Moving a hot tub can be a daunting task — it’s one that requires the right equipment, experience, and a professional touch. Hot tubs are an expensive purchase, so its very important that you take the right steps to move it to its destination and so that it arrives ready for use safe and sound!
But how do you find the right hot tub mover? In this article, we will help you navigate the process of finding a hot tub mover so that you can begin your spa experience as soon as possible.
Step 1: Research the different hot tub moving options available to you
Below, we have outlined several ways that you can find the different hot tub movers available to you in your area.
- Ask for referrals: One of the best ways to find a hot tub mover is through referrals. Ask friends, family, or neighbors if they have had any experience with a hot tub mover and if they would recommend one. This way, you’ll get firsthand information about the quality of service and the movers’ experience with hot tubs.
- Online: One of the most popular ways to find hot tub movers is through online searches. You can search for local hot tub movers on search engines such as Google or Bing and you should get plenty of options available in your neighborhood.
- Online marketplaces: Websites like Facebook Marketplace, TaskRabbit, and Craigslist can also be a great resource for finding hot tub movers. Many movers advertise their services on these platforms, and you can often find competitive prices when exploring these options.
- Social media: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn can also be a great resource for finding hot tub movers and moving companies. Most professional moving company will have social media pages dedicated to their company, so this can be a very reliable source for finding companies.
- Ask your local hot tub dealer: Your local hot tub dealer will likely have a go-to hot tub moving company that they refer to their customers. Giving them a call and asking for a recommendation is a great way to find a vetted hot tub mover.
- Home improvement stores: Home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s often have a list of local contractors who can help you move your hot tub. They can also provide you with a list of movers that they recommend. Their recommendations will not be dedicated hot tub movers, so please be wary of this when engaging with them.
Step 2: Request For Quotes and And Vet the Movers
Once you have identified potential hot tub moving options, the next step is to call each of them and collect key information. The more information that you have on the hot tub movers that are out there, the better decision you will make. We outlined the information that you should gather below:
- Quote/Price: Compare the pricing of each mover. We suggest getting pricing from at least three different movers to ensure that you’re getting a fair price. Hot tub pricing will range depending on the complexity of the move. For a very simple move (e.g. from your front lawn to your backyard, with very easy access), one can expect the fees to cost $200-300. For moves, that require more time (e.g. moving a hot tub from one local residence to a different one, with easy access) expect $300-700 for the move. For significantly more complicated moves that will be labor intensive and require special materials (e.g. a crane), the hot tub move can be as expensive as $1,500. When exploring these options, its important to remember that the cheapest option is not necessarily the best option. A damaged hot tub can cost much more to repair, so make sure to choose someone that you trust. The following two bullet points will help you understand if they can be trusted.
- Experience: Look for movers with experience in hot tub moving. Not all moving companies have experience moving hot tubs, and finding someone that is experienced with these products is usually your best bet. When you call them, they will ask you several questions regarding your hot tub move. Did they ask you good questions that seemed relevant? Hopefully, they did. Additionally, ask them questions. Here are some example questions:
- How long have you been moving hot tubs?
- How many hot tubs have you moved?
- How long should the hot tub move take?
- What type of equipment do you use to move hot tubs?
- Have you ever encountered any issues during a hot tub move? If so, how did you resolve them?
- How do you handle and protect the hot tub during transport?
- Insurance: Make sure to ask about the company’s insurance policies, in case of any damage during the move. Look for movers that have liability and workers compensation insurance. In the case that something goes wrong during your move, you are going to want to make sure that you are protected against any potential damages.
- Professionalism: In your encounters with the movers, vet them for their professionalism. Were they good communicators? Do they have strong experience moving hot tubs? Do they have a website? Do they have online reviews? Have their correspondences been professional? Ask yourself these questions to see if you feel that they were professional.
- Installation: After you move a hot tub, you will need to have the hot tub installed. In most cases, an electrician is hired to install the hot tub as the electrical outlet needed is 220V (vs. the standard 110V electrical outlet).. There are some hot tub movers that are licensed electricians and can help you with the installation. These hot tub movers will inevitably be more expensive, however it may be cheaper to engage with them as they will be able to do the entire move and install in one trip. We wrote this article to help you hire an electrician.
Step 3: Choose the best hot tub mover
You have now collected information on all of the hot tub movers that are available in your local area and are now prepared to make a decision. We encourage our customers to make a value-based decision on the best hot tub moving company to use. By making a value-based decision, the option is not necessarily the cheapest. We like our customers to choose a hot tub mover that is reasonably priced, well experienced in the industry, professional, and well insured.
Step 4: Coordinate your hot tub move
Before you coordinate with your hot tub mover, ensure that they have all of the necessary details regarding your hot tub. The last thing that you want is for the hot tub mover to show up and not be well equipped to move the tub. This will result in them potentially charging you twice for their time, which in turn can increase your total expenses for the hot tub. You likely already mentioned this to the hot tub mover when you were requesting a quote, but to be sure below are the key factors to share:
- The hot tub manufacturer and model number
- The weight of the hot tub
- The dimensions of the hot tub
- The current location of the hot tub
- The final destination of the hot tub
- Beginning and End Location Access:
- Are there any narrow passageways?
- Are there any stairs?
- Low hanging ceilings or branches?
- Note: if access is difficult, they may need to hire a crane for the hot tub move.
- The date and time of the move
- Any other details that might be critical to the move
Step 5: Moving Day
By this time, you have taken every step necessary to have your hot tub moved – you are close to enjoying your spa experience! Just a few tips on moving day:
- Be onsite
- Prepare the area: move anything that might be an obstruction to the move
- Prepare the hot tub: If you are moving a hot tub that is already installed and in working condition, have the electrical disconnected and water drained beforehand. Hot tub movers might be able to help, but this could be an additional cost.
- Have payment method pre-prepared
Good luck on the move and feel free to reach out to us as always if you have any questions.
