How cool are hot tubs? If you think about it- You’re buying an unending source of foot rubs and back massages. This experience should be fun. Scratch that- This experience should be outstanding. The purchase of a new hot tub would be great if you could walk right up to the local hot tub dealer and say “I’ll have one hot tub, please.” If only it was that easy.
A recent study estimated that less than 5% of American households have a hot tub. For contrast: Think of how many cars you’ve owned in your life? Or how many your spouse, family members or friends have owned? Most people don’t know much if anything about hot tubs and most hot tub dealers love that and may try to take advantage.
So naturally you seek information from the internet to fill in the information gaps to better understand the hot tub industry. However, many “Best Of” sites are pay-for-play: The manufacturer pays to have their tubs reviewed, skewing results. Other “Comparison” sites may actually be owned by a hot tub manufacturer. Forums can be beneficial but can also be filled with other dealers/salespeople with their own agendas. Objective, unbiased information is relatively hard to come by on the internet in this industry (Yes- We understand the irony of that sentence as it relates to this blog post on this medium).
If You Don’t Know What You Want, Figure Out What You Don’t Want
Regardless of the manufacturer, brand, hot tub dealer or salesperson, only you know what you want (or what you don’t want). Start with asking yourself a few questions designed to zero in on what your wants and needs while accommodating specifics that are unique to your situation. These questions should be:
Do you have a spot picked out? This is possibly the most important part of the equation. If you are limited on space you need not look at tubs that are too big for your deck, patio, etc. Know what overall size (outside dimensions) works best for your space.
Do you want all seats or would you like a lounger? The 4 hot tub images in the first row are the opposite of the second row of 4 hot tubs: One will incorporate a lounger and its opposite will have all bench seating.
Is your purchase more for therapy or entertainment? Or both? If therapy, then be sure to find the hot tub that accommodates the specific jet placement for the part(s) of your body you’re looking to alleviate. If entertainment, find something that has the capacity and amenities to maximize your evening’s entertainment.
By answering these questions you’ll be better equipped to start the education process. As you begin to checking out hot tubs in person, learn about the differences between brands and the models offered by the various hot tub dealers you visit. Educate yourself on not just the hot tub manufacturer, its brands and units, but also look into the quality of the product, warranty, construction, filtration and additional features/options such as lighting, waterfalls, audio, etc.
Sitting in a tub dry is the best indicator of what to expect. Identifying the hot tub that has the contours that fit your body type will further eliminate models, leaving just a handful of spa models to choose between.
Once you’ve narrowed your decision down to the final group of units, if there is no clear winner when it comes to brands, investigate the local dealer and see how long they’ve been in business. Check out their reputation with independent review organizations such as the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List.
At this point you’ll have all the info you need to make the best decision for you and your buying interests. We hope you consider Prestige Pools and Spas for your hot tub needs and you can check out what we have to offer by clicking here. If you have any additional questions you may call us at 314.821.6660 or email us at [email protected].
Happy hot tubbing and good luck moving forward,
