If you or someone in your family starts finding it difficult to go upstairs you might consider installing a stair lift for home use.
Find out if a home stair lift is the right solution for your family and how to find the best lift.
Getting a stair lift is an important decision, but it is not as difficult and expensive as you might think.
There are many stair lift companies and they offer you a full range of services.
First, a representative will come to your place, measure everything and give you a quote.
Then the lift is manufactured and installed.
Even though the installation of a stair lift is a complicated process and needs to be done by professionals, it rarely takes longer than a couple of hours.
And then the company should provide after service - to ensure its good working conditions a stair or wheelchair lift needs to be serviced every year.
Types of stairlifts for home The type depends on your staircase; most stair lifts are straight, suitable for straight staircases.
This type is cheaper because they do not need to be customized much.
For homes with curved staircases a curved lift is required, these usually cost much more because they have to be custom made.
Curved lifts are also much harder to sell if you do not want your lift anymore.
Even if you have curved stairs sometimes it is cheaper to install two straight stairlifts rather than one curved one.
Consult a company representative to find out if this option is possible for you.
Also you can leave your staircase as it is and install a through-floor lift instead.
The advantage of this is that it is also good for wheelchairs.
This would be the best solution for people whose condition can get worse with time.
Sitting or standing lift? Most stair lifts are designed so that the person is sited while transported, these are comfortable and convenient.
However, there are also standing lifts for people who find it difficult to bend or sit.
Another advantage of a standing lift, that it is also suited for wheelchairs.
Domestic stairlifts companies There are many manufacturers of stairlifts to choose from.
Some reputable brands are Acorn, Bruno, Stannah, Summit and Bison.
Since the visit to your home and quote is usually free, it is a good idea to obtain several quotes from different manufacturers and compare prices.
This way you can also negotiate yourself a better deal, because most companies would rather give you a discount than loose the sale.
Buying used or reconditioned stair lift The main drawback of any new stairlift is its price.
Even thought the straight ones are cheaper they still cost several thousand.
However, just like with cars, the price of your lift drops half or more as soon as you first use it.
It is bad news if you want to sell you lifts later, but, on the other hand, that helps you save in the first place if you are prepared to buy a used lift.
Most companies buy stairlifts from people who no longer need them, fix the lift if it needs fixing and sell it as a reconditioned.
The quality of these lifts is usually quite good and since the company provides warranty (usually 12 month) you are covered for any unpleasant surprises.
However, buying a used stairlift directly from people who used it and installing it yourself might seem cheap, but it is not a good idea.
It is always better to get your reconditioned stair or wheelchair lift from a reputable company and make sure there is a warranty on it.