How do you know when it’s time for a home elevator? Sometimes the choice is made for you, due to mobility problems that become more common as you age. Other times there is a financial motivation for installing home elevators, which can increase the value of your home. In other cases, there’s the desire to add a custom home elevator as a focal point for your home decor, or the luxury and convenience of easy travel between house levels.
The point is: there are many situations in which a home elevator becomes an appealing solution. When you get to the point when you’re considering factors such as house elevator size and what type of elevator to buy, the motivation to purchase a home elevator has already been established. Take a look at the examples below: if any of them strike a chord with you, it may be time for a home elevator.
Aging in Place
For many people, the decision to buy home elevators is driven by the desire to age in place. People increasingly choose to live out as many of their later years as possible in their homes, rather than moving to assisted living facilities or nursing homes. For some, this desire is based on their love of their home and the memories they made there. For others, there’s a financial component to aging in place: assisted living facilities come with steep monthly fees.
No matter your reasons for wanting to age in place, home elevators make it easier to stay in your home as the years pass. Over eighteen percent of people 65 and older have difficulty walking or climbing stairs. Installing a home elevator as part of your preparations for aging in place ensures you’ll be able to access all levels of your house safely and comfortably as you grow older.
Mobility Issues
Mobility issues are not confined to seniors. Up to 19 million people in the USA live with some type of mobility issue. For those who live in multi-level homes, home elevators give access to the entire house that might not otherwise be possible. House elevator size will be affected by individual mobility: elevators designed for wheelchairs have larger space footprints.
Falling and Safety
Mobility is not the only safety concern when considering home elevators. People prone to dizzy spells or vertigo have an increased risk of falling on stairs. Hauling laundry loads, vacuums, and cleaning supplies up and down stairs can also lead to falls or back injuries, especially in older homeowners. Residential elevators make such chores simple, and much safer.
Caring for a Parent
It’s not uncommon for older parents to move back in with their children, usually because parents can no longer safely care for themselves. When this happens, a home elevator provides parents with more independence while knowing mom won’t be struggling up the stairs while you’re out gives you some peace of mind.
Attracting Home Buyers
As the population ages, house hunters looking for homes suitable for aging in place are becoming an important part of the real estate market. Adding a residential elevator to your home makes your property much more appealing to this demographic, and can increase the asking price by as much as ten percent.
Convenience
We’ve talked a lot about safety and aging in place here, but there’s a simpler reason you might want to install a home elevator: convenience. When you’re moving storage boxes, chairs, televisions, and similar items from one level to another an elevator makes the task much simpler. In this case, the objects you’re most likely to move will dictate home elevator size. Pregnant family members will appreciate not needing to use the stairs, and an elevator can even make life easier for elderly pets, who may not be able to navigate stairs the way they did when they were puppies or kittens.
Renovations
People sometimes choose to add more floor space to their homes by building up, rather than out. If you’re adding a level to your home, incorporating an elevator into your renovation blueprints makes sense, helping you recoup some of your renovation costs if you move, and making aging in place easier if you choose to stay in your home.
Luxury
Sometimes you make a decision based on what you want, not what you need. For many people, a custom home elevator is as much an aesthetic choice as a practical one. Thanks to a range of customizable features, you can design an elevator that fits perfectly into your home’s decor, whether you want it to discreetly blend in with its surroundings or stand out as the centerpiece in a large room.
Taking the Next Step: Finding a Custom Home Elevator Dealer
Whatever makes you realize it’s time for a home elevator, the next step is to find out more about residential elevators, their many features, and the impact house elevator size will have on your living space. The best way to do so is to contact your local residential elevator dealer, who will be able to answer your questions and help you design a custom home elevator that meets your unique needs.