Hot Tub Buying Guide

How to buy a cheap hot tub

A hot tub is a luxury item. It is not necessary for survival. Really, it isn't. Many of us have grown so accustomed to our hot tub soaks that they seem essential to our life. Hot tubs do, however, improve your quality of life and can be purchased and maintained at a relatively low cost to you.

You could purchase a hot tub that is top of the line, state of the art, fancy-shmancy with all the bells, whistles, lights and music. And your budget might support that. You might have unlimited, or nearly unlimited, funds and that is the way you do things. We appreciate having folks like that who support the nation's economy. But for the rest of us who count our pennies, cut out coupons and shop sales, there is a way to have a hot tub at a reasonable price. Yes, you may have to forego some of the extra accessories and might not end up with the top of the line, but you will have jets and hot water to soak away the stress of the day and soothe those sore muscles.

One way to avoid paying to much for a hot tub, or anything else for that matter, is to be educated. Do your research before you begin to shop. NEVER impulse buy. Ever. Trade shows, fairs, and expos are fun places to visit. But boy oh boy, they are also great places to pay too much. The sellers are depending on your lack of knowledge and preparation and your excitement about the purchase. You can end up paying way too much if you don't have any way to compare prices. Sure, walk around, look, see what's available. Take some notes and enjoy. But then go home and do more research. Visit the local spa store. Do some wet tests. Read more information. Know what you want, where you will put it, and what you can afford before you make that purchase.

There is more than just the cost of the hot tub purchase to consider. You will need to maintain the hot tub for its lifetime with you. This means keeping it clean, keeping it in good running order and maintaining the water's chemicals and sanitation. You can do all this within a decent budget or you can hire someone to do it all for you. Depends on your cash flow. Hot tub maintenance does not have to be expensive. The chemicals needed to keep the water healthy can be purchased very reasonably. Also, you can typically maintain the tub yourself with routine maintenance. You will need to also keep in mind where your hot tub will be placed. Will you need to build a patio area? extend a deck? clear some ground? Will you need to run electrical to that area? All these costs can add up.

You can purchase a previously owned hot tub to save on costs. But, be sure it is really going to save you on cost. You will need to transport it, set it up, get it going all on your own. You also want to be absolutely sure that the tub functions properly. Repairs might negate the savings you got on the purchase price.

You can purchase a hot tub more inexpensively from a big box store or online and often find a great deal on a good tub. You want to keep in mind the research you have done. Make sure you get the tub you want with the proper number of seats and an optimal number of jets for you and your situation. Your local dealer might even be the best place for you. Once you are armed with knowledge you can make an informed purchase and have the dealer as a resource for repairs and help in the future.

Like with most things in life, there are ways to spend too much and fairly easy ways to save your money. Purchasing a hot tub can be a wonderful thing for you and your quality of life. Just be sure that you don't add more stress buy spending more than you wanted or can afford. Be an educated consumer.