What to Look for When Buying a Stairlift


Stairlifts are one of the best inventions on the market today for people with a reduced mobility level.  They allow people who are elderly or less mobile for whatever reason to once again access all areas of their homes, regardless of stairs or steps.  Before stairlifts, these people were forced to either move to their ground floor rooms only, ask others to carry them or even move out altogether, sometimes into nursing homes.

What to Look for When Buying a Stairlift – Types of Stairlifts

The first thing you need to do when you are considering buying a stairlift is to phone one or more installation companies who will be able to assess your home and your needs in order to advise you on which type of stairlift is best suited for your home.

There are in two main types of stairlifts:

  • Straight stairlifts, which travel on a single straight rail and are not suitable for staircases that have bends or corners.
  • Curved stairlifts, that are bespoke and custom made to fit each individual staircase.  These are able to go around corners and can even be fitted to spiral staircases – there are not many staircases that are unsuitable for a curved stairlift.

What to Look for When Buying a Stairlift – Prices

Many people are advised to always request a minimum of three quotations, regardless of what type of work they want to have done.  This is to ensure that they are able to get the best value for money and to also ensure that no company is actually overcharging them.  This process is similar when you are thinking about what to look for when buying a stairlift.

As a guideline, the cost of stairlifts is globally:

  • Around £1,500 for a new straight stairlift, including installation
  • Between £3,500 and £4,000 for a new curved stairlift, including installation
You are able to keep prices down by opting to use second hand stairlifts, particularly if you have a straight staircase and can buy a straight stairlift.  Curved stairlifts, on the other hand, are not very different in price whether they are new or second hand, as even a second hand one will have to be custom modified to fit your specific set of stairs.  You should also make sure that your stairlift comes with a service manual which details its history if you opt to buy one second hand.

Another thing to look for is whether you may be able to enlist the help of someone to install the stairlift.  Straight stairlifts in particular are very easy to install and do not require any specific technical knowledge.

As you can see, if you are wondering what to look for when buying a stairlift, it is mainly important to contact a few companies – preferably three as a minimum – to receive some quotations.  These companies will perform a home visit, during which time they will be able to fully inform you as to what options are best suited to meet your individual needs and requirements.

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