Record the property baseline
Gather the current survey or site plan, property boundaries, easements, existing structures, levels, visible drainage paths, utility information, and available records. Mark information that is assumed rather than confirmed.
Create one annotated site plan and a list of documents still required.
Measure construction access
Record gate widths, overhead clearance, turns, slopes, pavement limits, neighboring constraints, delivery routes, crane positions where relevant, and areas that require temporary removal or protection.
Photograph the route in both directions and record the narrowest width, lowest clearance, and surface limits.
Identify utilities and services
Locate known water, sewer or septic, gas, electrical, communications, irrigation, and drainage services. Confirm who arranges official locating, disconnection, relocation, new supply, testing, and restoration.
Map each known service and assign investigation, design, construction, and approval responsibility.
Investigate water and ground
Discuss slope, fill, retaining, erosion, groundwater indicators, drainage outlets, previous excavation, trees, and soil information with the appropriate professionals. Avoid turning visual observations into engineering conclusions.
Separate observed conditions, owner knowledge, formal reports, and questions requiring specialist advice.
Plan safety and property protection
Consider temporary barriers, children, pets, occupied areas, noise, dust, deliveries, material storage, equipment access, neighbor interfaces, and emergency routes. Define who installs, inspects, maintains, and removes protections.
Prepare a site logistics sketch covering access, storage, waste, protection, and temporary safety controls.
Issue a site information pack
Combine drawings, photos, measurements, known conditions, reports, restrictions, owner priorities, and unanswered questions into the same pack for every shortlisted builder. Require bidders to state their own site assumptions.
Version and date the information pack so every proposal can be traced to the same baseline.
Pool Site Assessment Checklist: FAQ
How should I use this pool site assessment checklist?
Use it as a comparison framework rather than a substitute for project-specific technical, legal, or financial advice. Record the source and date of every important answer.
Should every pool company receive the same information?
Yes. Give each suitable candidate the same current project brief, drawings, known conditions, questions, and requested response format so differences remain visible.
What should remain in writing?
Keep the project brief, proposal, drawings, specifications, assumptions, exclusions, allowances, schedule, payment terms, changes, inspection records, test results, warranties, and closeout documents together.
What must be checked locally?
Confirm current licensing, registration, permit, barrier, inspection, contract, payment, utility, and property requirements with the relevant official state and local authorities.
Independent verification resources
Use current official sources for the property jurisdiction and the service being contracted. These national resources explain professional directories and consumer screening; local rules can differ.