Vac rental pool exists - get a heater installed or a hot tub?

Question

Hi!We just bought a house near Venice, Florida. Its a waterfront property that has a pool. We are getting the pool fixed ($10k cost its 70s fiberglass pool). Plan is to make it a seasonal rental during the snow bird season and airbnb/vrbo during summer months.Should we get a hot tub or get the pool heater installed? I have read previous forums from 2017 and before on similar topic - but wondering how things have changed now in terms of maintenance - anyone has any experience in hot tub maintenance ?Any suggestions would ve greatly appreciated - need to make a decision quickly!

thanks :) and wish us luck - first time vacation rental investor

Account Closed · Answer

Snowbirds will complain about not having the pool heated December through March in SWFL and could impact early reviews. My very first tenant knew the pool was unheated, got a price that reflected that, but complained in the review anyway. That really stung for a new STR investment.

Ari Friedman · Answer

Solar water heaters for pools are inexpensive and free energy (even in winter). I can’t imagine heating a pool without one. Then on top of that consider a heat pump for your main heater rather than resistance electricity. Plus an insulated pool cover. The energy it takes to heat a pool is massive without getting a boost from the sun and limiting evaporative losses.

Laura Williams · Answer

I have a hot tub in one of my Airbnbs and while it does attract guest and stay booked it is a pain in the butt to keep up. It has to be cleaned/serviced between every guest..even if it's a one day stay someone needs to check it/shock. Guest will leave trash in it and around it, needs attention to the water level and chemical balance, cleaning of the filter every couple days if it's being used alot....much more sensitive than a pool. I've had the hot tub perfect and then come back after a 2 day stay and the tub be green & stinking and have to be refilled especially if there's little kids staying (probably peeing in it) or a group of girls ...lotion that gets in the water and turns it cloudy & biofilm. I had one guest completely break off the head rest that I have to get fixed now and many like to play with the jets and unscrew them which sucks when it's the jets at the bottom of the tub then you have to climb in and try to reattach. Many times I'll spend 20-30 minutes or so skimming body hairs off the top of the water (think hairy men's chest/body hair that sheds in the water) that would be gross for the next guest to have someone's hair sticking to their skin in the water. And every few weeks you'll need to drain/clean/refill it.

So just some things to think about with the hot tub. It's an attraction & people love them but if you or someone good (and cheap) you trust isn't able to take care of it properly it maybe more of a liability than an asset. If it isn't maintained properly & half a**ed people can get sick or skin rashes etc. And it will be an extra cost to maintain even if you do it yourself with chemicals, water, time etc.

In my humble opinion there needs to be a sizable income stream bump from the hot tub to justify the aggravation/expense.

So just some things to think about with the hot tub. It's an attraction & people love them but if you or someone good (and cheap) you trust isn't able to take care of it properly it maybe more of a liability than an asset. If it isn't maintained properly & half a**ed people can get sick or skin rashes etc. And it will be an extra cost to maintain even if you do it yourself with chemicals, water, time etc.

In my humble opinion there needs to be a sizable income stream bump from the hot tub to justify the aggravation/expense.

Colleen F. · Answer

@Fllnids Agg why do a hot tub when adding a pool heater will do. A hot tub is an additional thing to maintain. Something else to break. That said I am not in Florida.

Ward Dement · Answer

We're investors in Sarasota and run a pool company in the Bradenton/Sarasota/Venice area. I'd recommend a locally manufactured heat pump and plan on replacing it every four years. The Florida sun is brutal and the treated water eats them from the inside out when they sit idle all summer. That said, you definitely need the pool heated for STRs. Don't use a pool cover as they're all garbage, they destroy your equipment when they disintegrate, and are a pain to take off and put on. There are decent liquid alternatives to retain the heat in the pool. Solar is fine, but will only offer limited heating - especially for deep pools. Plan on $100 month for single-visit, weekly service during seasonal rentals. But for STRs you'll probably need to have it cleaned more often.

Good luck!

Fllnids Agg · Answer

thanks Aaron!! done done .. just checking my last option on pool heater vs solar heater and tenants reliability on using a solar heater - any input / experience you have on this would be greatly appreciated!

Aaron Bress · Answer

I agree with others on this thread. Fix the pool, get the heater and see how it goes. You can always add things but why add something that could be an extra expense and time sink? I live in Utah and hot tubs definitely attract the short term renters but they definitely can be a hassle.

Dale Desmond · Answer

I know some owners/management companies charge a pool heating fee to offset heating costs. $100/stay.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Heating the pool would be more important than adding a hot tub. As others have said, hot tubs require constant maintenance and can get gross quickly if not maintained properly. Pool service is probably common in that area.

Vac rental pool exists - get a heater installed or a hot tub?

Vac rental pool exists - get a heater installed or a hot tub?

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