General overview of the stairlift market
The UK stairlift market is teeming with different brands and products, with 12 major stairlift manufacturers all producing products aimed at different demographics in a market that’s growing year by year. Stairlifts are usually used for older people so with more of the population ageing; it’s becoming more important to be able to move around your home with ease.
Getting in touch with reputable companies is a sure fire way of gaining decent knowledge of stairlifts as long as they aren’t always trying to sell to you. This means you’re able to understand the reliability and safety of your chosen stairlift. Checking the internet is a great place to start researching stairlifts; with most reputable companies showing what they’re able to offer on their websites.
When you’re choosing a stairlift, you should be asking the sales representative any question you can think of. After all, it is their job to know everything about stairlifts, whether you’re asking them about curved, straight or outdoor, they should be able to provide a decent amount of information for any query you may have.
A great way to inform yourself on stairlifts before you’re met with a sales pitch is to speak to people who have had stairlifts installed before. If you know a friend that has had experience with stairlifts before, why not ask them? Speak to them so you can ask them about their experiences, the benefits and the drawbacks of particular companies or brands.
Choosing a stairlift provider – What should you expect?
Buying the right stairlift for your use means you have to take into account the needs of the user so that you can decide on what’s more important when it comes to the features of the stairlift.
If the user’s needs are likely to change shortly, then you should take this into account when you are deciding on the key features you are looking for in your stairlift.
When you speak to a stairlift provider, you should always find out as much information as you can so that you are not met with any surprises about your chosen stairlift. It’s also good to find out about the company you have decided to use since reviews, past jobs and overall service history can be quite indicative of how a company performs overall. Good reviews on their website etc. might be a way of seeing how happy customers are with their service or product!
Asking your stairlift company about warranties is something that should always be brought up as some stairlifts can be damaged in unexpected and improbable situations. Knowing your warranty in and out is still a good idea. Is the warranty extendable and for how long? Is an extended warranty going to cost much more?
You can then take a look at service and support. If your stairlift breaks down, how quickly will the company get to you? Will it be the engineer’s responsibility to travel to you? Or are you going to be left treading water for a few days?
Curved or Straight? Which stairlift is right for you?
The next step when you’ve chosen a company you are going to use for your stairlift installation you can then have your staircase assessed by representatives of the company. They will first evaluate whether or not you need a straight or curved stairlift. This depends on your staircase and is quite self-explanatory when it comes to the name. If you have curved stairs, then a curved stairlift is going to be the solution for you, whereas straight stairlifts are made for stairs without bends or half-landings. If your stairs are on a straight run, you’ll find you can save quite a bit of money on your stairlift as curved stairlifts are usually more expensive.
If, however, you have a staircase with bends, corners or half-landings, you’ll probably want a curved model, which is a little less straightforward. Your stairlift rails will need to be custom-built for your staircase. Because of this, it’s wise to be sure that you need a stairlift, as you will be unable to send it back. Your curved stair-lift will also be a lot more expensive than a straight version. Buying a reconditioned curved is also more problematic, although not impossible, as the rails will have been made for someone else’s staircase.
You also have the options of using two or more shorter straight stairlifts for your curved staircase. The user will have to perform a ‘mid-flight transfer’ between the two lifts and so is not always an ideal solution, but it could save money. The other downside of this method is the potential for paying more maintenance costs, owing to the upkeep of two motors. You could, however, install reconditioned models, making further savings over new. When buying your lift, you should also consider that you can purchase different chairs for the carriage, get the option that is the best for you, making the ride as comfortable as possible.
Reconditioned Stairlifts in Oxford
Purchasing a reconditioned/refurbished stairlift is another possibility for a lot of people since stairlifts can be brought back by companies that look to refurbish models that are still in demand. When Domestic Lifts take back stairlifts, they refurbish and rebuild them so that all sections of rail and the lift itself are back to manufacturer quality. Getting a refurbished stairlift is a popular option for a lot of people since it offers a more affordable option.
However, you should be prepared to ask the supplier many questions about the stair lift. It’s always best not to buy a reconditioned stairlift that’s over 18 months old, to make sure it’s in great condition. Make sure you get a one-year warranty, too.
This brief guide written by Domestic Lift Services should help you identify the main issues for you to consider and the questions you need to ask. Remember to do your research: about the needs of the user, the companies themselves and the products they offer. For more information about our products and services, please get in touch on 01865 389724 .
