[Mark Howard]

My wife and I are looking to put in a pool behind our home with landscaping and other outdoor ammenities. Our girls are 10 and 3 years old, and we are looking to get about 10 years of enjoyment out of it before we sell this house to move on to a house with a smaller yard, less maintenance etc.

I have had several sales pitches from some pool companies and am about to hire a landscape architect to master plan the yard and design the pool and layout, etc. I know all about the new saltwater technology, gunnite process, polaris, etc and have a construction background. What I am looking for is real advice from pool owners. I've already had enough 'don't do it' and 'biggest mistake you'll ever make' advice, but would like to hear recommendations on making the pool better and reduce maintenance time.

Can anyone help?