Pat and Donna Howell always dreamed of owning a spa pool. Now they do! In this article we share their story from researching the options and deciding which spa to buy, to landscaping and installation.
Is a spa pool worth it? If you're thinking about getting a spa it helps to hear from others who've done the same. In this article, we share Pat and Donna's story of buying a Jacuzzi® spa, and why it's a dream come true the Melbourne couple.
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Pat’s ultimate dream on arriving in Melbourne was to own a spa or a pool. Thanks to his wife Donna, he can say it’s a dream come true. They're now the proud owners of a Jacuzzi® J-345™ Spa.
“Thankfully I talked him out of a pool,” says Donna. “I said, ‘It’s not going to happen’, especially in Melbourne. Even though we have great summers, I just didn’t think it would be used enough,” she says.
“It was one of those things where if we were going to spend the money, because obviously, it’s a huge investment, I wanted it to be something we could use 12 months of the year.”
"It's a huge investment, so I wanted it to be something we could use 12 months of the year."Pat – Jacuzzi® J-345™ owner
Push came to shove last year during Melbourne’s first COVID lockdown, when Donna and Pat, like millions of others around the globe, started reassessing their lives.
With three active teenagers, and overseas holidays no longer an option, getting a spa while their kids were still young enough and living at home to enjoy it made perfect sense.
Donna quietly undertook some online research with her local Spa World store. Once the lockdown lifted, she surprised Pat by suggesting they visit the store and look at spas.
“It was the only place we went,” says Donna. “I'd certainly done a little bit of research and the service was amazing.”
"We both do a lot of running, I do a lot of yoga and Pilates, Pat does a lot of cycling and we wanted something that would be good therapy for us. "Donna – Jacuzzi® J-345 Spa owner
Pat had been waiting for a spa for 20 years, so they knew they were going to buy. It was just a matter of which brand.
After some initial back and forth they settled on Jacuzzi®, ultimately due to the advice they received from their Spa World consultant.
“She asked what we wanted it for. We said we both do a lot of running, I do a lot of yoga and Pilates, Pat does a lot of cycling and we wanted something that would be good therapy for us. Our consultant said ‘you’re definitely best to go for a Jacuzzi®’.
She said Jacuzzi® was the best quality, and the jets were incomparable and they were the most energy-efficient,” says Donna.
Donna and Pat were also swayed by the Jacuzzi®’s light colours and SmartTub™ System.
“Once we knew about all those extra things too, there was no other option.”
The next decision was where to put it. Spa World helped with that too, referring Donna and Pat to reputable contractors who could help them manage their landscaping and installation requirements.
For Donna and Pat, it wasn’t just a matter of getting a spa, the bigger picture was the landscaping, which they decided to do at the same time.
Spa World helped them make an actual plan, streamline and manage the entire project, including the spa installation.
Donna and Pat did extensive landscaping including a deck and fencing, in preparation for installing their Jacuzzi® J-345™ spa pool.
The end result! A stunningly landscaped backyard with a Jacuzzi® J-345™ installed seamlessly into the deck.
"It makes you realise your biggest focus in life is your home and your family. That’s where the big quality time is, so why not enjoy it?"Pat & Donna, Jacuzzi® J-345 Spa Owners
“As busy, working parents, they took away any headaches we could have incurred along the way and just organised it all for us,” says Donna.
Safety was also a big factor in choosing reputable contractors via Spa World.
“Putting in a spa is a big responsibility. You need to know you’ve done it all right and believe you’ve done the right things to prevent an accident happening,” says Donna.
"We sit there and say 'How lucky are we?'"Donna & Pat – Jacuzzi® J-345™ owners
They went with contractors via Spa World, “because they knew exactly what they were doing around everything from lock specifications to fence permits. They were also remarkable to work with.”
In a stroke of luck, the project was completed in time for Melbourne’s second lockdown, during which the family got a lot of use out of their new Jacuzzi®.
“We would sit there and say, ‘How lucky are we?’”
They couldn’t be happier with the spectacular result.
“It’s exactly how we wanted it. We just love the look of it; it looks amazing.”
The spa’s location, almost under cover on their bottom deck, means it is used year-round.
“It’s probably getting used at least every other day, particularly by our 19-year-old. He’s the one using it the most. He does a lot of sports, so he uses it for recovery and relaxation,” Pat says.
"It’s exactly how we wanted it. We just love the look of it; it looks amazing."Donna & Pat – Jacuzzi® J-345 owners
Pat and Donna also use their Jacuzzi® most weekends. “I do my yoga and Pilates for three hours on a Sunday morning. I come home and jump straight into the spa,” says Donna.
Overall Donna says they couldn’t have asked for anything more from Spa World, in particular, the expert advice they received from their sales consultant.
“Pat and I are both in sales, so we definitely appreciate somebody who’s good at their job. We felt she listened to our requests and advised us on them. She knew her stuff and we were confident in what we were being told.”
They also appreciated the after-sales service. “One week after purchase, Spa World was on the phone asking how everything was going and did we need anything. A month later they were checking in again, making sure it was still going okay. It was excellent.”
Donna and Pat urge anyone considering putting in a spa to “just go for it.”
“If COVID taught us anything, it’s that nobody knows what’s around the corner tomorrow. It makes you realise your biggest focus in life is your home and your family. That’s where the big quality time is, so why not enjoy it?”
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