11 Things To Consider When Buying A Lift

Choosing and buying a lift is a complicated process. I hope the tips below may help you on your journey.

This blog post was sponsored by Gartec Lifts.

Try Before You Buy

I would recommend trying it at least once if not more. Also try different ones. Some are enclosed and some are not. Some are a platform that moves within a shaft (the walls stay still and the platform moves), whereas others the whole lift carriage moves as one. You need to make sure it is right for you. Can you get in and out easily? Will the configuration be the same in your house? Do you want to drive in and reverse out? What is most comfortable for you? Which side do you want the controls to be? Can you manage the controls? Think about where you can reach.

A Lift Doesn’t Need to Look Clinical

It is pleasing to see that they don’t have to look clinical. Most people don’t want their houses to look like hospitals or care homes and be clinical. Many disabled people also like a modern looking home. Why should disability equipment that gives you independence be any different?

Some people who have large houses and no access needs, even just have one installed as a luxury feature!

With the Gartec Home Access lift you can choose their flooring from a choice of options or have your own flooring in the bottom of the lift. As this is a platform lift, they even mentioned about having the matching flooring under the platform so when the lift is upstairs the flooring continues into the shaft. This may sound like a minor point but something I hadn’t thought, of but think will make a big difference.

Lift Colour and Accessories

Some lifts can be a choice of colour and glass so they don’t look at all clinical and blend into the style of your home as a luxury item.

It may be possible to have additional features for example a mirror inside it.

Ask if there are any additional features available.

Will A Lift Enable You to Stay in Your Own House?

A lift may enable you to not have to move and be able to stay in your own house. This can be cheaper than moving and sometimes what people prefer if they have memories and don’t want to leave their family home. Why should you be confined to just the ground floor, when with a lift the whole house can open up to you?

Size and Weight Limit

Powerchairs and lifts are getting bigger. Do you need to take/carry anything in the lift with you? Try and make it as easy as possible for yourself. Also consider when it needs to be replaced in many years to come, is there room behind or in front of the lift, if a larger base is ever necessary? This is especially important if you are building an external shaft for the lift on to the side of the house for example. I have heard of someone having to extend it and have to pay for further expensive building works.

The weight limit is especially important for powerchair users. Check what the weight limit of the lift is and work out if the weight of your powerchair and yourself are under that. Obviously, if you need to travel with a carer you need to account for their weight too. Dont forget to consider the strength of any upstairs floors if you have a heavy powerchair or are considering having a lift to enable you to sleep upstairs and have heavy specialist equipment.

Noise and Comfortability

Some lifts readjust at night. This can be quite disturbing but there may be ways to get around it for example storing the lift downstairs at night so it doesn’t make a loud noise scaring you and waking you/ your family members up.

If you suffer with pain, it is particularly important to try different models to see which one is the smoothest and most comfortable. Does it jar when it stops? Is there a big bump to drive over to get into the lift?

Do You Need a Carer to Travel with You?

If you need a carer to travel with you in the lift, it is recommended having an enclosed lift shaft.

The Height of Your Ceilings and Number of Floors in Your House

Check how high your ceilings are, as if you have particularly high ceilings some lifts may not be an option for you. Similarly, if you need it to access more than two floors (the ground floor and first floor) some may not work for you.

Cost of Buying a Lift and Disabled Facilities Grants

In 2023 costs vary from approximately £14000-£25,000 for a lift in the home. You may be able to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to help towards a significant amount of this cost.

Safety of Lifts

Many people understandably, including myself (especially after it happened to me in a shop) get concerned about getting stuck in a lift. Most home lifts have a battery back-up that enables it to be moved down and the wheelchair user/person get out in a power cut or emergency. If it is serviced and well maintained the chances of getting stuck in one are very low.

Quick to Install

Some like the Gartec Home Access lift only take three days to install. It is not a long process.

If you need advice on where will be best to put the lift in your house, this is often advice lift companies like Gartec can help you with.

Hannah x

You may be interested in reading: How I Funded My Powerchair