What are the considerations to keep in mind when buying a second hand stairlift? First things first you need a stairlift to match your staircase. Stairlifts are broken down into two main categories: straight and curved. So you initially need to asses which one is right for your staircase. After that, it’s useful to see whether your stairlift will actually fit on your staircase. In certain situations, you’ll need a particular type of stairlift, especially if your staircase is narrow.
For narrow staircases we recommend either Stannah stairlifts or Thyssen stairlifts. The Stannah 600 stairlift is made for a straight staircase, for example. Stannah are a good brand because of their excellent build quality. Stannah have done their homework and their stairlifts are designed with fitting in mind. Their chairs sit back towards the wall/rail giving the user more leg room. This is particularly useful when fitting on a tight or narrow staircase.
Stannah stairlifts also pivot around a central point when they turn for entry and exit. This is better than some makes which have a “off-set” pivot point. This can mean the stairlift is more difficult to fit on a tricky or narrow staircase because the chair will hit the newel post or bannister rail when pivoting the chair for exit/entry.
Buying A Second Hand Stairlift – Other Considerations
With any second hand stairlift we purchase we always do a thorough check to make sure all parts are operating properly. We also replace the batteries with brand new ones. This is the simplest way to renovate a second hand stair lift because many problems are associated with older batteries which have lost their charge.
So you can avert many problems simply by replacing the batteries!
If you want your stairlift to last, it’s worth choosing a good make and model. We use Stannah and Thyssen stairlifts for reconditioning because they have superb build quality and give customers the least amount of problems and issues.
On a very narrow staircase, you might need a specialist stairlift which can cope with very narrow bends, particularly on a curved staircase. In this scenario we often choose the Flow X stairlift from Thyssen (now Access BDD). Checkout our recent case study for stairlifts for narrow stairs in which we explain why this model/make is so useful for certain staircases.
Buying A Second Hand Stairlift – Age
The age of a stairlift is a large determining factor in whether it’s a good buy or not. With older models, parts can be a problem; particularly if the model is no longer manufactured. Has the stairlift been looked after?
If a stairlift is well looked after, with regular services, it’s much more likely to last than one which has been neglected. But the older a stairlift is, the more likely you’ll face technical problems with it somewhere down the line.
If you’re buying a second hand stairlift for refurbishment, it’s better to go with the better brands. They will last much longer than cheaper models. See our post on “which are the best stairlifts”.
Second Hand Stairlifts We Buy
If you’re looking to sell a stairlift, we have partnered up with a company who specialise in purchasing second hand stairlifts, Checkout our “Sell my stairlift” page.
The stairlifts we personally use for our customers are of a very high standard. We only buy the stairlifts which will give the best mileage for our customers and have the least amount of issues. We’ve been in the business of reconditioned stairlifts for over 20 years and we know which ones are the best!
The main refurbished models we use are Stannah and Thyssen (Access BDD) because we know these are the best in terms of:
- Build quality – stronger build and more capable for awkward fittings
- Versatility – more capable/adaptable on a variety of staircases
- Longevity – our stairlifts last and give customers fewer issues
Summary
So if you’re looking to buy a second hand stairlift here’s our main criteria for when we are buying:
- Stairlift age – older models are more troublesome and some models are no longer in production. This means getting parts for them is an issue.
- Make and model – our preferred models are Stannah and Access BDD (Formerly Thyssen). These offer the best value for longevity and build quality
- Staircase – make sure you are getting a stairlift which will fit your staircase. Some very narrow staircases will require a higher specification stairlift, such as a Thyssen Krupp stairlift designed for narrow and awkward staircases.
Give Us A Call
So if you’re looking to have a second hand stairlift installed in your home, give us a call. We are happy to give you a free no obligation quote over the phone if possible, or an engineer can call at your house if you make an appointment. Call us on 0800 046 3438.
We have also created this stairlift buyers guide to help people choose the right stairlift for their home:
