A residential elevator can sound like something you’d find in a luxurious mansion on a sprawling estate, but they’re becoming a lot more common than you might think. With life expectancies longer than ever, more people are living to an age when mobility becomes a serious problem, and a lot of those people want to be able to continue living in their homes as they age. Because of this, there is a higher demand for mobility renovations in your average suburban home, and that includes things like a home elevator or straight stairlift installation. Still, think a residential elevator sounds like a frivolous thing? Keep reading to learn why you should consider one.
A stairlift tends to be the more common option when people are looking to provide greater mobility between floors of a home. However, a stairlift is only usable for one individual and not a practical solution for anyone else. While an able-bodied person certainly could use the stairlift if they wanted to, walking up and down the stairs would be much faster.
On the other hand, a home elevator provides more functionality for the entire family. Everybody can use it, whether they have a temporary injury that makes using the stairs difficult, or they simply have a tired child in their arms and want a little help getting upstairs more quickly. A home elevator can also be helpful if you have aging pets; after all, pets can be just as prone to arthritis and struggle to go up and down the stairs as you. An elevator can help them move between floors much more easily (with a little help from you, too, of course).
As we mentioned briefly, stairlifts tend to be rather slow. While this is necessary for safety purposes, it certainly can get frustrating, and many people want a faster way to move between floors of their homes. A residential elevator is much swifter and can safely lift and lower you between floors without increasing the likelihood of an accident.
An elevator can also make moving loads between floors faster, easier, and safer. Going up and down the stairs with arms full of laundry, boxes, or other burdens can be dangerous. An elevator provides you with a better alternative. They can lift heavier loads and have more space inside them than a simple stairlift, which means you can use them to move heavy boxes and some furniture items between floors. This is another way in which a residential elevator can serve more than just those with reduced mobility in your home.
If you’re planning to resell your home in the future, it’s important to think about how every change you make will impact the resale value—including mobility changes. Many renovations that provide for greater mobility can positively impact a home’s value, but others can drag the value down. For example, a stairlift caters to a very specific type of buyer: one with mobility troubles. That narrows your buyer audience a lot, as able-bodied buyers will only see the stairlift as an eyesore and will likely want to remove it. You’re negatively impacting your home’s value by diminishing your buyer market.
On the other hand, a residential elevator would be seen as a luxury. As we already pointed out, the mere mention of an elevator in your home probably brings to mind sprawling mansions, so adding this luxurious feature to your own house can help potential buyers feel like they’re buying into a major upgrade. And, of course, as we’ve already stated, these elevators are usable by anyone, not just those with reduced mobility. It’s a convenience anyone can enjoy, so it’s a home renovation that any buyer could be interested in and one that is likely to increase your home’s resale value.
If you struggle to go up and down the stairs, you likely struggle with mobility throughout your home and may rely on a walker, wheelchair, or scooter to get around. However, taking any of these things with you on a stairlift is impossible. That means you’ll need separate mobility aids for both floors of your home, which isn’t always feasible. An elevator lets you take your mobility aid with you, so you can remain independently mobile without buying more than one walker, wheelchair, or scooter.
Ultimately, both a residential elevator and a stairlift can perform the essential function of helping those with reduced mobility get up and down the stairs safely. The right option for you will depend on what your priorities are. Whether you choose home elevators or stairlifts for sale near me, Southern Mobility Solutions can help you find the right model and get it installed swiftly and affordably. Contact us today to learn more about residential elevators and stairlifts.
