We are in the middle of a big, complicated pool project that involves extra engineering due expansive soils. DQ and his team at Swan Pools explained everything in a clear and detailed way, instilling the confidence and clarity we needed to move forward with the project. Swan has been available day and night to answer any questions and address any concerns. Our HOA is EXTREMELY strict and DQ remained focused and diligent, getting our plans approved quickly with minimal assistance from us. He also created a gorgeous and functional concept for our front and back yard that is in budget. I highly recommend DQ and his colleagues at Swan!!

We’ve got in contact with DQ from Swan Pools. First impression: he’s nice, easy to talk to, has a creative mind (he is the pool designer), easy going (his mission is to have happy clients and be blown away by the outcome) and attentive (he’ll accommodate us as much as we needed any changes). Our project is still on-going and can’t wait for the finished product of a resort-like backyard so we can still enjoy the summer heat!

So sad that I spent so much on our pool but it was (and is still) such a headache. To be clear, other than the design of the pool, they don’t actually do any work. They just sub contract all the work to a variety of construction companies. They will tell you that you are paying more with them because of the quality you receive but they just randomly assign a sub contractor based on whoever is available. My fire pit came out so ugly that it looked like a cartoon cake that had deflated in the oven. The concrete quality is absolute garbage. It cracked and stained almost immediately. The pool floor started fading within 2-3 months. The lights in the pool do not work. And the filters barely clean the pool. I have contacted them for the last 3 months to try and resolve the issues. However, I just keep getting told that someone will reach out to me soon to resolve the issues but nobody ever does. Save yourself some money and just go with a less expensive company and set some money aside for post construction repair. You will be in the same situation but you will save a lot of cash. But hey, at least I got some random umbrella post holes that I never asked for.

DQ designed the most amazing pool for us and transformed our backyard into a resort. DQ is an amazing guy to work with and his team delivers. He was transparent about the price and timeline and they put out the highest quality pools in OC (cant ask for much more than that). Dont waste your time interviewing a bunch of flakes like I did, just call DQ and get it done right the first time.

This is a review in progress. I had a difficult time finding thorough reviews of pool companies in So. Cal., so I wanted to get this review out there before my work is completed in the hopes of helping someone else out. I will edit and update the review as we continue the process.

We have been working with Jim the past couple of months. It is obvious that he KNOWS pools. I am VERY particular and know exactly what I want. He worked with us to get a design that we are happy with. The permitting and design work has taken way longer than expected but we are confident in our design now.

We started the process in July with our initial consultations with various vendors. We ended up going with Swan, their bid was middle of the road, but went with Swan based on Jim’s obvious expertise. I also called several vendors, family friends who do pool inspections, and neighbors and we didn’t find one person that had something to bad to say about Swan.

We are hoping to start digging in the next week or two. We will update with the process and review as we continue.

After speaking with several friends about recommendations for pool contractors, we decided to go with Swan for our pool, hardscape and landscape project. We initially worked with Jim Eldridge on the budget and design. He played a big role in working around our objectives and helped create a pool that is both functional and met our budget. As a bit of wisdom, prior to signing the contract, validate the finish details (tile, concrete, landscape) so they are within your expectations. You might want to consider hiring a professional designer to assemble the look you desire.
Our project manager, Sal Grasso, was responsive and collaborative along the way. He played a significant intermediary role when we ran into an issue with the County to meet 5 foot wall height requirements. He worked with the County and our pool safety fence vendor to get our fence approved to meet requirements. Be prepared to work closely with the project manager to ensure the details are completed to your liking.
Overall, we are pleased with the result and craftsmanship. We did experience delays along the way, mostly due to our HOA and the County, but Swan stayed engaged in the process. If I can offer any advice to people taking on home renovation projects would be to expect unforeseen delays, review design details during contracting, and have some patience when it comes to HOA’s and County approvals. We highly recommend Swan Pools. We would have given them a 4.5 but that was not an option.

My experience with Swan Pools has been fantastic. Domie, our adviser, deserves all the credit. From the moment he arrived you are at ease. Most contractor visits can feel pushy and pressured, but Domie is not like that. His personality calms you and makes you feel like you have known him for years. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Once he discusses the project, that’s when the creativity and genius begin to flow. You will be amazed at how Domie knows exactly what you want even though you have trouble expressing it. He is a true artist and it has been a pleasure working with him and Swan Pools. Though Swan Pools was the third pool company I visited with, I knew right away that Domie was the one to choose. He actually makes creative suggestions and designs what would be appropriate for your backyard oasis. Others just want to build what you tell them to. Not Domie, his passion for design will only allow him to create what would be a perfect fit for the homeowner. I can’t say enough about my positive experience with Domie and Swan Pools. You can’t go wrong with Domie and Swan.

By the time that my husband and I met with Domie, we had already interviewed 3 contractors, and we were seriously considering selling our house and purchasing one with a pool. As property managers, we have dealt with dozens of contractors over the years, and we cringed as each pool contractor uttered the terms “unforeseen circumstances”, “possible additional costs”, etc. We were jaded by the time that we opened our front door to Domie. We were skeptical of his positive energy and enthusiasm. When Domie asked if we had 2 hours of time to discuss our project, we wondered why it would take so long to just show us pictures of previous projects like all the other contractors had done.

But, Domie was different. He spent time just chatting, and asking what we wanted as a family with regard to our backyard project. For example, did we want a pool for exercise, play or both? After an hour, Domie felt like a family member. Once he knew what we liked in terms of form and function, we walked around the backyard and took measurements. We wanted a pool, spa, waterfall, slide, grotto, patio, and cook area. Then, Domie sat down and started drawing up a design. Within a half hour, he brought our possible backyard project to life! The other contractors wanted us to pay a fee for this!

When we next met, Domie had specific plans drawn up, and a rough estimate of cost. Other bids came in slightly lower, but Domie guaranteed that there would be no “unforeseen circumstances costs” with Swan Pools. Domie helped us decide on the details of the project, and we had a firm bid within an hour. We never felt any sales pressure; and, after meeting the owners, we felt like we were dealing with a reputable family business. We signed a contract with Swan pools, and had approval of our HOA within a few days.

Swan pools took care of all dealings with the city, and after a few adjustments to plans due to upslope conditions, excavation began a month later. Now the clock had started on the estimated time for completion of the project. Sure enough, the excavators had difficulty, and we waited for the “unforeseen costs”, BUT Swan Pools honored their promise, and WE DID NOT PAY A PENNY MORE.

Each stage of the pool building process moved swiftly forward. Domie and James (the project manager) answered our calls within a few hours, if not immediately. Domie was an advocate for making our dream a reality, he conveyed that well to the rest of the Swan Pools team, and James executed the project with great professionalism.

We had a few difficulties along the way. Our neighbor had a leak in their pool, and water was seeping into our yard at a rate enough to draw the attention of the inspectors. Cecil, one of the owners, went to our neighbor to detect a leak. His experience, demeanor and professionalism averted any uncomfortable conversations with our neighbor.

Our patio cover was our next major obstacle. Due to its length, the city wanted to have a pilaster in the middle of our patio. After 5 weeks, the city, and an additional engineer hired by Swan Pools, agreed on a plan. We were back to construction, but abysmally behind schedule. However, we are so pleased that Swan Pools fought for the original design. Yet again, no additional cost to us 🙂

To our pleasant surprise, Swan Pools has not abandoned us after we made final payment. We have had 3 minor issues in the 3 months since the completion of our project, and James responded and resolved all issues.

Our dream project is a reality that far surpasses our expectations. Our backyard oasis rivals many of the outdoor pavilions and water areas that we have seen at 5 star resorts. Although the process was long and painful, Swan Pools delivers on their promise, and they truly stand by their craftsmanship. We highly recommend Swan Pools!

As the owner of a Local landscape design build company we are approached by home owners on a regular basis to help them design and implement custom swimming pools. The one company that I return to time and again for not only a successful project
build but often for design advise and consultation is Swan Pools.
Tony Schwee and his staff are truly professional and knowledgeable and always seem to have the right answer.
I have worked with Swan on many projects over the last 18 years and I am sure that we will continue to do so for many more.
If you are looking to hire a more that just a qualified pool contractor please give Swan Pools call.

We were hesitant about putting a pool in because we have heard so many people say it is a huge headache and never turns out right. We planned to interview a few companies. We met with Domie from Swan Pools first and our decision was made and we didn’t bother to meet with any other companies. We have had a lot of work done in our home and this is the first time that I am not nervous for the outcome. Domie’s energy and attitude are awesome~he loves what he does and it is obvious.

We were excited to see our ideas on paper but once Domie was done drawing them, we were shocked. Not only did he work his magic but he was super excited about the plans as well. I am a perfectionist and I wanted to make sure we were doing it right so we ended up making changes to the plans 4 times and we ended up back at the original plan-it was perfect-Domie knew exactly what he was doing. Each time we met with him to change the plans, he wasn’t annoyed with us at all and he took his time with us to change whatever we thought about changing.

We are in the beginning stages-just getting the permits taken care of and stuff so I can’t say anything about the workers or anything else, but I am confident that it is all going to be perfect!
If you are thinking about putting a pool in, meet with Domie and I can guarantee you will end up using Swan Pools. Like they say, first impressions are everything and the company is lucky to have someone like Domie representing them.

My review will focus on Domie Quintana, the sales and design man for Swan. He was the strongest element in the Swan pool building experience and a major asset for the business. From the initial meeting, he has been friendly and personable. He was effective in soliciting our ideas about what we wanted in our yard and skillfully translated that into a beautiful design and plan. He demonstrated impressive creativity and knowledge in making our project come together. He has always been open to questions, effective in communicating his answers, and responsive to calls and other queries. Domie has also proven to be an ongoing resource for further ideas, projects, and questions that help us to maximize our enjoyment of our backyard space.

I purchased a custom home and I knew I was going to put in a pool, but I wanted to make sure it was going to be beautiful and the utmost quality. I did my research and found Swan Pools to be one of if not the best pool builder in the area. I met with their designer, Domie Quintana and he s pent time with me making sure that the design of my pool, spa and features were top notch. I could tell that he genuinely cared and I really felt he understood what was important to me and that the outdoor living space was commensurate with the property as it existed. Domie listened to my ideas and helped me design something that is awesome for me and my family long term. I am grateful, because when I was looking for a company to work with, I learned of so many projects out there that never got completed, or the people or other companies that promised the world and didn’t deliver. I have heard the horror stories of runaway costs and the frustrations that accompany all of that.

I do not have a typical property and therefore, the working conditions were not the easiest yet at the end of the day, I am more than impressed. I felt it was important to share my experience because I know that the investment and process can be overwhelming and nerve racking for anyone and it’s a big decision. I have no problem referring Swan Pools and especially Domie. His talents became my dream yard and it’s gorgeous!

Joseph Khein

Let me first start with the fact that this company has been around for a very long time, that is why we decided to go with them. They were not very competitve in regards to their pricing, but we figured that we were getting a quality company that would not take short cuts. That said, when we signed the contract it took a very long time to actually start the project. Once the project got going we noticed that many of the workers in various stages were sub contractors who actually had their own company names right on the trucks they were driving! Where things started going wrong was when we received an email detailing the mix up in pricing of the tile we choose and if we wouldn’t mind paying the difference. We forunately had taken a picture of the tile which also had a pricing code right on it, so Swan did decide to honor the price originally quoted. Our next concern was if they would take any shortcuts to make up for the lost in profits on the tile. We were assured that they won’t by James the Swan rep. Now less than 2 months after the completion of the pool we have had 3 leaks from the salt water pool equipment. The first leak was so bad that the water in the pool was below the tile line. Luckily we were home to turn off the pump. The sub contractor came back out and fixed it, only telling us that with plumbing and leaks happen. We were not very happy about the reason why we had a leak considering we haven’t even used the pool yet. 5 days later the leak came back and again, we were lucky we were home to shut the pump off. This time James from Swan pool told us that this happens all the time and that the pump is tempermental. A few days later, leak number 3. Now James has contacted the pool equipment company to have them file a warranty claim to get it fixed. We are left feeling that Swan Pool knowing installed “tempermental equipment” and we have very little confidence that we won’t be having problems later.

We just finished a backyard pool remodel with Swan pools. From the very beginning we knew we were in good hands with Domie. He came to our house, listened to what we wanted to do with the space and came up with a excellent design. He was extremely patient and knowledgeable and even after we finalized the design , was extremely patient in tweaking details to be exactly how I wanted them.
The process was fairly painless -4 months from start to finish. I like the payment schedule which is very fair -outlined exactly and you do not pay until the work is done which is very refreshing!
We now have the finished product and have used it every single day! Process was very smooth and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Swan pools and Domie to anyone!!

Dear Domie,

To the most personable, commited and brillant designer in the pool industry.
As I have read reviews of others, I cant help but totally become more excieted for our project to get started. For those of you who will read this, we dont even have a pool yet. Domie was the the best enspiration to our dream pool that we have been missing for 20 years. It was the biggest step in my wife and my lifes to be so committed to Swan Pools. We too started with other contractors and then came Domie. He walked out in our backyard and took into his compassionat mind the vision of what we wanted. Then the magic just started to flow. We have spent several time in the design room at Swan Pools Office. We have meet most all of the staffing in the office. And the expericance is still yet to come. We are told that we will be breaking ground soon and thanks to Swan Pools, Dreams will come true. We are looking forward to working with James the PM and having the same expectations to finish the 5 star expeirinace when the project is completed. I have no dought in my mind that with Jame at the wheel and Domie’s fuel for excelance the project will be a huge success.
Domie and Swan Pools thank you for the expeirinace so far.
Domie the cookies were great too.
Stay Tuned !!!!!!!