Complete Guide to Purchasing Used Stairlifts
Ah, stairs. Our old nemesis. They’re not much of a challenge when we’re young and full of energy, but they become more physically demanding as we get older.
That’s where stairlifts come in. Not only do they make going up and down the stairs easier, but they also make you feel like you’re on an amusement park ride.
There’s just one problem, for some people the price can be too steep. They can go from $3000 to $15,000. On the other hand used straight stairlifts can be $2,000 to $3,000. And used curved stairlifts can be less than $10,000. These offer excellent value compared to new stairlifts if they have been taken care of. Or are purchased from a reputable company that specializes in stairlifts. That way you can ensure you’re purchasing a quality used stairlift.
Below is a complete guide of the things we look for in used stairlifts. Please use it as a guide during your used stair lift due diligence.
Take Detailed Measurements
Buying used stairlifts is more complicated than it looks. You don’t just pick one with your favorite design and start the installation process.
New stairlifts are designed to fit a particular set of stairs. But used stairlifts have already been designed for someone else’s stairs.
You need to take detailed measurements of your stairs to ensure that when you buy a used stairlift it will fit your stairs.
Start by standing at the top of the stairs and kneel down so you can take your measurements easily. Extend your tape measure from the top down until it touches the floor.
Make sure the tape is touching the tip of each step and keep its path as straight as possible. Next, measure the width of the narrowest point in your stairs.
That’s often the distance between the newel posts at the bottom/top of the stairs, but you might have a different design. So, take that information with a grain of salt.
Now, measure the clearing space at the bottom of the stairs. That’s where the chair of the stairlift will sit, so you want it to fit comfortably. Measure from the tip of the bottom stair to the nearest obstruction.
Stair Lift Weight Requirements
Different stair lifts have different weight limits. Almost all stairlifts can carry 250 lbs and some models allow for 300lbs.
Above 300 lbs typically require specialized stair lifts. If this is you, make sure that you make sure that the stairlift model you choose. Even if you purchase a great used stairlift with minimal wear and service history it must be able to carry you up the stairs!
Understand Your Lift’s Service History
There is not a definitive way to determine a lifts service history. There is no “CarFax” for stairlifts
Ultimately, you want to buy a model that will stay functional as long as possible. Here are a few questions you can ask to determine that.
- When did you have the stair lift installed in your home?
- Was the stair lift new or used when you purchased it?
- What company installed the stair lift?
- Can you easily get parts and fix the stair lift if needed?
If you are planning to purchase and install the stair lift by yourself you do not want a stairlift that is older than 5 years. And certainly not older than 10 years. Purchasing a used stair lift that is less than 5 years old is ideal.
If you can find what company installed the stairlift you should contact them. That way you can find out if they have a record of the stairlift. And whether they can easily get parts or provide service on this model of stairlift in case you ever need service work in the future.
Based on all of these questions you will be able to get a broad idea whether you are purchasing a good quality used stairlift, or a poor quality used stair lift.
Of course you can always defer that job to us. The Stairlift Store is very experienced in providing used stair lift solutions for our customers!
Identify the Condition of the Batteries
Ultimately, a used stairlift will never perform as well as a new one. Manufacturers understand that and try to compensate for it by making a few upgrades to these used models.
In many cases, these upgrades include replacing the batteries with new ones to ensure the lift works optimally. So, when you buy a used model, make sure the batteries are fresh.
If they’re not, at least don’t settle for rundown batteries and reach out to a local battery supplier for some fresh stair lift batteries.
Ask About the Reconditioning Process
Believe it or not, not all used stairlifts go through a thorough reconditioning process.
Some are just recklessly unscrewed and stored in a random garage until the vendors put them up for sale. You want to avoid those. How? Simple!
Just ask about the reconditioning process. Who took the lift apart? How was it transported? Where was it stored? What was the reconditioning process like?
Final Thoughts
There you go! You have become a stairlift connoisseur, capable of identifying the most efficient used stairlifts on the market.
If the seller can’t provide you with all the answers you need, it may be best to move on and look for a different seller. Purchasing a poor quality used stairlift can result in a lot of headache to fix.
Not to mention the frustration of still not being able to go up and down the stairs in your home.
Are you interested in buying a used stairlift? But want us to do all the work? Contact us! We would be happy to help.
Over 1000 Stairlifts Installed In GTA
Mark & the team have installed over 1000 Stairlifts, so you can count on us to do the job right. We understand the difficulty of this transition, so we go the extra mile to show that we care. Always transparent about our process and pricing, we’re here to answer any questions about your new mobility solution.
