| Product: |
Guide To Buying Stairlifts |
| Date: |
30/03/01 (2099 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Since the house prices are going through the roof more and more people are looking at ways of staying in their current properties unable to really afford anything else on the market. I am included in this and currently an extension is being carried out on my property. I know you are probably thinking what has this got to with stairlifts. Well quite a lot really, Bungalows are going for a small fortune in our area and people who are in need to move due to problems with going up and down the stairs are stuck. Now have they ever considered buying a stairlift?
When people mention stairlift it is automatically presumed that they are for the elderly and I agree that in most cases they are but lets not forget the disabled, this equipment makes their lives so much easier. Can you imagine how you would feel if a doctor told you that you would never walk again, how would you feel? Just remember on top of that if stairlifts were not invented they would have to consider moving house. What an upheaval especially as this person could have lived there most of their life and now in their current situation, could they help with the move, the answer would be no.
There are two main types of stairlift, one which is a straight lift which usually is an off the shelf package and are designed to fit most standard straight staircases. Obviously they vary in prices due to the length of the rail needed. An approximate price for this type would cost you roughly £2500.00 upwards, which does seem quite expensive but remember the costs of moving house!
The second type of lift is a curved lift this is to suit a staircase that goes around the corner. These are move expensive roughly £4,000.00 upwards. The reason there is such an increase in price than that of the straight staircase is the fact that this lift is tailor made to fit your stairs. A technical drawing is made of your staircase to get an exact fit.
Once ordered a deposit will need to b
e made so that the work can be started into the making of your lift, mostly a deposit of between 10 – 25% is required, of course this can vary between companies.
*** Little Extra’s ****
As with any product you can purchase other added benefits that may suit the individuals needs. These may include a swivel seat, which turns at the top or bottom of the stairs, which helps the individual to be turned in the direction they wish to go. Hinge rails are another useful extra; it’s where the end part of the rail at the bottom of the staircase can be lifted up out of the way. Many of these lifts are worked either by a joystick or button controls, again this is up to the individual as to which lift company offers the easiest options. People who suffer from conditions such as Arthritis may not be able to use a joystick and would be better suited with a button control. All companies will offer you a choice in colours that would match your décor and always go for a comfy seat for the best comfortable ride up the stairs. I have seen many lift companies seats and some are not much better than canteen chairs. I would not expect to pay this amount of money to be sat in a chair of poor quality. When you first try out a stairlift they will appear very slow but unfortunately they are set to a speed set by safety guidelines and cannot be altered.
When deciding to buy a stairlift it really is a good idea to have several Sales Representatives around giving estimates and what products they offer. Beware do not always go for the cheapest option as its not always the best. Remember this peace of precision machinery is more important to you than even a car as this has to be reliable and the user needs to be able to trust and have confidence in using the lift. My top tips in purchasing a lift are these:-
1) Are they are reputable company, have you ever received recommendations from friends or relatives. This is most important
, someone who has had experience with the company will give you an honest opinion.
2) Can they offer all the extras that suit your requirements?
3) What is their aftercare service like? Do they have a 24hour call out number in case of any breakdowns?
4) Obviously price has to be a factor but do not go for cheap and cheerful as its definitely worth paying a little extra for the lift that will suit all your needs.
5) Do they offer a service contract after the guarantee period (roughly one-year) is up?
6) When can they deliver? A straight staircase will not take as long as a curved lift to be made. It will usually take a good couple of weeks before a date is arranged.
Some of you reading this may feel that these lifts are little expensive and out of your price range so now I will tell you other ways of funding to get you a stairlift. If you are registered disabled you do not pay VAT for the lift, this can save quite a lot of money. Also contact your local council and make an appointment for your local Occupational Therapist to come round to your house and assess your needs. If you are unable to climb the stairs and are in obvious need of a lift you may be able to apply for a Disabled Facility grant whereby the council pay for the lift for you. Of course this process could take some time and you will be “means” tested. This is a process whereby they check your financial status, if you have a large amount of savings they will probably be unable to fund you, or they may make a contribution towards the lift. Obviously some councils have more funding than others but in most cases if your needs are great you will be rewarded with a lift.
If you are a homeowner you can still apply for a lift and once the Local Authority has paid for your lift it is your property. In the unfortunate situation that the user dies, many lift companies offer a buy back service. You do not have to go back to t
he company in which you originally purchased the lift from like with anything shop around for the best price. Remember you will only ever get a fraction of what you have paid, especially if you have a curved lift as it was tailor made for your staircase and is unlikely to be much use elsewhere.
When you have purchased your stairlift, look after it, keep it regularly maintained. Usually an annual service is all it will need; these prices vary between lift companies but again roughly £70.00 upwards. You can take other options out on the lifts such as covering for all breakdowns so if anything goes wrong it will only be an annual maintenance charge.
My last piece of advice is that when you have your lift installed make sure the engineer has explained fully how to work the lift. If in doubt ask questions they will not mind.
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