Used Stairlifts Near Me: Buying One and Getting It Fitted

The great majority of second-hand lifts on the market are built for straight staircases. HomeGuide points out that straight models make up most of the pre-owned market, and Harmar says straight lifts are the type most commonly relocated to another home. A straight rail is simply the track that travels in a single line from the lowest step to the highest. It is a standard piece that can be trimmed down to suit almost any staircase length.

People usually buy one in three ways, and each offers a different level of support:

• Through a private seller, typically $1,500 to $3,000, and you sort out the fitting yourself.
• Through an online seller, where prices begin at $1,479 for a lift you install or arrange to have installed.
• Through a dealer, sold as a pre-owned lift with fitting included, at $2,900 to $4,500 or more.

Harmar recommends having a dealer check over both the lift and your staircase before anything is installed. Our installers can examine a lift you are considering and let you know whether it suits your staircase.

Second-hand curved lifts are scarce, and for good reason. Every curved rail is custom-made for a single staircase, which means it usually cannot be reused anywhere else. Certain dealers, Lifeway Mobility among them, refuse to sell used curved lifts for exactly this reason.

You will still find some sellers offering a used curved lift. The National Council on Aging cautions that a lift like this might need re-fitting, and that pushes the price up. A brand-new curved lift runs $9,000 to $15,000 installed, with a wait of roughly 3 to 5 weeks between ordering and fitting. Before handing over money for a used curved lift, speak with one of our installers so you understand what the fitting would actually take.

According to Angi, a used lift must match your staircase exactly as it stands now. With a straight staircase this is generally doable, since straight rails get trimmed to the right length. A typical straight rail measures 15.5 ft. Each additional foot of rail adds about $80 to $100.

The lift also needs to match the layout of the stairs. A lift built for a single straight flight cannot handle stairs that turn, or stairs split by a landing between flights. A local installer can come measure your staircase and verify the lift against it before you pay anyone.

These prices are broad estimates gathered from published price guides and dealers, not formal quotes.

ConsumerAffairs estimates used lifts run about $500 to $1,000 less than new ones. Lifeway states its pre-owned lifts save buyers up to $1,000 against new lifts installed. As you weigh up prices, remember to add fitting costs to any lift sold on its own.

Install-only work means an installer puts in a lift you purchased elsewhere. On a straight lift this typically costs $550 to $850, and the job itself takes roughly 2 to 4 hours in your home. Published rates from installers and sellers land in or around that range:

Install-only service	Price
AmeriGlide, in most cases	$550
AmeriGlide, if you measure the staircase yourself	$575
AmeriGlide, with measuring and fitting	$725
Harmar LiftSquad, through online retailers	$725
Online seller, straight lifts, starting price	$795
Second-hand lift bought from a supply outlet	$1,000 to $1,500

Harmar LiftSquad works with Harmar-trained installers on Harmar products. Among our listings are 450 installers carrying Harmar and 686 carrying Bruno. For a straight lift, expect a wait of 1 to 15 days from booking to fitting.

For a lift you already own, the process is straightforward:

1. Write down the lift's brand and model, since installers often work with particular brands.
2. Ring us or fill in the quote form, and it reaches as many as three installers in your area.
3. Ask the installer to measure the staircase and inspect the lift ahead of fitting day.

Call now and let us know which lift you own, so the right installer can take a look.

That depends on the source of the lift. A second-hand lift frequently loses the manufacturer's original warranty. AmeriGlide, as one example, only covers the original buyer, so the warranty ends with the first owner. The limited warranty also excludes labor.

A reconditioned lift is one that a dealer or the manufacturer has inspected and repaired before reselling. These lifts generally come with a limited warranty lasting 6 to 12 months. One AmeriGlide franchise backs its used lifts with a 1-year parts warranty. A lift bought from a private seller typically carries no warranty whatsoever. When that is the case, it helps to know an installer who also handles repairs. Of the installers we list, 636 handle repairs and servicing.

Relocating a lift from one house to another involves taking it out, transporting it and fitting it all over again. California Mobility notes this can run nearly as much as a reconditioned lift. Having a lift taken out is often not free. If a fee applies, it typically runs $100 to $300.