Why Two Pool Quotes for the Same Yard Can Look So Different

You get two estimates for a pool in your Bluffton backyard and they don't match. Same lot, same general idea, and the two documents read like they're for different projects. This is common, and it usually isn't a sign that one builder is padding or the other is cutting corners. Camp Pool Builders lists the real reasons on its own construction FAQ page, and it's worth understanding them before you sign anything.

Size, shape and extras

The first factor is the plain one: how big is the pool? A larger footprint means more excavation, more material, more tile, more decking around it and more equipment to keep the water moving. Shape matters as well. A simple rectangle and a freeform lagoon with a raised spa are different amounts of work, even at the same square footage. When you compare quotes, check that both builders designed the same pool, not just a pool.

The second factor is what's added. Camp's team builds waterfalls, jump rocks, cabo shelves with umbrella sleeves, tanning ledges, fountains, grottos, integrated spas and raised walls. Each one is a line item, and some of them involve stone work or extra plumbing that changes the whole job. Camp also cites automated features and the cost of finish materials as contributors to the total. If one estimate has a spa and a rock waterfall and the other doesn't mention them, you're not comparing two prices. You're comparing two different backyards.

Materials and craftsmanship

The third factor is harder to see on paper: the quality of the materials and the craftsmanship. Interior finish, tile, coping, decking, equipment brands and the skill of the people doing the work all vary. Two pools can look similar at handover and age very differently. This is where asking questions pays off. Ask what equipment is included, who does the finishing work, and who's on site during the critical steps. One of Camp's reviewers, ALex HSu, said Kevin was at every critical step of his build, and was still enjoying the workmanship in the pool's third year.

Soil, water and rock

Camp lists soil conditions and the presence of water or rock as a separate cost factor, and it's one that catches homeowners off guard. Nobody knows what's under your yard until the excavation starts, but a builder who has dug a lot of holes in the Lowcountry can plan for it. Ask each builder how they handle it. Does the estimate assume ordinary digging and leave you exposed if they hit water or rock? Or does it explain what happens in each case and who pays?

Warranty and change orders

Camp calls out warranties provided by the builder as the last piece. The company says it offers the highest quality of work and the best warranty of any builder in the industry, and that its pricing doesn't reflect that. Whatever builder you choose, get the warranty in writing and read what it covers, who stands behind it, and what you need to do to keep it valid. A warranty is only as good as the company that will still be around to honor it.

Then there's the factor that doesn't show up in the headline price at all. A low initial number that leaves costs for later is a different deal than a number that accounts for everything. Camp's stated approach is to discuss all options and costs up front. They say they don't like issuing change orders any more than clients like receiving them, and that the only changes to a project should be the ones the client requests. They also say they won't upsell a client into a pool that doesn't suit their needs or budget.

Miranda Lambourne, who built with Camp, put the result in a Google review this way: "Kevin and Rob worked with me from design to completion to create our dream pool on time and without any hidden costs."

How to compare estimates fairly

• Make sure each estimate covers the same size, shape and depth profile.
• List every feature you want and confirm each builder priced all of them.
• Ask what equipment, tile, coping, decking and interior finish are included.
• Ask what happens if the dig turns up water or rock.
• Get the warranty terms in writing and compare what they cover.
• Ask how changes are handled once the job has started.

If an estimate can't answer those questions, the price on it isn't the final number. A good builder will be glad you asked.

Ask for the free design

Camp's pool and spa designs and estimates are free, so you can compare a real design instead of a guess. Call Kevin Camp at (843) 683-2862 to set up a meeting and a property evaluation on Hilton Head Island or in Bluffton, and bring the other estimates with you. He'll walk through what's in each one.