UK Stairlifts

How to choose the right stairlift

Choosing the right stairlift

Over the last few decades, stairlifts have become a firm fixture in the UK’s mobility marketplace.  They provide the elderly and people with mobility problems the opportunity to remain in their own homes, without substantial modifications.

So, stairlifts offer people the opportunity to keep their independence. But which one is right for your relative? After all, everyone has different circumstances.

Here’s the best way to go about buying a stairlift. Before you pick up the phone and call Stannah or Bison Bede or Minivator, talk to your friends and relatives. Do they know anyone who’s had a stairlift installed? If so, speak to them. Ask them about the benefits and the drawbacks, if any.

Then get in touch with all the reputable companies that you can and start to compare their products and prices, keeping in mind that reliability and safety are the most vital elements.

During the process of choosing a stair lift, grill the sales representative. After all, it’s their job to know everything about their products, be they curved, straight or outdoor. Talk about your relative’s staircase, about the particular mobility problems involved and about the budget you are working to.

Stair lift Warranties

Try to get hold of as much information as possible on the manufacturer and its products. How long have they been in business? Do they have full insurance? Try to read testimonials from genuine customers.

Ask them about after-sales. Once the stairlift is in place, how long is the warranty? Can it be extended and for how long and at what cost? What will they include in the extended warranty? Ask them about the small print – some stair lift manufacturers will put a lifetime guarantee on their products. This sounds great, until you realise it’s just for certain components.

Then there’s service and support. If the stair lift breaks down, how quickly will the company get to you? Will it be their own engineers who visit or will the service be contracted out?  This is a key consideration for anyone relying on a stairlift to get upstairs to bed or the toilet, especially if your relative lives alone.  A long delay in repair could be a problem.

It’s a good idea to look on the Internet to find out all you can about stairlift manufacturers. Look in the regular media for stories about them and check online forums – is anyone making negative comments? Stay clear of cold callers trying to sell you stairlifts and take each lift for a test ride in the showrooms before you part with any money.

Think ahead – buying the right stairlift means taking into account the needs of the user and deciding on the features that will be most important for them – not just today, but in a few years down the line.  If they have a degenerative condition for example, they may have trouble using the controls or getting on and off the lift as their illness progresses, so take this into account when looking at the features of a lift.

Curved or Straight Stairlift?

The next step, once you’ve whittled down the manufacturers to a manageable number, is to get company representatives in to assess your staircase. There are two main sorts of stairlift – straight and curved. Straight lifts are made for stairs without bends or half-landings. If your stairs are on a straight run, you’ll find your lift will be quite a bit cheaper and easier to install than the curved variants.

If, however, you have a staircase with bends, corners or half-landings, you’ll probably need a curved stairlift, which is a more complicated. Your lift rails will need to be custom-built for your staircase. Because of this, it’s wise to be sure that you definitely need the stairlift, as you will be unable to send it back. As we mentioned before, your curved stair-lift will also be a more expensive than a straight version. Buying a reconditioned curved is a little tricky, too, due to the bespoke nature of the rails, although by no means impossible.

You do have the option of buying two or more straight stairlifts for your curved staircase. You will need to be sure that the user can carry out a ‘mid-flight transfer’ (swapping between the two seats), but it could save money, although it could mean paying more maintenance costs, owing to the upkeep of two motors. This does, however, mean that you could buy reconditioned models and theoretically cut your costs.

When buying your lift, you should also consider that you can buy different chairs for your stairlift carriage, to tailor the lift to your exact requirements and make it more comfortable and safe for you to use.

Watch the company rep closely. They should assess the staircase thoroughly and ask all the right questions about your relative’s needs, particularly how easy they will find it to get on and off the stairlift. Make sure they give you a quote in writing for the full cost, including installation.

Don’t feel pressurised when the rep is in your relative’s home – they will want to persuade you the option they are selling is the best, which is what they are there for.  But you don’t need to make a decision there and then, talk to a few companies before you decide, if they want your business, they will be happy to come back again!

Reconditioned Stairlift Options

Buying a reconditioned stair lift is another possibility. Reconditioned models have been owned by someone else and both the stairlift and the rail have been refurbished. They are virtually as good as buying a new stair lift, and your relative will usually get many years of good service.

Buying a reconditioned stairlift is a great option. Most of the lift is brand new, with a new seat, new rail and a reconditioned engine that should be good for a few years. You’ll save around one-third on the price of a version.

However, you should be prepared to ask the supplier some searching questions about the reconditioned model you are looking at. It’s always best not to buy a reconditioned stair lift that’s over 18 months old, to make sure it’s in the best possible shape. Make sure you get a one-year warranty, too.

This guide will give you a brief idea about some of the areas you should be thinking about.  Make sure you take a look online; all of the major manufacturers have websites, as well as independent companies supplying products from more than one manufacturer, like UK Stairlifts. Good luck with your search!

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