Startup Ideas: Dive Into the DIY Pool Industry

Have you seen the stats lately on how many homes now have backyard pools and hot tubs? It’s up to over 8% now and that number keeps rising every year. You and others want to invest in improving property with affordable ways to improve your home value and also create those relaxing oases right outside their homes.

The DIY approach is making residential pool construction more accessible and economical than ever before. This presents a major business opportunity for entrepreneurs like yourself to dive into this industry and capitalize on the growth. Here it will be broken down so you really understand the potential here!

The Rising Popularity of Backyard Pools and Hot Tubs

It’s obvious why more homeowners want to install pools and hot tubs in their backyards – they provide enjoyment, family bonding opportunities, social gatherings with friends and neighbors, exercise, and increased home value. They transform backyards into private vacation venues, essentially. Here are some of the main reasons driving the demand:

Backyard pools facilitate fun recreation and exercise for the whole family. Parents desire a safe environment where kids can learn to swim and play, while adults relax or get some laps in for fitness. The convenience and enjoyment of having aquatic amenities at home can’t be overstated. Time spent together as a family bonding in the pool creates lifelong memories.

Adding Value to Property

Installing a hot tub or pool bumps up a home’s value, on average between 7-15%, providing a sizable return on investment over time after appreciating the home. The increased property valuation upon selling means pools often pay for themselves. Tile upgrades, waterfalls and slides, pool houses, and other amenities push those numbers even higher.

There are also numerous health benefits of aquatic fitness routines, swim workouts, water aerobics, and simply having opportunity and motivation for exercise right outside your door that pools provide. This appeals greatly to health-conscious homeowners looking to improve their quality of life.

With in-ground concrete/gunite pools, above-ground pools, customized designs, and integrated hot tubs all available as options today, it’s plain to see why pool construction continues rising in popularity. It’s more attainable than ever while delivering excellent lifestyle perks that everyone desires.

Challenges Homeowners Face in Installing Pools

Now here’s the frustrating part that prevents many homeowners from having their dream backyard oasis – dealing with pool contractors! Surveys indicate working with contractors leads the list of major pain points and barriers to getting a pool installed. Now discuss why that is:

The main obstacle is the exorbitant high costs associated with hiring a contractor to build a pool, often $30,000 on the low end. Contractors charge heavy marking ups on both materials and labor across every phase of the project, ratcheting up expenses dramatically for homeowners.

Another top complaint is timeline delays of weeks, sometimes months before contractors even begin the job, pushing projects into the next year altogether too often. They seemingly have no sense of urgency.

There is also a notorious lack of pricing transparency with contractors. All estimates given often exclude certain fees until after the contract is signed and work has begun, catching homeowners by surprise later down the road.

And even if a homeowner is willing to stomach all these issues, contractors make securing financing options extremely difficult and stressful. Applying for home equity loans requires far more paperwork and stringent approval working through them as middlemen.

As you can see, gaining access to the benefits of a backyard pool or spa through a typical contractor is made unnecessarily challenging and expensive for consumers in all facets.

Turning Challenges Into Opportunities With DIY Pool Construction

This is where the DIY pool construction business model offers ingenious solutions for each of those pain points – saving homeowners thousands on every project through transparent pricing all while providing high quality results. Time to examine how this presents you an wide open business opportunity:

Rather than inflated contractor fees, DIY programs equip homeowners with all the knowledge and resources to function as ‘owner-builders’ and either do portions of the work themselves and/or directly hire only the necessary subcontractors themselves. This leads to minimum savings of $20,000 off typical contractor rates. DIY services even offer a “save or don’t pay” money back guarantee to back that up.

By handling their own pool project themselves through a DIY model, homeowners also escape dependency on a contractor’s unreliable timeline. The job moves forward on their own schedule and gets completed far more quickly in most cases.

All costs are unambiguous from the initial budgeting stages through final payments, with no hidden charges waiting down the road. Clients know exactly what they are investing at each milestone.

Affordable Financing and Guidance

DIY pool companies also partner with reputable financing companies offering the most affordable loan products and terms available for homeowners. This facilitates access to funding options that contractors traditionally limit clients from obtaining directly.

A DIY program essentially functions as a personal coach to guide homeowners through the entire pool installation adventure – software, checklists, tutorials, and direct staff access ensures they are equipped with everything needed to manage the project smoothly while only needing to personally invest around 1-2 hours per week on the management (the DIY construction crew does the rest).

Think about it – with the current trajectory of backyard pool demand among consumers combined with the leverage the DIY model provides them compared to traditional contractors, this niche you’re entering is pure gold. More and more homeowners desire pools annually and you’re making that dream far more accessible and affordable than contractors ever could. Everyone wins!

Elements of the Pool Construction Process

Now that you grasp the basics for how uniquely advantageous and economically sensible the DIY pool construction model is for homeowners compared to contractors, do a quick rundown of what the process entails. Here are the main phases.

The design and planning get everything started after initial software intakes basic parameters for backyard space and dimensions. They create 3D concept models for the client to review and provide feedback until landing on a final layout integrating their vision for aesthetics, features, and budget.

With the design complete, they develop comprehensive documentation for permits and submit applications as necessary for each municipality. Selecting quality subcontractors happens concurrently once the project is officially approved.

Breaking ground involves surveying, excavation, site clearing/prep to shape the pool foundation area and prep for structural components. Forms are constructed to pour steel reinforced concrete footing. Electrical and plumbing come next before the main pool shell.

The shell phase is the actual pool structure installation – installing steel grids for further reinforcement, pouring concrete or spraying shotcrete/gunite to form the outer pool walls and floor. Tile and coping finish this shell to exact specifications.

Installing Fixtures and Extras

Pool equipment comes online once the shell nears completion – pumps, filters, heaters, cleaners/vacuums, LED lighting packages. Other accessories like waterfalls, slides, diving boards also get integrated during this stage according to the approved design.

Final touches include the decking/patio construction, fencing if applicable, landscaping around the pool area, and plastering the waterline. Before filling it up, a detailed inspection ensures every component meets quality guidelines. Once passing, startup begins by filling the pool, testing water, and configuring equipment.

While each pool project differs in scope, that conveys the essential framework of constructing a residential swimming pool from initial concept to the finished product. And a DIY program prepares homeowners to smoothly orchestrate the entire process while cutting costs.

Operating Your Own Pool Construction Business

Okay, so by this point you should be chomping at the bit to dive into opening your own pool construction company through a DIY model after realizing it’s a goldmine industry. Finish up by summarizing key operational components for running the business.

Inventory equipment, supplies, chemicals needed for the variety of pool projects ahead of time before startup to avoid delaying purchases during active construction. Streamline ordering and restocking processes early on as well.

Networking and Marketing

Establish relationships with licensed subcontractors in each trade and phase of pool installation you identified earlier. Qualify their expertise and reliability, building a go-to network you can efficiently dispatch to customers as needed.

Implement software and have checklists for each project milestone to ensure adherence to construction standards, building code compliance, and pass inspections at every step.

Marketing is equally crucial – build a professional brand identity through your website, SEO practices lead generation content and social media channels. Pursue multiple referral networks to sustain lead flow.

Analyze expenses and margins early on to dial in profitable pricing packages for clients. Account for rush fees to expedite projects when possible as well.

Expanding With Maintenance and Repair Services

The demand for backyard pools is booming as homeowners seek to add value and enjoyment to their properties. However, paying contractors’ high fees and dealing with delays often deter families from pursuing this dream.

This creates an opportunity for pool construction startups to disrupt the status quo through a DIY business model that coaches clients to cost-effectively build their own oasis as owner-builders.

Beyond build-out revenues, pool companies can further capitalize on industry growth by expanding into recurring maintenance, repair and upgrade services post-installation. Handling the original project intimately positions businesses to become long-term partners invested in their outdoor oasis assets’ upkeep for years to come.

Summing it Up

Clearly the increasing demand for backyard pools and hot tubs presents a prime business opportunity to offer DIY construction services for substantial consumer savings. By coaching homeowners through cost-efficient installations as owner-builders themselves, startups can thrive in this industry niche.

Handling equipment procurement, permitting, hiring subcontractors, and providing guidance to transform backyards on schedule and under budget makes your business the go-to option over contractors. Consider exploring this avenue to leverage booming investments in residential swimming pools with an owner-friendly alternative – the potential rewards for your startup are immense.