Stairlift Costs

Below is a reply I posted to a forum where a user had asked for advice on stairlifts.

I will be totally honest and declare that I am in fact a director of a company that sells stairlifts and if I'm breaking any forum rules then please ask the mods to delete my post.I would urge you to exercise extreme caution when contemplating the suitability of a stairlift. Firstly they are not always the best solution. Many people find that a through the floor lift is more suitable for their needs particularly if you are young and will be using the lift for many years. Stairlifts are not very adaptable if your condition is likely to change in the near future.

My advice would be to consult a healthcare professional such as an occupational therapist to ensure that you are given impartial advice as to the suitability of a stairlift. A good place to start might be an Independent Living centre where in many cases you can actually try equipment before you look to get in touch with stairlift firms.With regard to prices, try typing 'stairlift' into the google search engine and there are some companies that will give you an idea on cost. Many firms are reluctant to give prices up front because they try and get as much money from each sale as possible. Reputable firms will not do this and will be happy to tell you upfront what it is likely to cost.

If you do get to the point of contacting companies for quotes I would always recommend speaking to at least 3 companies to get a better idea of what you will need to pay. Be slightly wary of adverts in the national press as ultimately you will be paying the very high advertising costs. Also don't forget that in many circumstances you may be able to get help from your local authority in the form of a Disabled Facilities Grant or similar. Even if they are unable to help financially they may be able to point you in the direction of a reputable stairlift company that they use. If a stairlift is suitable for you and you have to fund it yourself then try to find a house with a straight staircase as straight stairlifts are half the price of curved lifts.

Hope this helps in some small way, it's tricky for me to go into more detail without being accused of using the forums to advertise my company. Just make sure that you don't rush into anything and that you seek advice from as many people as possible because, unfortunately, there are many companies out there looking to make a quick buck.

I should also add that for a lot of people having a stairlift can dramatically improve their standard of life and the most enjoyable part of my job is having customers call me to say how wonderful the lift is and that they wish they'd got one years ago.