# Hot Tub Quote Checklist: What Must Be in Writing

Use this hot tub quote checklist to compare the model, delivery, electrical work, warranty, deposit, financing, and service terms before you sign.

- Canonical: [https://hottubs.guide/guides/hot-tub-quote-checklist](https://hottubs.guide/guides/hot-tub-quote-checklist)
- Markdown: [https://hottubs.guide/guides/hot-tub-quote-checklist.md](https://hottubs.guide/guides/hot-tub-quote-checklist.md)
- Published: 2026-09-01
- Updated: 2026-09-01
- Author: Anna Persson

## Quick answer

Before you pay a deposit, the written hot tub quote should identify the exact spa and options, one out-the-door total, delivery and placement limits, site and electrical responsibilities, warranty and local service terms, payment conditions, and every exclusion. A cost can sit outside the dealer quote, but it cannot stay ownerless or vague.

A hot tub quote is ready to compare only when you can see exactly what you are buying, what reaches the final location, what still needs another contractor, and what happens after the sale. A low number with missing responsibilities is not a better deal. It is an unfinished project.

Do not rely on a showroom conversation. Mark each applicable line below as **written in the quote**, **covered by an attached official document**, **priced outside the quote**, or **missing**. You do not need every cost bundled through one dealer. You do need every cost and responsible party named before the deposit leaves your account.

Already have the PDF? [Paste or upload it for a free independent quote review](/quote-review?utm_source=guide-hot-tub-quote-checklist&utm_medium=content&utm_content=opening). The reply is written, personal, and does not go to a dealer.

## Quick Answer

| Quote block | What must be clear before you sign | Stop if |
|---|---|---|
| Exact product | Brand, exact model, model year or current revision, colors, voltage, factory options, and included accessories | The paper names only a collection, showroom unit, or monthly payment |
| Price | Itemized price, tax, freight, delivery, discounts, trade-in, and one out-the-door total | The total changes depending on verbal promises |
| Site and delivery | Access survey, placement method, pad or deck responsibility, service clearance, crane conditions, and site-not-ready charges | Nobody owns a likely crane, access, base, or structural problem |
| Electrical and permits | Model-specific circuit, GFCI or subpanel scope, permit, inspection, trenching, panel capacity, and final hookup | The quote says only "electrical by owner" with no specification |
| Warranty and service | Current written warranty, labor, travel or trip charges, local service provider, registration, and exclusions | The dealer sells a headline warranty but will not provide the document |
| Payment and timing | Deposit, refund and cancellation terms, price-validity date, delivery window, financing APR, and any deferred-interest deadline | A "today only" deposit is paired with blanks or unread terms |

**Decision rule:** compare totals only after the scope matches. If a line is not applicable, write `N/A`. If it is outside the dealer quote, write the contractor and the estimate beside it. A blank is not a discount.

## 1. Identify the Exact Hot Tub

The quote should identify the product well enough that another dealer could price the same thing. Start with these lines:

1. Manufacturer and exact model name
2. Model year, current revision, or stock serial number for a floor unit
3. Shell color and cabinet color
4. Seating layout, including lounger or open seating
5. Voltage and the exact electrical configuration being sold
6. Pumps, control package, water-care system, audio, lighting, and other factory options
7. Cover model, cover locks, steps, lifter, filters, startup products, and test method included. Use the [accessory shortlist](/guides/best-hot-tub-accessories) to separate required fit items from optional extras.
8. Dry weight, filled weight, dimensions, and the official model specification or manual attached

"Seven-person spa with upgraded jets" is not enough. Model families can contain several footprints and electrical configurations. A floor model can also differ from the current catalog. Ask for the current specification sheet and pre-delivery document that match the exact unit.

Jacuzzi's own dealer checklist tells buyers to prepare the intended users, measurements, and a wet test. Use that visit to confirm seat depth and jet placement, but put the configuration you chose on the order form. A wet test cannot fix a quote for the wrong model.

If you are still choosing the electrical lane, stop here and read [plug-and-play vs 220V hot tubs](/guides/plug-and-play-vs-220v-hot-tub). Do not let a dealer quote make that decision for you by default.

## 2. Build One Out-the-Door Price

Ask for the money in separate lines before you look at the total:

| Price line | What to record | Why it changes the comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Spa and factory options | Price before tax and dealer-added products | Prevents a package name from hiding the actual tub price |
| Freight or destination | Fixed charge or written allowance | A published product price may stop before local delivery |
| Dealer delivery | Curb, driveway, final placement, or full commissioning | "Delivery included" can describe four different jobs |
| Crane or special handling | Included, fixed add-on, allowance, or owner-arranged | Tight access can change the installation plan |
| Accessories | Cover, lifter, steps, rails, filters, startup chemicals | Included items can make two tub prices look farther apart than they are |
| Discount | Exact dollar reduction and what triggers it | Separates a real reduction from a package rewrite |
| Trade-in | Value shown separately | Keeps the old tub from disguising the new-tub price |
| Tax | Rate and dollar amount | Makes the out-the-door total auditable |
| Total | One fixed total plus every written exclusion | This is the only number worth comparing with another complete quote |

If the dealer offers cash, card, and financing prices, record all three. Ask whether the discount changes if you use dealer financing and whether an early payoff changes any rebate.

Do not compare monthly payments. Compare cash price, amount financed, APR, term, total of payments, fees, and any promotional deadline. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warns that a deferred-interest balance may be charged interest back to the original purchase date if it is not paid in full by the deadline. Minimum payments alone may not clear it in time.

Use [the real cost of a hot tub](/guides/real-cost-of-a-hot-tub) and the [hot tub cost calculator](/tools/hot-tub-cost-calculator) for costs that continue after delivery.

## 3. Put Delivery and Site Work in Writing

Manufacturer pre-delivery documents are the best antidote to a generic delivery promise. Hot Spring publishes current instructions by collection and year. Bullfrog and Master Spas publish guides covering access, the final surface, electrical preparation, and delivery equipment. Ask the dealer to attach the document for your exact model and answer who owns each task.

| Site line | The written answer you need |
|---|---|
| Delivery route | Measured narrowest width, height, turns, slope, steps, gates, overhead wires, AC units, and removable obstacles |
| Site survey | Who measured, when, and whether photos are part of the order record |
| Placement method | Spa dolly, sled, forklift, crane, or another named method |
| Base | Manufacturer requirement and whether concrete, pavers, gravel system, or a deck is accepted for this model |
| Structure | Who verifies an elevated deck or other load-bearing surface |
| Drainage | Where drained water goes and who prevents runoff toward the house or equipment |
| Service clearance | Which cabinet panels must remain accessible after landscaping, steps, and the cover lifter are installed |
| Cover operation | Required clearance behind and beside the spa |
| Fill and commissioning | Who fills, starts, tests, explains controls, and confirms water-care setup |
| Packaging and old tub | Who removes pallets, wrap, and any old spa |
| Site-not-ready charge | Fixed revisit, storage, redelivery, or crane-cancellation amount |

The guide or quote should also say what happens if the delivery crew reaches the property and disagrees with the access plan. "Subject to site conditions" is not useful unless the cost rule and decision maker are written down.

Our [delivery and site-prep guide](/guides/hot-tub-delivery-site-prep-guide) covers the measurements and base questions in more depth.

Before the site is locked, verify the [step and handrail dimensions](/guides/hot-tub-steps-and-handrails) and the exact [cover-lifter clearance](/guides/hot-tub-cover-lifter-guide). Both can conflict with service panels and the cover path.

## 4. Separate Dealer Work From Electrical and Permit Work

A dealer does not have to perform the electrical work. The quote does have to state the exact model requirement and who is responsible for the rest.

Get these answers in writing:

- Required voltage, amperage, conductor and disconnect or subpanel information from the current model document
- Whether a GFCI subpanel or breaker is supplied with the spa
- Who checks the home's panel capacity
- Who prices trenching, conduit, long wire runs, wall repair, or a panel upgrade
- Who pulls the electrical or building permit where required
- Who schedules inspection
- Whether the electrician connects before or after final placement
- Who performs and documents the first power-up
- What improper installation would exclude from the warranty

Do not turn this checklist into a wiring plan. The manufacturer document and a qualified local electrician decide the actual installation. Master Spas' current pre-installation guide, for example, tells the electrician to use the owner manual for the specific model rather than a generic diagram.

Use the [hot tub electrical disconnect guide](/guides/hot-tub-electrical-disconnect-guide) to prepare the electrician's scope. Put that estimate next to the dealer total even when it comes from a different company.

## 5. Read Warranty as a Service Contract

The headline number of warranty years is not the whole service promise. Ask the dealer to attach the current written warranty for the exact collection and answer:

1. When coverage starts: sale, delivery, installation, or registration
2. Whether registration is required and who submits it
3. Separate terms for shell structure, shell surface, plumbing, equipment, controls, cabinet, cover, and labor
4. The local company that diagnoses and performs warranty work
5. Travel, trip, diagnostic, freight, crane, removal, reinstallation, and disposal charges
6. Water chemistry, freezing, installation, access, rental, and commercial-use exclusions
7. What happens if the selling dealer closes or will not service the claim
8. Whether coverage transfers to a later owner

This is not theoretical fine print. Hot Spring's current Freeflow warranty says the owner can remain responsible for shipping, delivery, crane, setup, installation, disposal, and some repairperson travel charges. Caldera's Vacanza warranty also says a servicing dealer may charge a reasonable travel or service fee. Those are examples from two named documents, not a claim that every brand uses the same terms.

Compare the actual documents in [our dealer support and warranty table](/guides/best-hot-tub-brands-dealer-support), then ask the local dealer for the charge that applies at your address.

## 6. Lock the Deposit, Timing, and Cancellation Terms

Before paying, the order form should state:

- Deposit amount and payment method
- Whether the deposit is refundable, partially refundable, or nonrefundable
- The exact event that makes it nonrefundable
- Cancellation procedure and address or email for written notice
- Price-validity date
- Estimated delivery window and what can extend it
- Who owns storage costs after the spa is available
- Rules for a special-order color, factory option, or floor model
- Change-order process and who must approve added cost
- Final payment milestone: order, warehouse arrival, delivery, placement, or commissioning
- Financing APR, term, fees, amount financed, total of payments, and deferred-interest deadline where applicable

Contract rules and cancellation rights vary by state and by where the agreement is signed. The Federal Trade Commission recommends a written estimate for contractor work that describes the work, materials, completion date, and price, and it advises buyers to put verbal promises into the contract. Check your state and local rules for the actual legal requirement. This page is a buying worksheet, not legal advice.

## Compare Two Quotes on One Page

Copy this table into a note or spreadsheet. Do not force an excluded cost to zero. Put the outside estimate in its own column.

| Scope | Dealer A | Dealer B | Outside quote | Owner or proof |
|---|---:|---:|---:|---|
| Exact spa and factory options | $ | $ | N/A | Model spec attached? |
| Cover, steps, lifter, filters, startup | $ | $ | $ | Named products |
| Freight and dealer delivery | $ | $ | $ | Delivery tier and route |
| Crane or special handling | $ | $ | $ | Fixed, allowance, or missing |
| Base or deck work | $ | $ | $ | Contractor and scope |
| Electrical, permit, inspection | $ | $ | $ | Electrician and model requirement |
| Tax | $ | $ | N/A | Rate and amount |
| Credits and trade-in | -$ | -$ | N/A | Separate values |
| Complete project total | $ | $ | $ | Sum, not showroom headline |
| Warranty service at your address | Written | Written | N/A | Provider and travel charge |
| Deposit and cancellation | Written | Written | N/A | Order form section |
| Delivery window | Written | Written | N/A | Dates or stated range |

Only then decide whether the higher complete total buys something real: a better-fitting model, stronger local service, more complete delivery, an accessory you would otherwise buy, or a warranty you can actually use. If it does not, negotiate the normalized gap with the scripts in [how to negotiate a hot tub quote](/guides/hot-tub-dealer-negotiation).

## Copy This Email to the Dealer

You do not need a call to close the blanks. Send this in writing:

> Thanks for the quote. Before I pay the deposit, please send an updated written version that identifies the exact model and year, shell and cabinet colors, voltage and factory options; itemizes the spa, tax, freight, final placement, cover, steps, lifter, startup products, discounts and trade-in; names the delivery route and any crane or site-not-ready charges; attaches the model-specific pre-delivery and warranty documents; and states who is responsible for the base, electrical work, permit, inspection, commissioning and local warranty service. Please also include the deposit, cancellation, financing, price-validity and delivery-window terms. If a line is outside your scope, please mark it as excluded rather than leaving it blank.

A clear dealer can answer this without turning it into a sales event. Keep the written reply with the order form and any revised total.

## Red Flags Before the Deposit

- The paper names a collection but not the exact model or stock unit.
- The dealer will not attach the current warranty or pre-delivery document.
- "Delivery included" has no placement method, access assumption, or exception price.
- Electrical work is excluded without the model's actual requirement.
- A cover, steps, lifter, or water-care package appears in conversation but not on the order.
- A trade-in or discount is rolled into the total instead of shown separately.
- Financing is presented only as a monthly payment.
- The order contains blanks, unsigned changes, or a deposit rule you cannot explain back in one sentence.
- A same-day deadline is used to stop you from getting the site, electrical, or service answers in writing.

One red flag is a question, not an automatic walk-away verdict. Several unresolved lines paired with pressure are a reason to stop.

## What to Send for a Free Quote Review

Send the quote or order form, plus any warranty, financing sheet, delivery notes, electrician estimate, and photos or measurements that explain the access route. Remove bank details and unrelated personal information first.

[Upload the PDF or paste the written offer](/quote-review?utm_source=guide-hot-tub-quote-checklist&utm_medium=content&utm_content=closing). We check the scope, price logic, missing costs, and service assumptions, then reply in writing. We do not sell the quote to dealers and there is no call requirement.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What should be included in a hot tub quote?

The quote should name the exact model and options, itemize the price and tax, define delivery and placement, assign site and electrical work, attach the current warranty, identify local service, and state deposit, cancellation, financing, price-validity, and delivery terms. An excluded cost is acceptable when the responsible party and outside estimate are clear.

### Does the hot tub dealer quote have to include electrical work?

No. A separate licensed electrician can price and perform it. The dealer quote should still provide the exact model-specific electrical requirement, say whether a GFCI subpanel or breaker is supplied, and make clear who owns permits, inspection, and final hookup.

### How do I compare two hot tub quotes?

Put both quotes into the same scope table. Add outside estimates for electrical work, the base, a crane, or other excluded work. Compare the complete project totals only after the exact models, accessories, delivery level, warranty service, and payment terms match.

### How much should I pay as a hot tub deposit?

There is no responsible national percentage that fits every in-stock, floor-model, and special-order purchase. Ask for the amount, refund rule, cancellation procedure, payment milestones, and the exact event that makes the deposit nonrefundable in writing. Check state and local consumer rules before relying on a general internet answer.

### Can a dealer charge for travel during warranty service?

Some current manufacturer warranties allow the servicing dealer to charge travel or service fees even when covered parts and labor are repaired. Read the warranty for the exact collection and ask the local dealer to state the address-based charge before purchase.

### Can I handle the quote without a phone call?

Yes. Ask for the revised quote, model document, warranty, financing terms, and answers by email. Hot Tubs Guide also accepts a pasted quote or PDF and returns a written independent review.

## Sources

- [Hot Spring: current pre-delivery instructions by collection and year](https://www.hotspring.com/learning-center/pre-delivery-instructions)
- [Bullfrog Spas: 2024 pre-delivery guide](https://www.bullfrogspas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024_Pre-Delivery-Guide_8.5x11_v1.pdf)
- [Master Spas: hot tub pre-installation guide](https://www.masterspas.com/documents/pre-installation-guides/hot-tub-pre-installation-guide.pdf)
- [Jacuzzi: dealer visit checklist](https://www.jacuzzi.com/en-us/dealer-appreciation/dealer-appreciation.html)
- [Hot Spring: current Freeflow limited warranty](https://www.hotspring.com/freeflow-warranty)
- [Caldera: Vacanza collection limited warranty](https://www.calderaspas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/caldera-spas-vacanza-series-warranty.pdf)
- [Federal Trade Commission: how to avoid a home improvement scam](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-home-improvement-scam)
- [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: how deferred-interest offers work](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/i-got-a-credit-card-promising-no-interest-for-a-purchase-if-i-pay-in-full-within-12-months-how-does-this-work-en-40/)