Obligations Providing a Professional Service
Pool builders, individuals and service-based businesses providing design, approval and building advice or expertise to clients are providing a ‘Professional Service’. I’m deeply passionate about the pool industry and providing a professional service to our clients, so I decided to write this blog as a reminder to the pool industry and other professional service providers of their obligations providing these professional services.
For Pools, we fall under the Construction Industry, so the professional services range from planning, design & approval disciplines (Architects/Landscape Architects/Engineers/Certifiers/Project Managers/Drafting), construction management and construction trades (plumbers/electricians/form workers, steel fixers, concreter’, excavators, tilers, fencers, landscapers, builders).
Each have obligations by law and ethical and moral obligations to provide professional services. After all, a happy client can refer your good work to 10 more clients. Building a business based on repeat and referred clients is the best way to not only have a sustainable business, but makes you feel proud of what you offer. We are on this earth for such a short time so make it count.
In Australia there are a range of laws and regulations such as NSW’s s5O Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) (CLA), which governs professional services. Professional service providers are required to act in a manner that is widely accepted in Australia by peer professional opinion as competent professional practice at the time the service is provided.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) states “Like all businesses, professionals and their associations must compete fairly and avoid engaging in anti-competitive behaviour such as cartels, exclusive dealing, unfair dealing or unconscionable conduct. By enforcing the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, the ACCC provides for the protection of professionals and consumers of professional services.”
In Australia, there is a form of insurance that is recommended to have in place for your business when providing professional services. Contact your insurance provider and seek quotes for ‘Professional Indemnity Insurance’. If you outsource services, then seek a copy of the certificate of currency for Professional Indemnity Insurance from the consultants you use.
From being in the pool industry for over 26 years as a Registered Landscape Architect and Pool Industry Executive, myself and my team have been providing professional services to pool builders and consumers building a reputation as trusted, reliable and professional experts. Our PSQ team provides the expertise with an understanding of planning legislation and how to gain approval of swimming pools with appropriate designs and other associated landscape and building works.
With such variation in state and local planning rules, it’s a complex maze to navigate when designing and seeking a pool approval. For each pool project there will be site documents and criteria to check and comply with for site ratios, setbacks, levels/height, excavation, amenity, privacy, existing trees, bushfire, flood, acid sulphate, geotech hazard, easements, above and below ground infrastructure, and more.
Our PSQ team includes Landscape Architects, Town Planners, Engineers, Arborists, Approval Managers, 3D artists and other professionals. Partner with PSQ and let us show you why other pool builders describe our service as “professional”, “reliable”, “timely”, “so happy with the high-quality approval plans”, and “trusted as a truly professional service where you always have time to chat on the phone and help”.
If you are unsure or have any questions about your obligations providing a professional service or types of insurance you should have in place, reach out to legal or insurance providers and connect with professional and industry associations. We are proudly members of the Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Australia (SPASA) and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA). Both organisations provide codes of conduct, ongoing support to members and promote our industry and profession for the greater good.
For enquires regarding our PSQ sales software for pool builders and professional services questions please contact us on support@poolsitequote.com or call 1300 331 123.
Written by Julian Brady CEO/Founder Pool Site Quote Pty Ltd.