News

You ask me what’s the best lift for home? My old bones ain’t what they used to be, and going up and down them stairs, it’s a real chore. So, I started lookin’ into these fancy home lifts, you know, like them elevators you see in the city, but smaller. This old house, she’s got two floors, and my knees just scream at me every time I gotta climb up to bed. I hear people talk about all kind of lifts now, but which is best for me?

First, I saw some that go right through the floor! They call it “through the floor elevator” I think. Sounds fancy, don’t it? They say it’s one of the easiest ways to get one of them elevator things in your house. Like, they just cut a hole in the floor, pop it in, and bam, you’re goin’ up and down like a city slicker. Seems like a good deal, especially if you only got two floors like me. And, you know, safety is important. These things gotta be safe. I don’t want to be stuck between floors, Lord knows!

Then there’s the kind they call “hydraulic.” Now, this one sounds like something outta one of them science fiction pictures. But they say it’s cheap. That’s what they say, “low-cost home elevators,” cheap as a day-old loaf of bread. And they run smooth, like butter on a hot biscuit. Plus, they don’t take up much space, which is good ’cause this old house ain’t exactly a mansion. It can help me save a lot of space.

There are also some called “traction lifts”, which are good for those really tall buildings. I don’t need that. This old house only has two floors. But the traction lifts are more expensive. I don’t want to spend all my savings on a lift. A cheap one is good for me. This best lift for home should be cheap!

And another kind is called “Screw-Driven Lifts”. Sounds complicated, right? They say it is also cheap and don’t need much space. Good for no more than 6 floors. I only have 2 floors, so it maybe can work for me.

Now, the price tag, that’s what really matters to an old gal like me. You don’t wanna be spendin’ your life savings on somethin’ like this, right? They say them “shaftless” ones, the ones that don’t need a big ol’ shaft built, they cost somewhere between $15,000 and $25,000. Sounds like a lot of money to me, but maybe it’s worth it to save these old knees. And they’re small, so they say. Good for just one person. That’s all I need, just somethin’ to get me up and down without all the fuss. Also, I don’t want a big machine in my home. It will be ugly.

But it ain’t just the cost of the lift itself, you gotta think about. There’s the installin’ of it, which I reckon ain’t gonna be cheap. Then you gotta keep it runnin’ right, like a car, you gotta get it serviced and all that. And it uses electricity, so that’s gonna add to the bills too. So many things to think about, it makes my head spin.

People are talking about these lifts, and also call it “residential elevators”. I think they are the same thing. Just different names.

There are some folks, they call ’em “experts,” who look at all these different lift companies. They check out which ones are good and which ones ain’t worth a darn. They look at the prices and all that. Maybe I should ask them which one is best lift for home.

Here are some things I’ve learned about these lifts:

• Some are for two floors, some are for more.
• Some are cheap, some cost a fortune.
• Some are small, some are big.
• Some need a big hole in the house, some don’t.
• You gotta pay to put ’em in and keep ’em runnin’.

This whole lift business is a lot to take in. But I need to find the best lift for home. It is about me gettin’ up and down them stairs without breakin’ a hip. I need something safe, that don’t cost an arm and a leg. And, it would be nice if it didn’t take up the whole darn house. Maybe one of them “through the floor” ones is the way to go. Or maybe that “hydraulic” one, since they say it’s cheap and smooth. They are all good lifts for home, I think.

I guess I gotta do some more thinkin’ and maybe talk to some of them lift people. It’s a big decision, but my old bones are tellin’ me it’s time. These stairs ain’t gettin’ any easier to climb, and I ain’t gettin’ any younger. I hope I can find the best lift for home soon. This old lady needs a break!

lift

See Full Bio