Go Big or Close to Home? Choosing Between National and Local Pool Services
When it comes to pool maintenance, the ability to trust in your service provider is crucial. Your family depends on having a clean, functioning pool so that they can stay healthy while enjoying their time together. It’s also important that you receive quality service, without breaking the bank.
Choosing a service provider starts with size: do you want to work with a national chain, or a local provider?
Deciding between these two options requires you to consider the key characteristics of each. At first glance, a Google search will generally bring up the more popular national brands, which makes it seem as though that is the first and only option. But before you make that decision, you may want to take a look at exactly how national and local companies differ.
National vs. local – what’s the difference, anyway?
National pool services are all about volume. They cast a wide net to grab as many jobs as possible, then turn those over to regional subcontractors. They have high employee turnover, and are always bringing on new people. They generally provide quality service that follows industry standards, but the scope of their business makes it difficult for them to address individual needs.
Local pool companies are, as you might expect, smaller. They depend on repeat business from a narrower group of core customers, and focus more on long term relationships. As opposed to the national brands, local services will see more of the same pools over and over again. Pool owners will generally interact with the same technicians from month to month.
So what does this mean about their service?
Fresh talent is not always a bad thing, but one negative aspect of national companies’ high employee turnover rate is the amount of experience and familiarity each person brings to the table. Establishing a long, productive relationship is difficult, because your service technician may be there one week and gone the next. This can be a problem because it prevents your pool from receiving customized care; every pool is different, and even seasoned pros can run into challenges if it’s their first time working with a new property.
Local companies don’t have to deal with all of the associated training costs of frequent new employees, and their technicians have time to develop the necessary skills to excel in their job. They get to know each pool, and they take pride in catering to each client’s unique needs. They have a feel for local climates, regional practices, and individual taste.
In the end, people matter
One of the most important aspects of your pool service company is the relationship you share. If you can trust your technician and their company to treat you right, then that is all that matters. A company that knows its customers is a company that won’t cut corners, and the only way to ensure the best pool service is by choosing the people that truly care about you.
While a national company might seem like the most reliable option, in this case, a local company will be more likely to have your best interests in mind. They are the ones who will get to know you and your pool, the ones who know the value of their reputation, and the ones who know that your pool represents something more to you and your family. Stick with them, and you can be sure that you are in good hands.
