I'd be surprised if you could get 5K used for a 7K new hot tub.

I think this is going to be one of those varying opinions posts. I personally wouldn't want an outdoor hot tub and wouldn't pay any extra for it at all. I'm sure you'll find some that will say it's a selling point, but personally I think you'd be better off selling it separately.

Wouldn't appeal to me at all.

And around here, you'd be lucky to get $3K for the used hot tub.

Nagative for us. Another thing to maintain, but then again there are people who have to have them. It really depends on the buyer.

as a pool owner with an attached spa, and one who likes "portable spas" if i didn't have a pool, i'd say it adds no value to your home value...For some reason, i personally ,wouldn't care for a used standalone spa...It kinda skeeves me out..

Neighbor went to see (and then bought) the house because of the stand-alone hot tub in the yard. I personally wouldn't be skeeved by a newish hot tub at all; to me that's what those chemicals are for.

I'm sure it really depends on who is looking at your house. I know a few people who would consider it a tremendous asset. I wouldn't, I don't like them at all and what would be running through my mind is how much trouble would it be to get rid of it.

OTOH, I would love an in-ground pool. The very same in-ground pool I didn't want thirty years ago with my children were toddlers and scared me silly.

I think it would appeal to the 30something crowd. Is your home the type of house in a young development? Have you other outdoor extras like a patio, fire pit or pergola?

Wouldn't appeal to me either. Since I'm originally from Cincinnati, I'm familiar with your weather and can't think of one season it would be a plus.

If you can get $5000 for it used, you should GRAB IT before the buyer changes his/her mind. And then get down on your knees in thanks.

We didn't get anything for our hot tub, but the house sold more quickly because of it.

Post a photo of it and then I'll tell you.

Is it professionally installed in a great private area with gorgeous landscaping or is it plopped down with cinder block stairs?

When we sold a house with a beautiful hot tub (in CT), we did not mention it in the listing. We figured if you like hot tubs, it would be a nice surprise, but if you didn't like hot tubs, you might pass on our house, sight unseen. I think that some people, especially in conservative CT, might be completely turned off by hot tubs. My advice: don't mention it in the listing.
Jo

I have a bad back, having a jetted tub to me is a good thing..

Having said that.. I wouldn't want one outside. It's one of the reasons we're selling our house. We couldn't figure out exactly where to put one inside.. hubby said outside at one point, but I doubt I'd use it much, especially in cold weather.

If you think you can sell it on Craigslists why not try? I'm not sure of the price though.. you'd have to see if you can find something similar. For something like that, I wouldn't expect to pay close to what it originally sold for.

the best place for a hot tub/spa is outside, particularly when it is snowing and frigid...

If I liked a house that had a hot tub, I'd put in the contract that the hot tub be removed before closing. Maybe you can list the hot tub as "negotiable".

I agree with clg7067. List it as negotiable. That way the people that like it know that it can be kept with the house, but if someone loves the house and hates the hot tub, it tells that it will be removed if they don't want it.

"overweight,sweaty,hairy man in "portable hot tub", at least that is what i picture, and how do you know how well the hot tub was "chlorinated", at least in a pool/spa setup. there is 30,000 gallons of water to absorb the skeeviness(is that a word?)"

You do know that if you are in the same room with a overweight, sweaty, hairy man, you'll breath the same air, which was nicely moistened when it passed that guy's hairy nostrils, plaqued base of tongue and juicy alveoli.

Not to mention what you'll inhale when that guy farts.

And you are concerned about a hot-tub, where you can exchange the water and run bleach through it?!?

Hi, thanks to all for your comments. Per the above request, I have included a link to see the tub. I think it's a good set up, but will let cearbhail be the judge!

The comment about the hairy sweaty men was a bit odd. No matter how poorly a hot tub was maintained, the proper amt of chlorine will kill anything on contact! Plus, the new owner would drain it..

Here is a link that might be useful: hot tub pics

I don't have the account necessary to see it!

Since I can't view the pictures, I ask is it nicely landscaped around it? Is it private? If yes to these 2 questions I would leave it. If a buyer really likes your house and doesn't want a hot tub it isn't a big deal to get rid of one.

Sorry, try this link...!!! Yes, I think it's nicely landscaped...

Here is a link that might be useful: hot tub pics

If you could get 5k for it, sell it...If not, leave it, as the next owner could remove it and enjoy the patio(paver?)it appears to sit on...Fix the wood panels that appear to be seperating from the fiberglass shell, maybe they just need to be tucked under?

It won't add value to your house and may turn off some buyers, who will see it as something they have to get rid of. If you can recoup some dollars by selling it separately, do so.

I don't have a comment about the hot tub, but I would never put my phone number in a Craigslist ad.

Our house came with one, and we use it just about every day. It was a feature for us. Yours is really nice, and I would love something like that. Ours is smaller and older, but still functional.

It looks like a nice tub, but I don't think you will get $5k for is. My rule of thumb (and I've heard the same from others) is that depreciating assets lose 30% once they are "used". So, the second you used that tub it's value dropped to $4620. I would then subtract an additional amount for its age (2 years). Based on working parts, energy efficiency, etc., those tubs have a 5-7 year lifespan. So, I'd subtract more for that. I think it's worth about $3k.

Why not keep it and move it to the next house? They are pretty easy to move.

They're huge energy hogs, and in these days of rising energy costs, they're more of a liability than an asset. (Ginormous spa tubs in the bathroom are on their way out too.) I doubt you'd get even the 2K in a private sale. Like others have said, I wouldn't advertise it or picture it in the listing and would list it as "negotiable" in a factsheet available to viewers. That way the burden to remove it would be on you if they didn't want it.

"Like others have said, I wouldn't advertise it or picture it in the listing and would list it as "negotiable" in a factsheet available to viewers. That way the burden to remove it would be on you if they didn't want it."

I agree. Either that or remove it.
It's a very nice hot tub in itself, but not nestled into the landscaping enough to appeal to me as a positive feature.

Sorry.

I sure understand what live wire oak mentioned above. We never use our garden tub because of the cost of water and the energy required to heat that water.

After viewing the hot tub, I still think it's a negative.

cost of water for a hot tub? That is ridiculous..I have a 33k gallon pool and spa, and the cost to operate is perhaps 100-200 a month, water/gas/electric...and i live in the northeast...and that hot tub is what, perhaps 1000 gallons?

"cost of water for a hot tub? That is ridiculous..I have a 33k gallon pool and spa, and the cost to operate is perhaps 100-200 a month, water/gas/electric...and i live in the northeast...and that hot tub is what, perhaps 1000 gallons?"

This has got to be a typo- $100-200 a month to operate a pool and spa?
I doubt I spent that much a year on ours- same size pool, too!

cear, that is due to my kids wanting pool 85 degrees!!!! gas cost in early summer and late summer/early fall are what runs up the utility bill....and water is cheap, but here where i live you pay a sewer charge for usage, regardless if it is returned for treatment..But i am not complaining, we love the pool/spa

Yeah, the newer hot tubs are very energy effient..they automatically lower the heat setting during the day when you are not around and can be programmed to be piping hot only for a few hours a day. The covers are also much better and more insulated. Whoever mentioned that water was expensive for a hot tub clearly doesn't have much experience with it. You drain it twice a year. Other than that you just add a bit of water ever month or so...

We close next week on our house; it came with a fairly nice HT, even though it is 7 years old, it was on our screened in back porch, taken care of, looked barely used, etc. Figured if whoever was interested in the house didn't want it, and wanted rid of it, we'd take it away, no problem.

We could have cared less about trying to sell the thing beforehand. Take it or leave it with the house, didn't matter either way. Things don't have to be so complicated!

Our buyers were very happy to get it though. So maybe it WAS a positive, who knows?

Anyway, I wouldn't let a couple thousand bucks stand in the way of selling my house.

Although, since your's is fairly new, and you have a bit more money tied up in it, I'd probably have it listed as negotiable; if no one wanted it with the house, go from there.

For me, a married 30 something with an exec hubby, that's a BIG lure for me, especially if I was looking in a neighborhood where there were 20 houses just like yours, it'd be what makes me say, ok, put that one at the top of the list. We had one in our last house and we'd sit and watch hockey games with a glass of wine (ok, so we're a little weird) in our hot tub and it was *very* relaxing after a long day with kids/jobs.

So, I'd say for the people who like spas, it's a big lure. For those who don't get into the spa lifestyle, I think most of them wouldn't pass on the house because of it, they'd just go, oh, well, I'm not paying extra for it.

Just my 2c as a spa lover...

We could have cared less about trying to sell the thing beforehand. Take it or leave it with the house, didn't matter either way. Things don't have to be so complicated!

Our buyers were very happy to get it though. So maybe it WAS a positive, who knows?

Anyway, I wouldn't let a couple thousand bucks stand in the way of selling my house.

One house on my possible list had one. I would have considered selling it to put the money we got to redoing a bathroom & getting an inside one.

Side note - went to our new house yesterday, our jacuzzi is in :)

I don't like stand alone hot tubs. I think the whole concept is a bit gross and most hot tubs are unattractive. But, yours wouldn't stop me from buying your house. I would probably ask you to remove it as part of the contract.

Our wonderful hot tub enclosed in a sunroom had to stay of course, but was a definite selling feature. It came back to haunt us as the night before we closed it sprang a leak, flooded the sunroom and garage, had wall damage and was such a headache! We had to leave $5000 of our selling money as a deposit to get all fixed, at closing. That was a nightmare. Luckily the whole bill came to $800 to repair all and make everyone happy.

Re: cost to operate, based on the research I did, a hot tub costs about $30 per month (in my area) to operate. That is for a NEW energy efficient one, like Artic Spa.

For those who like to use hot tubs in public places. Think again!

Whirlpool baths: enter at your own risk
March 2006

Better think twice before soothing those aching muscles in a whirlpool bath or hot tub. A new study shows that whirlpool bathtubs can be a breeding ground for a host of disease-causing bacteria.

Dr. Rita B. Moyes a microbiologist at Texas A & M University tested 43 water samples from both private and public whirlpool bathtubs. "Every tub tested had some kind of microbial growth," she said.

"And I was just getting the few organisms I was testing for, so it is probably just the tip of the iceberg as far as what is really present. Also, I did no viral testing," Moyes emphasized.

In 95 percent of the tubs, bacteria derived from feces were present, while 81 percent had fungi and 34 percent contained potentially deadly staphylococcus bacteria.

Moyes explained that a teaspoon of normal tap water contains about 138 bacteria and many samples are bacteria-free. A teaspoon of whirlpool tub water, on the other hand, contains an average of more than 2 million bacteria.

The interior pipes of whirlpool baths that are not filtered or chemically treated, and non-maintained hot tubs, are prime areas for potentially infectious microbes to congregate and grow, Moyes noted. These organisms often form a biofilm - a community of organisms, which work together and are more resistant to cleaners.

When the jets are switched on, the bacteria-packed water gets blown into the tub. "Due to the movement of the water, an aerosol is created that carries these organisms down into your lungs or other orifices - something that doesn't happen in a regular tub," Moyes explained.

The bacteria found in whirlpool baths can lead to a number of diseases, including urinary tract infections, skin infections, and pneumonia.

So who is most at risk? "Of course the young and the old and the immunocompromised should not be exposed, including breathing in the aerosol from outside the tub," Moyes said.

"A chemically maintained hot tub should not be a problem to a healthy person but if you are having recurring infections, consider the tub as a potential source," she added. Moyes' research is published in an online journal called PM Engineer.

"A chemically maintained hot tub should not be a problem to a healthy person"

Exactly!!!! Just like showers at fitness clubs and pools,if they aren't properly maintained,all kinds of fungus and bacteria thrive.

I would hesitate to use an outdoor hot tub at most hotels, even the best hotels/resorts..

OMG - I'm never getting into a "public" hot tub again!
(Ignorance and denial are bliss!)

The article above is referencing either bathtubs (not chemically treated) or hot tubs that aren't maintained well (not enough chemicals). I personally wouldn't have a jetted bath tub, as the bacteria just sits in the jets and multiplies then shoots out into your clean bath water when you turn them on. YOu can run chlorine throught them every night, but what a pain. Hot tubs that are properly maintained don't pose a risk. All the gross stuff mentioned above doesn't stand a chance against chlorine. I too am leary of the hotel hot tubs, as you don't know how they are (or not) maintained! Yuck

Negative for me

Whether well chlorinated or not, I'm still grossed out sitting in the tub with others. For me, the tub would have to be BLEACHED before every use. DH & myself would have to shower BEFORE using it. It would have to be scrubbed & disinfected after use. I do not like to sit in chlorinated, stinky water.

It would be too much upkeep for me. I can see each tub visit as a full days ordeal-no thanks! I feel the same way about pools.

I lived in a nice community in FL, where we had a nice size pool maintained by the Homeowners Association. This was an affluent community. I used to do laps in it. Then I noticed the mothers with their kids in DIAPERS. Sorry ya'll that is plain GROSS! DO NOT tell me about chlorine. I do not care to swim in a pool full of pee, chlorinated or not. One day the pool was closed. On close inspection, someone had POOPED in it. The feces were at the bottom of the pool. They were going to "clean it up". I didn't want to know HOW they were going to do it. I didn't think they were going to drain it. I never set foot in that or another pool, again. That was 18 years ago!

If I were interested in a home that had a pool or a hot tub, I would stipulate the removal of both. I would suggest NOT to advertise the pools or tubs, because you are limiting your viewers. You are better off leaving it as a surprise. Some will like it, but most will not. If someone falls in love with your house, they'll deal with it, one way or another...

dabunch-"I lived in a nice community in FL, where we had a nice size pool maintained by the Homeowners Association. This was an affluent community. I used to do laps in it. Then I noticed the mothers with their kids in DIAPERS."

I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a few summers ago. I went to the Cafe to get a snack and noticed a mother changing her baby's diaper on one of the tables in the Cafe. In full view of other diners.

I couldn't help myself and asked her why she wasn't doing this in the BATHROOM? She said because they didn't have a changing table.

So now its EVERYONE'S problem. Some people are truly disgusting.

We have a tub..I never would have thought I'd enjoy it until we got one and we use it almost every night in fall, winter and spring. Nothing better than sitting in the tub during a pretty night time snowfall. That said, I will never get into a tub in a hotel, health club, gym or even a private one where I don't know the people ever again. Now that we have one, I know that while it's simple too maintain, you have to DO it. Also never get into a tub where the water is even slightly cloudy. You should be able to see to the bottom...

We have a hot tub. It came with the house. Since most homes don't itemize their contents in the listing I assume it came with the house and we didn't pay more for it! It isn't something I ever said I really wanted or thought much about. It is built into the deck so good luck moving it! (if we ever did we'd take a sawsall to it and cut it into pieces).

{{!gwi}}

Hot tubs are no different than swimming pools in terms of maintenance. And by that I mean you can have a stinky, cloudy, germ ridden, filthy pool if you choose to not care for it properly. And by care for it, I can tell you it takes about 5 minutes once per week to deal with a 400 gallon hot tub. The energy costs to keep it at 101 degrees are negliable. It is a well insulated tub. A source of great relaxtion.

As the poster above stated, if it stinks or is cloudy then DON'T GET IN IT. But don't knock it till you've tried it!

I think more people have a problem with in ground pool than hot tubs, and you can sell them used and get a good price for them if they are new and in good condition. Good luck!

Hold onto your hats.. I got $4500 for it!

Good for you!!

I'm glad it worked out!