• Make the right choices when buying your backyard pool.Yasinguneysu/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  A pool can be the focal point of a backyard party, family gathering or a day spent getting away from the heat of the sun. A pool that is improperly installed can be a source of expensive repairs for many years to come, according to the experts at the Pool and Spa website. Use pool buying tips to find the right pool for your property and have it properly installed.
  
  

Pool Placement

• Keep a few things in mind when you try to find the right place to put your pool in your backyard, suggests the My Dream Pool website. Try to put your pool in a place that is protected from the wind, such as near your home or near a garage. Wind blowing across the surface of your pool will cause the water to evaporate quicker, increasing your water bill as you try to keep your pool filled. Wind also deposits excess debris into your pool, which makes your filtration system work harder, accelerating the system's deterioration. Make sure you can see your pool from your home so you can see anyone who may be in distress while using your pool.
  
  

Plan It Out

• When you decide to buy a pool, you are going to need to purchase more than just the pool itself. A complete pool installation may require a walkway to be installed from the pool to the house, a deck, a shed for storing pool supplies and accessories, a privacy fence or any kind of fence that may be required by local zoning laws. You may decide to do some landscaping around your pool as well. As you put together your budget and plan your pool installation, include everything that you will need. Comprehensive planning will allow you to create a more accurate budget and also help you determine a more accurate schedule for installation. Contact your local zoning board to find out exactly what the requirements are in your area for legally installing a pool.
  
  

Installation

• Installing a pool, whether it is an above ground or in-ground pool, requires land grading and other processes that are best done by a professional contractor, according to the "Pool Buying Guide" on the My Pool Store website. Get at least three installation quotes, and ask each contractor to include a detailed list of the services it will provide. Remember to include such items as the cost of necessary permits, who is required to get the permits and running electricity out to your pool area for your filtration system. Contact the Better Business Bureau, or use its informational website, to see if the contractors you are considering have any dissatisfied customers. A contractor with a history of complaints against it is not one you want to do business with.