As we age, our bodies tend to lose some of the functions that they had when we were younger. Thankfully there is a lot of quality accessibility equipment that can help us with everyday tasks like climbing stairs and getting out of chairs. These items are great at keeping us in our homes, but they can be very expensive. You can however save lots of money on quality pre-owned equipment if you are careful. In fact, if you are having trouble getting up the stairs, a used stair lift may be one of the best investments you can make.
When buying used equipment, you want to keep in mind the old adage “buyer beware”. There are many ways you can go about finding this type of item, some of which come with more guarantees than others. You can shop around on Craig’s List and see if there are any local families that are getting rid of a stair lift, or you could go to estate auctions. Both of these methods work and allow you to get some expensive equipment at a fraction of retail. If you are buying something like a lift chair, than you should be able to check it out for yourself right at the premises of the owner of the chair to see how well it works. If you decide on a large piece of equipment like a stair lift however, you will want to find out several things first. You will want to know if it is under warranty and if the warranty is transferable. You will want to have someone lined up who is qualified to take it out of its old home and install it in yours, and you will want to see that it works. All of these steps will help you to get a quality piece of equipment.
The other good way to get a “used” piece of mobility equipment at a great price is to look for factory refurbished models. These are models that have been returned but have been reconditioned by the factory. They often come with the same warranty as their “brand new” counterparts, but can cost up to a third less.
If you are looking to stay in your own home, but don’t want to spend a small fortune, then used mobility equipment may be the way to go.