So I've got this commercial pool I take care of, right? Costs were getting crazy high with my old service. Decided to hunt down better deals locally. Figured it’d be simple.

First, I just googled it

Typed in "commercial pool cleaning near me" like anyone would. Got bombarded with ads instantly. Every single website screamed "BEST DEAL!" or "SAVE NOW!" Clicked a few, filled out quote forms. Felt kinda hopeful at first.

Then the quotes started rolling in

Man, what a mess. One company gave me a nice low number over email. Got excited! But when they actually came out? Guy looked at the pool, scratched his head, and said "Oh, equipment’s extra, chemicals are tiered pricing, weekend service spikes it by 25%." Poof! There went that "good deal." Classic bait and switch.

Here's what I did next:

• Stalked local forums. Asked other business owners where THEY went. Got a few names repeatedly. Real people talk beats flashy websites every time.
• Called directly, no forms. Picked up the phone. Said, "Look, I'm shopping around, got XYZ size pool, tell me your full price RIGHT NOW." Cut the fluff.
• Pressed for breakdowns. Made them list everything: basic cleaning fee, chemical costs per gallon, filter checks, emergency call-out fees. No vague packages!
• Checked fine print like a hawk. Found one "deal" that locked me into a 2-year contract with penalties if I canceled. Nope!

The ugly part? Hidden charges.

One company seemed perfect. Good rep, decent price. Then, small print: "Seasonal adjustments apply." Translation? Prices jumped 40% in summer. Another charged extra just for "travel time" if my place was past some invisible line on their map. Total scam vibe.

How I finally nailed it down

Took those local recommendations seriously. Called the top three. Told each one the lowest quote I had so far (shaved off 10% for negotiation spice). Said, "Beat this, and I sign TODAY." Two walked away immediately. One guy paused, crunched numbers, came back 15 minutes later. Gave me a flat monthly fee, covered ALL basics, threw in quarterly filter deep cleans. Signed the contract same week.

Honestly? Took me three weeks and way too much back-and-forth. Websites lie. Phone calls don’t. Pressure works. Saved almost $200 a month ditching the old service. Worth the headache, but dang… finding a real deal feels like pulling teeth.