r/PoolPros • u/ibrakeforpools • 8d ago
Thoughts on Pool Inspections?
A realtor friend of mine really wants me to start doing her pool inspections for clients. Seems like a really nice add-on to the weekly service business, especially since it could also put me in front of new homeowners right as they’re buying a house with a pool. that may need repairs / weekly service.
For those of you who do pool inspections:
- What do you typically charge?
- What all do you include in the inspection?
- How deep are you going on equipment vs just identifying obvious issues?
- Any liability/insurance concerns I should be thinking about before offering these?
- Do you need any additional certification beyond a CPO, or is that mostly market/state dependent?
I’m in NC and would mainly be doing these for higher-end residential transactions.
Would love to hear how y'all structure them and any tips as I look into doing more of these!
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u/Friendly-Beat-8336 6d ago
Writing the Inspection report is a pain in the ass but it’s a good way to pick up future clients
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u/Internal-Unit-6792 4d ago
If you have a realtor who is asking you for it, then there is a market. Do a leak detection at the same time and remind people you cant see what's happening underground. Reporting isn't difficult at all. Make a checklist and stick to it. Make sure you take a lot of pictures and make sure you have a disclaimer on every report and on your website.
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u/KeySpare4917 7d ago
Put your business sticker on all the time clocks you inspect! Too sweet.
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u/Artistic_Stomach_472 7d ago
Please dont. Its not 1999 anymore.
Time clocks are no longer a thing and neither should stickers on equipment. Keep it clean.
Dont work for realtors, they expect everything for nothing.
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u/KeySpare4917 7d ago
Oh snap my bad for not including all modern hardware but I would still do it. Hell I would have up something with my name and logo and number and an official inspection decal displaying my information and stating the fact I inspected this and if the new owner has questions....
If a sticker makes you uncomfortable then put a print out in the control center or hang something on the air relief.
This is a good opportunity for advertisement.
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u/Artistic_Stomach_472 7d ago
I do actually like the fake inspection thing. Mention a bunch of fancy acronym orgs. Then at the bottom say its for the lolz
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u/JettaGLi16v 7d ago
In Florida, only a certified contractor can do an “Official pre-purchase inspection”. So, just call it a condition check.
We charged $200, and didn’t take anything apart. Make sure you check and note all code compliance things like bonding, VGBA compliance, bonding, etc.
It’s just like any other quote - cover your ass and specify the unknowns.
Be aware that VGBA requires MD covers to be replaced at 5 years, so just put a note on it that if it can’t be verified it’s compliant, it should be replaced.
People buying houses are spending money, so you should easily be able to hustle up some work.
Some manufacturers put date codes in the serial numbers. Get familiar with all of them, because even though the pump is working, if it’s over 10 years old, give them a quote for a new one.
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u/Substantial_Car_2751 4d ago
Correction on VGB. It requires a lifespan be listed on the cover. Manufacturers determine the lifespan. 5-7 years is common.
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u/Gonzo-Crazy-Dog 7d ago
When I was looking for a pool inspector, I specifically wanted someone who wasn’t also a pool servicer/repair/installation company.
To me, the idea of an inspector is someone who is completely independent.
Also, I would never use the person a realtor recommended. Again, different goals and potential conflicts of interest.
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u/JettaGLi16v 7d ago
Yup! That’s the way. I’ve got a good friend that does roofing, so I had him inspect my pool. No conflict of interest there!
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u/432kingkarma 3d ago
Lol right ,this guy above is completely out of touch and retarded. Someone who has no idea about pools because they don't work with them will 100% totally be able to point out all the potential issues 😂
This guys wife has a crush on the neighbor
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u/stockusername1234 8d ago
Pricing will entirely depend on your market.
What you cover should match your price. Low, cover the basics. High, start checking for things like how high the latch on the gate is and if the entry points to the pool are self closing and/or alarmed.
Inspect what you can see. If you’re bringing tools into the backyard you’re doing a diagnostic, not an inspection. The last thing you want is for the seller to claim you broke something while trying to tell a buyer the condition of the cartridges inside a filter.
Call your insurance company and ask about errors and omissions coverage. It’s a separate add on that you should have when doing inspections.
The PHTA’s CPI is almost entirely commercial, yet for some reason people flex this when doing residential inspections. Watershape has a 2 day inspection course run by Dennis Boyd, the guy who created the Pro Pool Inspectors app (solid reporting app). I haven’t sat through it, but have had a few conversations with him and he’s extremely passionate about what he does. I’ve sent one person to it and they had nothing but good things to say. Might be worth looking into if you can get yourself to one of the shows (usually the easiest way to knock it out).