Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Choosing a good stairlift

The stairlift is considered a heavy investment if you need to purchase one for your home of office. A typical stairlift will cost between $2500 to $8000. Therefore it is wise to know how to pick a good stairlift that will last for many years. This way, you can get your money's worth and even if you wish to sell it in the future, it can still fetch a decent value.

Generally, you can choose between a stair chair lift, used perch frame stairlift or platform lift. The first allows the user to sit on a seat secured with a belt and moves him or her up/down the steps. Perch frame allows the user to be in a half sitting position supported by the seat design. There is a handle for the user to hold and ensure safety when the stairlift is in motion. Lastly, the platform lift is meant to carry the user along with the wheelchair. This is meant for users who have trouble getting on or off the wheelchair freely. As the lift is moving the wheelchair, it takes up more physical space and usually seen outdoors in shopping malls. The platform lift is more expensive compared to the rest as it requires a stronger motor and battery. The platforms are foldable and can save you some space when not in use.

As for the brands of stairlifts, there are a few popular and good ones. They are rather affordable too. You can consider used Bruno stairlifts which are often sold at less than 50% of the market value.