Most homeowners can point to a roughly 7 x 7 square-foot space in their backyard that’s going woefully underutilized. While you have several options for how to elevate that space, none match the wide-ranging benefits of a backyard spa. 

A backyard hot tub is an investment in relaxation, family fun, and supercharged social gatherings. More than that, adding a backyard spa can also be a shrewd move real estate-wise—provided that you maintain it.

In this article, let’s explore the personal and financial benefits of a well-maintained backyard spa. If you are a new homeowner or prospective seller on the fence about purchasing a hot tub for an at-home spa, consider the points below. Finally, read to the end to learn how to keep your spa in peak condition to maximize its advantages. 

After a Hard Day, a Hot Tub Helps You Unwind

Let’s start with the most obvious – and most compelling – benefit of owning a hot tub. Studies show that hot tubs work wonders on stress levels, joint pain, muscle pain, and post-exercise recovery. In other words, a hot tub is a relaxation powerhouse. 

The heat from the water relaxes your blood vessels, temporarily decreases blood pressure, fosters endorphin production, and limits stress-causing cortisol levels. The hydrostatic pressure, meanwhile, alleviates stress on joints while the physical pressure from the jets massages your muscles.  

If you’re like most homeowners, you balance work, home responsibilities, and errands all week long. A hot tub is an investment in the evenings and weekends, a calming retreat from life’s frenzied activities. 

A Well-Maintained Hot Tub Is the Ideal Gathering Place

A hot tub can also be an investment in social and familial gatherings. Everyone remembers the home with the hot tub; they throw the best summer parties and host the best winter gatherings. No one turns down an invite to a spa-centered party. 

More than that, a hot tub is a great way to bring the family together. Grown-ups like the relaxing atmosphere of the tub (for all the reasons mentioned above), while older kids and teens like the novelty of a bubbling backyard pool. It is the ideal location to play games, have family evening chats, or get warm after a nippy winter activity. 

However, it needs to be well-maintained. With added guests in the pool and extended usage, a tub needs chemical balancing, regular maintenance, and a tight-sealing cover to keep in the heat between uses. 

A Spa is a Compelling Backyard Focal Point

Much like a rug ties a room together, a hot tub ties a backyard together. It acts as an aesthetic and intriguing focal point, around which you can add details and décor to reinforce a tranquil, spa-like theme. Consider rock gardens, lounge areas, natural trellises or pergolas for privacy, and more spa-related design features. These features, along with the tub itself, give your backyard a cohesive and cozy feel. 

Beyond improving your enjoyment of the space, this project can make your home more attractive ahead of a sale. While curb appeal gets the lion’s share of attention in home improvement magazines, real estate agents will tell you that backyard appeal is almost as important. A prospective buyer wants to look at a backyard and see exciting possibilities. An oasis-like space centered on a backyard spa is a compelling first impression to buyers—a first impression that could translate to higher bids and fewer days on market. 

However, if you plan on making your hot tub a key selling point, you need to practice upkeep and protect your hot tub with a cover. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, there is a major difference (in buyers’ eyes) between a luxurious new tub and a run-down, ripping-at-the-seams one. The former is a liability; the latter is a powerful selling point. 

A Hot Tub is a Prime Opportunity to Showcase Your View

A strategically placed hot tub isn’t just a feature in itself. It can emphasize another feature of your property: the view. 

A hot tub is a prime location for sunset-watching, stargazing, and appreciating the natural features of a property. Situate your hot tub to optimize its view and show off the best aspects of your property. In doing so, you can maximize your enjoyment of your backyard (and all its lovely vistas) and demonstrate to prospective buyers that your property has more than meets the eye. 

This article from Homes & Gardens offers a few valuable tips for incorporating a tub in your backyard landscape, including how to optimize for view. 

How to Maintain Your Hot Tub to Maximize Its Value

All of these benefits hinge on one critical condition: maintenance. A poorly maintained hot tub can be too unsanitary for relaxation or hosting, too run-down to attract buyers, and too distracting to highlight your property’s view. 

Thankfully, hot tub maintenance isn’t rocket science. Begin with a custom-made, tight-fitting, well-insulated cover suited to your climate; The Cover Guy is a prime example. Next, order a chemical balancing kit to keep pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer levels within ideal ranges for sanitation and tub longevity. Finally, schedule annual checkups from a hot tub specialist, refill the tub with fresh water occasionally, and periodically change the filter to keep clean water circulating as it should. 

To recap, a hot tub is a widely beneficial addition to your backyard space. It serves as a much-needed retreat from the stresses of everyday life. It acts as a meeting space for friends, family, and loved ones. It highlights the natural view of your property while presenting a golden opportunity to improve your backyard design. And it can prove a powerfully effective marketing tool during the home sale process. 

All it asks for in return is a little TLC.