool fence in, it will affect those elements. Fencing the pool is something to think about when you’re looking at the yard as a whole, because function and design will be established by where that fence goes in and how you can design around it.

Do you enjoy time in the sun?

Do you like the sun or dislike the sun when it comes to hanging out at the pool? That is a functional element of where you place certain options in the backyard. This can help determine if/where you want to install a shade structure, lounging areas, or a baja shelf. All those features can be affected by just something as simple as the sun in the sky.

Do you have focal points from the house?

Do you have certain visual aspects from the front door, from the master bedroom, or from the kitchen sink that you want to accentuate? The placement of the pool in your backyard is going to be key within that functionality.

Have you considered mixing up the yard?

Designing destination areas for use throughout the year can be beneficial for its functionality. It’s good to consider different areas to enjoy year round in order to maximize your backyard. You can plan for areas that are good in the summer time like a baja shelf or a lounge area. You can then pair that with another section that’s closer to the spa with a fire pit that would be more catered to enjoy during the winter time.

Can you create shade?

Another element where landscaping and good landscape design comes into play is in creating shade. If you want to have a shaded area to lounge in, that’s important to consider for functionality.

Do you like the view from your backyard?

The views in your backyard are also an important element for design. If you have a neighboring two story home, a street sign, or something that you don’t want to look at, you can make that happen with a well-placed design that includes landscaping or structures.

If you have views you enjoy in your backyard of mountains or a greenbelt, you will want to consider designing around those views as well. Privacy is another thing you can consider when it relates to views. If a neighbor has a two-story home or a balcony, you can design in privacy with structures or landscaping.

Are you ready to design your dream backyard?

Keep in mind during this initial meeting, a large portion of time will be allocated on educating you as a consumer to all of your options. We know there is a lot to consider when you’re creating your dream backyard; read this article for helpful ideas on what might work best for you. Just remember, there’s no right or wrong way of designing. It’s really just pros and cons and working with a designer to make sure that you like what they’ve come up with.

You should be considering two to three contractors for your pool to make sure that you’re finding the right fit and price. Depending on the overall scope of your project, an initial appointment with a designer should be able to cover many of these options.

If you’re still in the decision making phase where you’re considering pool contractors, we’d love to talk to you! Our designers will meet with you virtually or at any of our four showrooms. Visiting one of our showrooms will allow you to see and feel different material options, which should help simplify the decision making process.

You can schedule an appointment with California Pools & Landscape, or call our Customer Concierge Team at 480-756-7045.