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| - One guy comes over, tells us the pool is no problem, it'll be easy to get it back into shape for summer. It was just slightly green. Goes back and fiddles with some switches and twists a knob or two, says someone will be back on wednesday to clean the pool. No one shows. A few days later, some tweaked out second guy comes over and points out all these "leaks and problems" that were mysteriously not there before the FIRST guy came to visit. Suddenly now we need a new this and a new that, and the pool has to be drained, and acid washed, and whatever else. Gives us an estimate that totals over $1200 just to get the pool swimmable, not counting his monthly fee for maintaining it.
Good thing we got a second opinion. We "fixed" our issues by tightening all the stuff the first guy loosened while he was back there throwing switches and pressing buttons (we went from no leaks, to 4 HEAVY leaks and a nearly flooded garage, in a DAY.) We fixed the leaks by replacing some rubber washers that didn't really need to be replaced that badly ($3) and tightening two valves that were mysteriously loosened though they'd never been that way before (AHEM.) We fixed a small crack in a housing by using epoxy (it's perfect again) and we bought new filters (for half what they were asking for the PART, before adding the labor.) Our pool didn't need to be drained at all, the water was tested and it was DRINKABLE. And an acid wash? The pool is in perfect condition and there is no part of the wall of the pool that is falling apart even in the slightest.
Our "$1200" pool cost about $500 to get perfect for the summer, and that includes the cost of all the pool chemicals we will need for the rest of the season. We just got the water tested and it's spot on, and we did it all ourselves with a little research and some help from the staff at a local pool store.
Here's what I think. We rent a really big house and split it amongst many roommates. I think this guy saw a big house and assumed that meant he could get a big payday off it. I knew the guy was full of shit and could see it from a mile away, and I warned my roommate.
I'm not saying he's a crook, but I will say that is shady behavior. Buyer beware.
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