Today we’d like to introduce you to Bradley Musika.
Hi Bradley, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Corolla and have been working in the Outer Banks tourism industry since I was a kid. Whether it was helping with my family’s beach chair rental business, working in local restaurants, or serving visitors in other ways, hospitality has always been part of my life. Over the years, I realized I wanted to build something of my own—something that would allow me to continue serving both homeowners and visitors while raising the standard of what people could expect from a service company.
That vision became High Seas Pools & Spas in 2021. Like many small businesses, we started one customer at a time, built on hard work, relationships, and a commitment to doing things the right way. As the company grew, though, we found ourselves asking bigger questions. Why were pool companies still operating the same way they had for decades? And more importantly, was that model still the best fit for how the Outer Banks vacation rental market was evolving?
Those questions ultimately led us to develop Steady Seas, a cleaning/maintenance program created specifically for the growing number of flexible-turnover vacation rentals on the Outer Banks. As platforms like Airbnb and VRBO became more popular, along with homeowner-managed properties and local management companies offering flexible check-in and check-out days, we saw that traditional service models were becoming increasingly difficult to manage.
Rather than scheduling service around every individual rental or constantly adjusting routes based on changing reservation calendars, we built a proactive service model that operates on a consistent three-times-per-week schedule. Homeowners no longer need to send arrival and departure dates, and our technicians aren’t reacting to three-day or four-day bookings. Instead, we’re continuously maintaining the pool throughout the week so it’s consistently ready for guests, regardless of when they arrive.
We still provide traditional weekly service—with an additional mid-week touch-up—for many standard weekly rentals (ex. Saturday-to-Saturday rental homes). Steady Seas wasn’t designed to replace that model; it was designed to solve a completely different challenge: providing dependable, proactive pool care for today’s flexible-turnover rental market without tying service to individual guest stays. Looking back, that’s probably what I’m most proud of. We’ve grown a successful business, but more importantly, we’ve been able to rethink what pool service can look like and build a program that better serves the way our community and the hospitality industry continue to evolve.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Without question, one of our biggest challenges has been introducing a different way of thinking about pool service.
Any time you challenge an established way of doing things, there’s naturally going to be some hesitation. For decades, homeowners have been accustomed to comparing pool companies based primarily on a weekly price, because that’s how the industry has traditionally operated. As costs have increased across the industry—from labor and insurance to chemicals and equipment—communicating the value behind those price increases has become more important than ever.
Steady Seas added another layer to that conversation because we weren’t just introducing a new price point—we were introducing an entirely different service philosophy.
One of the biggest hurdles has been helping homeowners understand how much the vacation rental market has changed. Flexible-turnover properties through Airbnb, VRBO, homeowner-managed rentals, and even many local property management companies experience significantly different usage patterns than traditional Saturday-to-Saturday rental homes. Those pools often see more frequent guest turnover, heavier bather loads, and less predictable demand throughout the week. Yet many people still assume the same once-per-week service model is the best solution simply because it’s what they’ve always known.
We’ve found that once homeowners understand “why” the program exists, the conversation changes. They begin to see that Steady Seas isn’t about adding more visits for the sake of it—it’s about creating a proactive maintenance schedule that no longer depends on guest arrival and departure dates. Instead of reacting to every reservation, we’re consistently caring for the pool throughout the week so it’s ready whenever guests arrive.
Innovation always takes time because it asks people to look at a familiar problem differently. There have certainly been moments where choosing the easier path would have been tempting, but we’ve remained committed to building a program that we truly believe better serves today’s homeowners and the evolving hospitality industry here on the Outer Banks.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about High Seas Pools & Spas?
High Seas Pools & Spas was founded during one of the most unpredictable periods our industry has ever experienced. Like many businesses starting during COVID, we immediately faced supply chain shortages, rising product costs, equipment backorders, and travel restrictions that affected both homeowners and visitors. At the same time, the Outer Banks was experiencing unprecedented growth as families sought destinations they could drive to, work remotely from, and spend more time together. Almost overnight, the vacation rental market changed.
That shift brought a wave of flexible-turnover rentals through Airbnb, VRBO, homeowner-managed properties, and even local property management companies adapting to changing traveler preferences. While the way people rented homes changed dramatically, much of the pool service industry was still operating under models that had been designed decades earlier for traditional weekly rental schedules.
From the beginning, our goal was never to be the lowest-priced pool company. We wanted to build a company that homeowners could trust to protect one of the largest investments on their property. That meant investing in professionalism, communication, technology, and preventative maintenance rather than simply competing on price.
Early on, we were among the first local companies to implement a customized customer relationship management (CRM) system built specifically for our operation. It allowed us to better manage routes, technicians, repairs, and customer communication while providing homeowners with real-time service updates. While that technology eventually became more common throughout the industry, it reinforced something we’ve always believed: technology alone doesn’t solve problems—it supports better service.
The biggest opportunity we saw was adapting to the changing rental market itself. That’s what led us to create Steady Seas, a proactive maintenance program designed specifically for flexible-turnover vacation rentals. Rather than chasing constantly changing guest schedules, Steady Seas provides consistent, scheduled care throughout the week, allowing us to identify issues sooner, maintain more consistent water quality, reduce service disruptions, and give homeowners confidence that their pools are ready regardless of when guests arrive.
Alongside our maintenance programs, we’ve continued expanding our repair capabilities because we see that as another growing need on the Outer Banks. As many experienced repair technicians retire, fewer people are entering the trade. Today, we provide repairs and installations for pumps, motors, heaters, salt systems, plumbing, leak detection, lighting, ladders, rails, covers, and a variety of other residential and commercial pool and spa repairs and installations. Our goal is to solve problems before they become emergencies whenever possible, helping homeowners protect their investment while minimizing disruptions for guests.
At the end of the day, everything we do comes back to one idea: helping homeowners protect their investment while providing a safe, dependable experience for the families and guests who enjoy it. Whether that’s through better communication, innovative maintenance programs like Steady Seas, or expanding our repair expertise, we’re focused on raising the standard of pool and spa service on the Outer Banks—not by doing more of the same, but by thoughtfully adapting to where our industry is headed.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
One thing I’d love to see is more young people consider the pool and spa industry as a career. Like many skilled trades, we’re seeing a generation of experienced technicians begin to retire, and there simply aren’t enough new professionals entering the field to replace them.
This isn’t an easy job. You’re working long days in the heat, navigating heavy summer traffic, responding to unpredictable weather, handling water chemistry and equipment, and solving new challenges every day. But it’s also incredibly rewarding because you’re protecting people’s homes, their investments, and the experiences families have while visiting the Outer Banks.
My biggest piece of advice is to never stop learning. The pool and spa industry is constantly evolving with new equipment, technology, building methods, and water chemistry standards. At High Seas, continuing education is a huge part of our culture. We regularly attend industry conferences, participate in training with nationally recognized educational organizations, and work closely with manufacturers like Hayward, Pentair, and Jandy to stay current on new products, installation techniques, and best practices.
I’d also encourage anyone entering the industry to remember that this business is about much more than cleaning pools. You’re working with homeowners, renters, property managers, contractors, and families who are trusting you with one of the largest investments on their property. Professionalism, communication, and attention to detail matter just as much as understanding pumps, plumbing, and water chemistry.
Finally, embrace the fact that no two seasons are alike. Spring is all about openings, pollen, algae, and getting pools ready after winter. Summer brings constant use, heavy bather loads, storms, sunscreen, sand, and the fast pace of vacation rentals. Fall shifts into storm preparation and closing season, while winter focuses on protecting pools and maintaining hot tubs through the colder months. Every season presents different challenges, which means there’s always something new to learn.
If you’re willing to work hard, stay curious, and invest in your education, this industry offers an incredible opportunity to build a meaningful career. The work can be demanding, but there’s a real sense of pride that comes from knowing you’ve helped protect a homeowner’s investment and created a safe, enjoyable environment for the families who use it.
Pricing:
- Steady Seas: Our proactive three-times-per-week maintenance program is offered at transparent, flat weekly rates based on the type of amenity (pool, spa, or combination). Because the service schedule is consistent, homeowners always know exactly what to expect.
- Traditional Weekly Service: Every property is individually quoted. Pricing is based on factors such as whether the property is a private residence or vacation rental, the size and type of pool and/or spa, equipment configuration, accessibility, surrounding environmental conditions, and the overall level of service required.
- Repairs & Equipment: Repair work and equipment installations are quoted individually after an on-site evaluation to ensure homeowners receive recommendations that fit their property’s specific needs.
- Our Philosophy: We believe in customized solutions—not one-size-fits-all pricing. Every property is unique, and our goal is to provide the right level of service to protect the homeowner’s investment while delivering exceptional quality and communication.
- Our goal has never been to be the lowest-priced company on the Outer Banks. Our goal is to provide the highest level of value through proactive service, communication, education, and long-term protection of our clients’ investments.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://highseasobx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highseaspoolsobx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HighSeasPoolsOBX
