Whether the stairlift you are acquiring is reconditioned or new, curved or straight, there are several things you should bear in mind during the buying process.
If you’re getting the most out of your stairlift, you will be also be greatly enhancing your quality of life. Here’s a few tips on how to achieve both.
Arrange a Consultation
As staircases come in a variety of shapes and sizes, the only way to acquire a compatible stairlift is to arrange an in-depth consultation. All reputable manufacturers and suppliers will offer this service for free, and with no obligation to buy.
When you arrange a consultation, the company will send out a representative to visit your property. This representative will ask you a few questions to ascertain what you want from your stairlift, what your personal needs are and which configuration of stairlift will best suit your home.
They will also take measurements of your staircase in order to build up a clear picture of what you need. Following the taking of these measurements, they should be able to offer you a quote for the stairlift unit and installation.
Question the Details
It is important to take an active role during the consultation. Prepare a list of questions to ask the representative during your consultation; this will help you to get the best out of the meeting and to acquire yourself the best possible deal on a stairlift unit.
The representative should know their product range like the back of their hand, so test them on this. Any specification details, any questions on the development of the product, any facts relating to the features of one product compared to another; ask the representative. Gaining this information will help you make a more informed choice.
Ask about customer testimonials also, the representative should have these to hand. Doing your own research before the consultation will not hurt either. If you have noticed another stairlift product that the representative did not mention in their spiel, ask them about this: just because they didn’t mention it doesn’t mean it’s not the best unit for you.
Get the Best Possible Warranty/Aftercare
Getting the right unit for your needs is only half of the struggle. You need to make sure that the deal you are getting is the best possible one in terms of warranty and aftercare as well!
A good warranty is vital. Warranties should last for at least 12-months, and have the option to extend. Bear in mind that it is standard practice for a firm to charge a buyer extra for an extended warranty.
The warranty should cover things like in-home repair, collection and recovery, and the installation of a replacement lift should that be necessary. Do not deal with any company who require you to post parts back to them for repair, at your own cost. This is not acceptable.
Look for previous customer feedback relating to how quickly repairs are carried out and to what level of quality. Ask the company representative whether they employ their own workforce to carry out repairs, or outsource such work. The best companies will have their own repair staff.
Second Hand Concerns
While second hand – or reconditioned – stairlift models are almost always of an outstanding quality and are perfect for buyers operating on a budget, there are a few concerns that are unique to the purchase of a second hand unit.
For example, if you have a curved staircase, finding a second hand unit will be tough, as these staircases will generally require a bespoke lift.
In addition to this, you need to make sure that the model of the stairlift you are purchasing is still in production. If you need a spare part for any reason, these may be difficult to come by if the stairlift unit has been discontinued.