[GiantRutgersfan]

Originally Posted by Rich Lee

It's usually a minus. However, buyers who have a strong opinion one way or the other will either ask for it to stay or request that it be removed.

Why would it be a minus? I dont think it would effect the selling price at all. Buyers could ask to have it removed if they dont want it or sell it.

I would think that most people would check it out for a while and evaluate it after a few months.

[wanderintonc]

Oh goody-not to go off topic, but I actually did just buy a house with a hot tub. Actually, I wanted Freddie Mac to get rid of it but they would not and I wasn't going to walk over that-however, we do not know if it works or even how to get it set up and going. It's just there, empty except for some swampwater. It has a cover. What all do I need to do to fire it up? How do you make it clean?

No, it did not come with the instructions LOL. Is there a "hot tub for dummies' book?

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by wanderintonc

Oh goody-not to go off topic, but I actually did just buy a house with a hot tub. Actually, I wanted Freddie Mac to get rid of it but they would not and I wasn't going to walk over that-however, we do not know if it works or even how to get it set up and going. It's just there, empty except for some swampwater. It has a cover. What all do I need to do to fire it up? How do you make it clean?

No, it did not come with the instructions LOL. Is there a "hot tub for dummies" book?

GiantRutgersfan,

This is a good example as to why it's usually considered a minus. Most buyers wouldn't walk away from making an offer on the property, but they would be concerned that they have an inoperable item requiring disposal.

Rich

[MH65]

Go to a spa place, there are many in the area, If it is not filled and has not been running , you might need to fill it up and have some special cleaning stuff in the water to clean all the piping. I go to a Spa place in Bristol , they give me great advice, once in a while I bring a water sample , they test it and tell me what to do if something is not right. They keep all the info in their computer system. Don't know if you live close to Bristol otherwise I can give you the address if you want to. If everything is clean and you have fresh water, they will give you a maintenance plan. (Not difficult and not much work)

[wanderintonc]

Originally Posted by MH65

Go to a spa place, there are many in the area, If it is not filled and has not been running , you might need to fill it up and have some special cleaning stuff in the water to clean all the piping. I go to a Spa place in Bristol , they give me great advice, once in a while I bring a water sample , they test it and tell me what to do if something is not right. They keep all the info in their computer system. Don't know if you live close to Bristol otherwise I can give you the address if you want to. If everything is clean and you have fresh water, they will give you a maintenance plan. (Not difficult and not much work)

Thank you! I didn't know about those places but I'll look one up closer to my home. I defenitely want the water to be safe and not unhealthy, so I'll do the testing. Thanks again.

If it actually works, it might be kind of fun to sit out there on a nice evening. We'll see.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by wanderintonc

Thank you! I didn't know about those places but I'll look one up closer to my home. I defenitely want the water to be safe and not unhealthy, so I'll do the testing. Thanks again.

If it actually works, it might be kind of fun to sit out there on a nice evening. We'll see.

It's not rocket science regarding water health. You basically want a balanced ph around 7 and no bacteria in the water. A good chlorine shock (200ppm) will sanitize everything. But you will have to drain some of the water afterwards and refill with non chlorinated water to reduce the chlorine levels.

IMHO I prefer a little chlorine in the water much like a pool for sanitary sake.

As mentioned a pool and/or spa store can help you get it up and running. Take in all the information about the unit you can. (Write down the motor info, any manufacturer info etc in the mechanical area)

I love hottubs simply due to joint and bone "pain". Nothing relaxes you and warms you to the bone like a hot soak.

[Cruikshl]

Our opinion is that hot tubs are gross. We wouldn't want one and would have it removed. Lord only knows what the previous owners used it for. Yuck!

[AmyBergquist]

Originally Posted by Cruikshl

Our opinion is that hot tubs are gross. We wouldn't want one and would have it removed. Lord only knows what the previous owners used it for. Yuck!

Most of the buyers I've worked with that have seen houses that have hot tubs have this same reaction. If there is any interest in the house, it's usually "get that thing out of here!"

[Snowman27]

Originally Posted by Cruikshl

Our opinion is that hot tubs are gross. We wouldn't want one and would have it removed. Lord only knows what the previous owners used it for. Yuck!

Now thats a great point. Even if the water is drained, just thinking about the skin resting on the sides of the tub. I actually would want it removed now. LOL

But with a twist. I would tell the seller, I want to make an offer but I need the hot tub removed or credit $1500 at closing to remove it myself.

In turn I'll end up getting a new one. Hookups already there.

[JViello]

LOL You all are funny. So I guess you all never go into swimming pools, never use a public toilet, or stay in hotel rooms either. I'm a neat freak in many regards...I.E. I NEVER touch public rest room door handles without a paper towel or my shirt sleeve. (I know what's on there due to my work. ) But I'm also realistic to know that "skin" touching a surface after a disinfection has absolutely no bearing on "clean" or "gross".

You want gross? See what I see during the servicing of Hotels I do. (Don't EVER take a strong black light in a room with you...you'll have nightmares. )

Expensive or cheap, doesn't matter.

True story: I was restoring the grout in about 380 hotel room bathrooms. The head of housekeeping was giving me the roster for the day and spun on her heel and said "watch out for room 301". "A guy blew his brains out in the tub - used a shotgun and brain matter and blood was sent all over the bath. We are still finding "stuff" in places every now and again." Oh... (Yes they did a hazard clean up but still...)

The rooms looked normal as possible, clean, bright and this was in a major, expensive hotel in the Hartford area. You'd never know that "crunk" in the corner under the vanity was "brain matter".

I can tell you some stories that would make a sanitized hot tub look like the cleanest thing you ever saw. Shall we get into area restaurants?