Why are people buying stairlifts in Michigan? Let’s face it, many homes in Michigan weren’t built with aging and accessibility in mind. Two-story houses and basement laundries are a way to create a bigger home with a smaller footprint, but that means stairs. Stairs don’t normally pose a challenge when we are young, but as we age, that sometimes changes. So what do you do if you love your home but your knees or back aren’t loving your home’s stairs? Consider a stairlift.
Choose a Quality Brand
You might not always know the exact amount of time you’ll need a ramp, especially if you’re recovering from an injury or surgery, but give it your best guess. As is the case with most items that you rent, there is a break-even point with ramps.
We recommend renting if you anticipate needing the ramp for less than two years. After two years, you’ll likely save money by purchasing a ramp instead.
Choose a Reputable, Certified Company
The first thing you’ll need to do is determine the brand of stairlift you want for your home. This is important because not all stairlifts are created equal. We suggest Harmar or Bruno. Some brands you see advertised on TV are low quality and have poor customer service. Service is unfortunately a bigger issue than people realize. We often get calls from people who have broken stairlifts that they purchased from a TV advertiser. They call us because the manufacturer won’t call them back. Unfortunately, we are unable to get the parts to fix them, so if it’s more than a battery problem, the customer often has no choice but to replace the stairlift entirely.
Request an Evaluation
If you’re serious about moving forward, you’ll want to request an evaluation of your staircase. The evaluator will visit your home, take measurements and photos, and then make a recommendation on the type or configuration you need.
After the evaluation, you’ll get a quote for the stairlift and labor to install it.
For more stairlift types, click here to read our Ultimate Stairlift Guide.
Purchase the Stairlift and Have it Installed
After you decide a stairlift is right for you, you should purchase it from an authorized dealer. Typically, you’ll pay for it up front. Once they receive payment, the dealer will typically order the stairlift from the manufacturer, and it normally takes one to two weeks to receive it and get it on the schedule for installation.
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