The first thing you want to do is get more than one quote. Three to five quotes are usually considered ideal. Going the extra mile on this step really is worth your time especially since any good contractor will provide a quote free of charge. Make sure you read the fine print and do a comparison of all the bids. Use all the same materials and the same design when talking to the contractor so that when they write out the quote, you can later compare the same things. Different quotes don't do much good if they're all for different things. Make sure the contractor comes to visit your home so they can see the site where the pool is to be built.

Ask the contractor for testimonials. There are fewer things that are as reassuring as hearing from others that the contractor is worth his salt. Ask others if they have ever heard of the contractors that you are considering. When speaking to the past customers, ask how the service was and how problems were handled. Also ask about how much time it took for the pool to be built. While you want the contractor to take the time to do a good job, you don't want to start building a pool in April only to still have an empty hole in your backyard in December.

You absolutely must make sure that they are licensed and insured. In most states (if not all) pool contractors must have a license. And it only makes good business sense to make sure that they are insured if any unforeseen problems arise. Also check with the Better Business Bureau to see how they rank there.