We moved into our current home in 2011, right at the tail end of the housing recession. With a huge backyard, we dreamed of creating the ultimate outdoor space. We got several quotes for our dream backyard—but the prices were mind-blowing. There was no way we could afford it at the time; we were barely surviving the aftermath of the housing crash.
By 2022, we were in a better financial position and began seriously considering a pool again. We spoke with several friends who had gone through the process, and most said the same thing: “Now that we know how it works, we should’ve just built it ourselves.”
I decided to start the process by working with a pool architect and a permit planner. Over several months, we drew up plans and got them approved by the county.
Next, I began finding vendors for each phase of the project. I reached out for estimates and started tracking everything in a spreadsheet.
As I got deeper into the process, I realized just how complex it really was—but now I had a solid baseline for costs. So, I reached out to a few full-service pool builders with my completed plans and scope, hoping their quotes would come in lower or at least close enough to justify letting someone else manage the heavy lifting.
We ended up getting a few quotes that were only slightly higher than my spreadsheet estimates. It made sense to hand the project over to a builder who could act as a project manager and get it done for us.
That’s when the real learning experience began. It was a constant struggle to know when people would show up, when each phase would begin, how long it would take, what to look for or inspect, what upgrades were possible, and what recommendations we should consider. Everything required my own research and far too many questions—things that should’ve been part of a straightforward, guided process.
From start to finish, the experience was confusing. And based on the conversations I had with others, my story wasn’t unique.
Looking back, I wish I had an app to guide me through the entire process. It would’ve helped me make smarter decisions—like understanding plumbing limitations (for example, how to run the slide without the waterfalls, or heat only the hot tub while letting it overflow into the pool).
Even simple aesthetic choices, like adding cute turtles or starfish designs to the pool floor, or choosing a softer plaster, required hours of my own research. These are things that could’ve been easily addressed if I had been presented with the right information at the right time.
That’s why we built this app—to help others go through the process with just a few clicks. Whether you’re managing the build yourself, working with a project manager, or hiring a pool builder, this app is for everyone. And as more people use it, we’ll continue to grow and add features.
At the end of the day, I just wish I could’ve started here—and now, you can.
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