Swimming pool prices, portable as well as permanent ones, can easily run into the thousands of dollars. Before choosing your contractor, check the swimming pool prices in your area. This way you’ll have a price baseline on which to judge the estimates that he gives you.

Swimming pool prices will depend on a number of things, the primary variable is the size of the pool you are considering. Then there is the type of swimming pool you desire. A portable swimming pool will, of course, cost much less than a permanent swimming pool.

Then there’s the deck issue. You can have a swimming pool installed without a deck at all. And for some pools, in the right environment, this is the right choice to make. But if you do decide to have a deck installed, then you have to make decisions on the types of materials to use. All of these decisions, cumulatively, can add thousands of dollars more onto your final cost. The bottom line is that, in order to get a ball park figure of what your dream pool will ultimately cost, you have to write down all the options that you desire and obtain price estimates on them.

Probably the biggest determinant of how much your pool will cost will be the difference between inground swimming pool prices and above ground swimming pool prices. Any time you have to break ground, you can add thousands of dollars for the excavation cost alone.

Swimming pool prices are also area specific. Pool prices for the same materials and identical work will have a different cost based on which section of the country you live in. Other variables such as the company, the quality of the materials, also make a difference in the price. Bottom line, for the average sized pool, with a fiberglass shell, with a basic concrete patio (i.e. no tile), standard options (no extras), completely installed will be in the neighborhood of between $30,000 and $60,000. So either get your checkbook out or start looking into home improvement loans.

One good idea that smart shoppers use in making their buying decisions is to buy when everyone else isn’t. This is when you’ll get the best bargains. For swimming pool prices, in most parts of the country, this means the winter season. Very few people are visiting their local pool dealers and distributors over the winter months. You pool equipment suppliers are typically making few sales during these months and are much more apt to cut you a very good deal if they think that you are a serious prospect. You’ll also find that pool contractors are willing to give you some good installation price cuts as well during these cold months.