You’ve decided that what your backyard is missing is the gorgeous, turquoise and aqua waters of your own swimming pool. Great decision! A swimming pool is the ultimate luxury for a homeowner. Getting home from work, throwing on a bikini, and lazing in the sun by your own pool, or, better yet, going for a swim to let off some steam—it doesn’t get better.

This is an especially good idea if you’re living in the Tampa Bay area, or anywhere else in South Florida, for that matter. Tampa Bay is known for being the sunny part of the Sunshine State, which is why many homeowners add a swimming pool to their backyards. Now that you, too, will have a new pool, all that’s left is to find pool builders who are up to the task. If you’re looking for the folks who will do a great job both at pool design and at pool building, read on for some things to keep in mind as you begin your search.

Make some phone calls.

First things first—when you’re looking for a pool company, you need to know the market a bit. It’s a good idea to do a quick Google search for “swimming pool companies in Tampa Florida,” and make a list of possible pool builders. Once you know what the possibilities are, start making some phone calls and perusing some websites. This will help you get a feel for the types of personalities involved, as well as their level of professionalism. Installing a new swimming pool in your backyard is a big job. That means that you’ll be working with these pool contractors for a while, and you want to make sure that they’re the right fit for your personality. If you have a good rapport over the phone, and you’re impressed by the pictures and testimonials on their website, those are both good signs.

Rely on recommendations.

It’s great to check out websites and read what strangers have said about one builder or another, but there’s nothing as good as a recommendation from someone you trust. Who do you know in the Tampa area, maybe in Hillsborough or Clearwater? Maybe a friend or a neighbor who has a great pool in their backyard? Ask which pool builders they hired to install their swimming pool. Were they pleased with the pool design process and the schedule on which the builders were able to put in the new pool? If they have a custom pool, with special outdoor features, ask how much that cost. By relying on friends and neighbors, you’re more likely to get the best price on either a standard or custom pool.

What will you use your new pool for?

This is crucial because it will define the type of swimming pool you’ll be installing. Are you gong to swim laps in athletic swimwear, splash around in a bathing suit at a pool party every weekend, or sunbathe in an unlined bikini? Of course, it’s likely that you’ll be doing a combination of these activities, but it’s important to understand which you’ll be partaking in the most. If you’re just going to sunbathe in a bikini, you don’t need an athletic-grade pool. On the other hand, if you’re planning on hosting a pool party on a regular basis, you might want to opt for a custom pool with a waterfall or another fun feature. In order to make sure that you have a great experience enjoying your backyard pool, be clear about how you plan to use it.

Constructing a backyard oasis is a great idea, but you need to make sure you’re working with the best pool builders around for the process. It doesn’t take much time to figure out which builders to go with. Do some preliminary research, ask your friends and neighbors, and be clear about your intentions. Soon, you’ll be throwing on a bikini top and bottom to enjoy a backyard pool of your own.

When people purchase a home, they do so for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the reason is as basic as being proud to be a homeowner. Some people simply want to move into a nice neighborhood, which provides a better way of life for their family. Whatever the reason, becoming a homeowner is something that a lot of people in the United States will accomplish.

Even at the height of our recent pandemic, people are finding peace of mind with purchasing homes. When a person buys a home, it becomes something more than just a place to live. A home provides security and the aforementioned peace of mind—a home becomes an investment. It’s a place that you should keep up to the best of your ability, to ensure that you can reside there for many years to come. Below we’ll discuss ways that you can invest more in your home, which can enhance your family’s living experience.

Add digital storage space to your home.

We live in a time and place where things have become even more digitized. We complete a host of activities on our laptop and desktop computers, smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets. Laptop and desktop computers in the home are used to pay bills, for photo storage, surfing the internet, watching movies or tv shows, social media access, and playing video games. One way that a more digitized lifestyle can help you invest in your home is by adding a digital storage space, like a cloud storage device.

A cloud storage device can help you to back up your photos, videos, and files in one easy-access place. In the more digitized world that we live in where some important documents exist solely online, it helps to have a cloud storage option like this. You can even use cloud storage devices like this for photo storage. No longer do you have to try to figure out what the best photo storage sites are for your online photo storage needs. You won’t have to choose between photo storage websites like Google Photos, Dropbox, Flickr, Smugmug, Photobucket, Prime Photos, social media sites, or any other photo storage websites.

When you invest in a digital storage space for your home with a cloud storage device, you are ensuring that your important home documents have a safer digital home. You won’t have to rely on just using the hard drive for your desktop computer. Cloud storage devices can allow for unlimited uploads of important digital documents, photo storage, and come in a variety of terabyte options. These digital storage spaces become an important “family member”, taking care of all of the important information in your life. Cloud storage and unlimited photo storage devices are a great way to invest in your home.

Make your home family suitable.

There are always things to know before starting a family. It’s a good idea to realize that, after having a child, you aren’t the sole focus of your life. It’s now about the child which you’ve helped create. Another important thing to remember is that having a child is an expensive thing to take on, and it can also put stress on your relationship. That being said, once you decide to have a child, and you become a homeowner, you should take steps to make your home more suitable for your growing family.

This home investment can do wonders with improving the quality of your home, while also creating a solid living space for your family. After tackling the family business of parenthood, investigate ways to make your home more “family suitable”. Install windows that can make your home “sun friendly”, bringing in healthy sunlight for your loved ones. Create privacy and protection for your home by putting up blinds on your windows, and positioning your valuable appliances so that they aren’t seen from the streets by passersby. Get the right space and flow for your home by sizing your living areas, and connecting them well. These are all good ways to invest in your home.

Maintain your lawn or backyard.

Another way to invest in your home is to maintain your lawn or backyard. As a homeowner, making sure your lawn doesn’t become overrun with weeds, or that your bushes stay trimmed is something that you’ll have to invest in. No longer are you a 19-year-old college student where you felt the most important question to tackle was “can you drive while high,” and wondering if your level of impairment was enough to make you fail a breathalyzer. As a homeowning adult, you have to prioritize taking care of your home’s needs, which includes maintaining your green space. With your spouse’s help, budget how much this will cost your household, and find a great option for someone who offers great deals on lawn services. This is a great way to invest in your home.