How An Outdoor Spa Affects Your Home’s Value

Practical home improvements can boost your home’s value. Increasing efficiency, functionality, and beauty makes any property more valuable. One of the significant value boosters is sprucing up your outdoor space with a relaxing spa. 

Outdoor spas provide unmatched relaxation in the comfort of your home. It offers health and wellness benefits for the whole family. It’s also one of the short-term rental non-negotiables, especially in mountain properties. However, some homeowners may be hesitant to invest in an outdoor spa since the value it adds can be unpredictable. 

Here’s how an outdoor spa affects your home value, along with some tips to make every penny count. 

Does an outdoor spa add value? 

The short answer is yes. An outdoor spa can increase your property’s resale value by up to 75% of the cost of the tub. It can also boost your home’s overall appeal if you’re listing it for short-term rentals, which boosts profits. 

A portable spa for home and travel is one of the most practical choices. These outdoor spas are easier to install, reducing the overall installation costs. They’re also easy to incorporate into any outdoor living space. 

Is an outdoor spa worth it? 

An outdoor spa is worth investing in if you plan to improve your property’s outdoor living space. It’s best for relaxation and entertainment, making your weekend home staycations feel more luxurious. However, adding other elements around your outdoor spa is best to guarantee a good value boost. 

How to maximize an outdoor spa’s value 

Installing an outdoor spa requires incorporating other practical and aesthetic elements in your outdoor space to maximize its value. Here are some improvements to consider alongside a spa to create a backyard oasis on your property: 

1. Build a deck 

A deck is perfect for entertaining get-togethers, especially during spring and summer. It’s the best spot for cookouts and provides a space to enjoy the outdoors. 

Building a deck around a portable outdoor spa provides accessibility by blending it seamlessly and making it look built-in. If you have an existing deck or gazebo to fit the spa in, add wooden steps to make it cozier. 

According to real estate experts, property owners can expect a return of up to 65% of the total deck installation cost upon reselling their homes.

2. Create a cozy outdoor living area 

You can complete your deck by creating a functional living area with comfy seats, coffee tables, rugs, and cushions. A cozy outdoor hangout space provides a spot to enjoy snacks and drinks after dipping in a relaxing spa. 

You can add transparent polycarbonate roofing to make your outdoor living area weatherproof. This roof allows you to enjoy the outdoors without worrying about sudden rains. It also enables you to enjoy your spa even during winter. You may also add a fireplace to make it even cozier. 

A well-designed outdoor living space can also boost your property’s resale value by up to 10%, making it one of the most valuable improvements alongside an outdoor spa.

3. Improve your landscape

Creating a relaxing outdoor living space involves a lush and cozy landscape. The lush greenery, pathways, and stonework make your backyard a serene spot to breathe and unwind. 

Improving your landscape is essential when installing an outdoor spa. The environment plays a significant part in creating a calm ambiance. Proper landscaping is imperative whether you’re located in a secluded mountain property or a suburban neighborhood. Moreover, planting hedges and trees can improve your backyard’s privacy, which is a must when you have an outdoor spa.

4. Install ambient lighting

Lighting can transform any living space, especially at night. Installing ambient lights can make your outdoor living area cozier and more welcoming. 

Ambient lighting is one of the most affordable backyard improvements that make your property stand out. You can choose string or fairy lights or install LED strip lighting on the roofline, steps, and around the spa. 

Aside from making your backyard cozy, outdoor lighting can also improve security. On top of these benefits, you can expect a 50% return on investment when you install high-quality lighting.

5. Add an outdoor kitchen

Adding an outdoor kitchen makes your home more functional and ideal for entertaining guests. It also allows you to grab some drinks just a few steps from the spa. 

A fully functional outdoor kitchen allows homeowners to recoup a hundred percent of what they spent on the project upon resale.

6. Maintain your outdoor spa

Maintaining your outdoor spa is crucial to maximizing its function and resale value. It requires regular cleaning and inspection to ensure it runs efficiently. 

Opting for outdoor spas with a self-cleaning function is one of the best options to save on maintenance costs. It’s also more valuable than other types of spas. 

Conclusion

An outdoor spa is a practical and valuable home addition. Knowing your best options and following tips to maximize value help ensure every penny you put into your property is worth it.

Getting A Vehicle For Your Handyman Business? 4 Things To Consider

As a handyman, you have many repair skills to address building and equipment issues. There’s a high likelihood you aren’t fixated on the office. You’re always on the move to attend to your customers’ needs, wherever they are.  

With all the movement, one resource is quite essential; a company vehicle. It’ll make it easier to meet your customers’ needs without delays.  

Getting a business vehicle as a handyman might seem daunting, but it isn’t the case. How do you find and settle for the right vehicle for your business?  

Here are a few things to consider: 

1. Finances

Your finances determine whether or not you’ll acquire the business vehicle. How much does your business savings account have? Is it enough to get you a vehicle? If not, worry not. There are flexible van loans and leasing for tradespeople you can apply for to get financial assistance.  

How much will you borrow or raise as capital?   

It all goes down to the vehicle’s short- and long-term costs. The short-term costs touch on the buying price and taxes. Long-term costs cover insurance, maintenance, and fuel consumption. Understanding and quantifying each of these is essential before heading to the sales shop. Doing so ensures you have enough money to buy and use the vehicle, even as it generates income over time.   

Where you’re using a loan to finance the car, consider business loan interest rates for vehicles. It’d help to scout for business loans with low-interest rates to avoid spending a fortune on the purchase. It should be something you can manage to pay without strain.

2. Your needs

Vehicles have different features, each best suited for particular needs and uses. Based on this, it’s crucial to identify and understand your needs.  

The question to ask is, how will you use your vehicle?  

Will you store your tools there and use it as a mobile office? How many workers will be attending to a client at a go? Will you be transporting any large materials or pieces of equipment with you?  

In this case, you’ll need a vehicle you can customize to add storage compartments for your tools. It should also have enough seats to accommodate your workers as you reach clients. Where you transport many large pieces of equipment, the vehicle should be big enough to hold these.  

These are the questions to ask to ensure your chosen company vehicle meets all your needs. 

3. New vs used

With car acquisition, you can buy a new or a used one. The same options are available for your business vehicle, depending on its condition.  

Your business finances should be the number one factor guiding the choice of a new vs. used vehicle. A new vehicle is relatively more expensive compared to a used one. Therefore, if you have enough money, acquire a new vehicle. In contrast, opt for a used one if you have limited funds.   

It’s best to be wary when acquiring a used vehicle. They are often not in pristine condition since they had previous owners. It’d help to find out about the car’s history. The main aspects to focus on are the number of repairs, replacements, accidents, and servicing.   

A vehicle with several repairs might not be the best choice for your business. You’ll likely always be at the mechanic for repairs, an addition to your expenses. It’d help to have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchasing. They’ll give you insight into whether or not buying the used car will be a viable choice.

4. The brand 

There are many car manufacturers in the automotive industry. The difference among the brands arises in the production process and the features they add to their vehicles. The production process depicts the quality of your final product.   

How do you gauge the quality of a given vehicle brand?  

Does the brand offer a warranty? A manufacturer that provides a warranty means they believe in the quality of their work. Should this not be the case, they’ll cater to any damages due to their poor quality. Most brands will offer a three-year warranty. However, warranty periods differ, depending on the brand. The more years of warranty a brand gives, the better.  

It’d help to research the best vehicle brands for business purposes. A general Google search will provide this information. Place your focus on reviews by other handypersons who’ve invested in company vehicles. Consider creating a list of your top ten brands. Narrow down the list by looking at the reputation of each. Any bad review, especially on performance, should remove a brand from your list.   

Choose a brand whose reputation is unquestionable at any given time. The focus should be on perfection to ensure you efficiently meet your clients’ repair needs. 

Conclusion 

Getting a vehicle for your handyman business is relatively easy with the right tips at your fingertips. You want to invest in a car that’ll serve your business for a long time with minimal maintenance needs. It’s one of the ways to ensure you get value for your money. The discussion above has guided you in ensuring you get the right vehicle for your business. It’s in your interest to adopt the tips herein. The search process becomes more accessible and more manageable.