Putting In A Pool With A New Home Build- Advice Needed

[lksium19]

I am building a new home at the moment and am putting in a pool at the same time. This will be my first time owning a pool and I am trying to understand what I should preemptively consider/buy now during this process. We have to use the pool company the builder has contracted with in order to have it done by close. Of course those prices are higher, so I am trying to get the most for my money. I know I could go with another pool builder, but honestly I don't want to deal with the hassle/mess afterwords! Here are a few questions I need help with:

• Is it easy to add on a wireless remote control for the pool? The one they are trying to give me has a price tag of over $2k. I've seen the eaxct same one online for about $600.
• Adding in a screen footer. We will not be getting a screen put over the pool at this time as we are overlooking a lake and have a nice wide open view. The pool guy has indicated that we put in the screen footer now so that its ready incase we add it in later. Thats about 1300. Is that a good price? I dont understand what is involved in this process to know otherwise.
• What kind of decking would you reccomend? I was just going to continue with the brick pavers we are using under the lanai as it is pretty massive in and of itself.
• We won't get our yard fenced in- aluminum fence per the HOA- until after close, but in order to meet code we need to have the child safety fence put up, which is about 130 linear feet in to cover our pool. Thats pretty massive to have to store around after the fence and other controls are put in. What do other people do with these massive fences when they are not in use?
• It was indicated on our paperwork that if we wanted our in floor cleaning system to work while we are in the spa, we will nedd to add an auxillary pump. Do I need to add this? Our spa will spill over into the swimming pool as a water effect when it is on. So it is necessary for the in floor system to be cleaning CONSTANTLY or when you are entertaining or sitting in the spa, its OK for it not to be "cleaning"
• I think we will want to add solar panels later to heat up the pool. Is that a complicated process of digging and tearing up pavers to do? Does anyone know of a way to "preplumb" for solar panels in the future?

Sorry so many questions! I can't tell you how many times I heard during this entire process of building a home that it's better to "have it down now, instead of after you close", so the lines start to blur between was is really the truth and the eagerness to sell someone for commissions sake!

[LegsOnEarth]

• Is it easy to add on a wireless remote control for the pool? The one they are trying to give me has a price tag of over $2k. I've seen the eaxct same one online for about $600.

Online Pricing can be a bit skewed. Do you have anymore information about the control system they are installing? Are they selling wireless as an upgrade to the control system for an Additional 2000.00, or is that the price tag for a complete wireless system? A wireless remote alone for most control systems will run about 600-800, with the base system alone costing 1300.00 approximately.

[lksium19]

The wireless remote they want to give me is a Jandy PDA 4. The line items is only listed as "automatic controls". He said I could add it in later and that no "pre-wire was necessary", but that it would still cost a pretty penny even after.

http://www.poolsupplyworld.com/Jandy-PDA-P4-AquaLink-PDA-4-Control-System-with-PDA-Remote-for-Pool-or-Spa-Only-Pump-Heater--4-Auxiliary-Circuits/PDA-P4.htm

[LegsOnEarth]

For the Jandy Aqualink system, it is less expensive to buy the PDA wireless control system as part of your basic install then to install a wireless controller after installation. When you are building a Jandy Aqualink control system, you have the option of using their iAqualink, OneTouch or PDA controller options. The OneTouch is not wireless, the PDA is a wireless remote and the iAqualink uses your home computer network to allow for control via smartphones, tablets or PCs.

Each has a different price point and each has various pros and cons, but if you want a "basic" wireless controller at any point I would suggest going with the PDA, since adding a wireless controller to the OneTouch system means paying twice for a control unit (basically) and the iAqualink I would only recommend if both you and your installer (well, them more so) are comfortable with setting up your home network. It requires a certain amount of networking savy to get up and running. Not a lot, but enough that if something isn't working and your contractor is technologically illeterate that you will have some fun problems down the road.