Choose the right lift for your home, with a builder’s eye.
Plain-English guidance from a third-generation builder. Learn what fits your house, what it really takes to install, and what to ask before anyone gives you a price.
- Stair lifts, home elevators and porch lifts compared side by side
- What the warranty doesn’t tell you, and what batteries really cost
- Cab sizes that fit a wheelchair and a helper
- Where to look for help paying for it, beyond Medicare
- A house-readiness checklist and dealer questions
- A sheet to compare up to three quotes
Not ready for the full guide? Start with the free checklist: what to know before the stair lift dealer comes to your house.
Get the free checklist30+ years building homesAdvice from the construction side
Plain-English guidanceSpace, structure, power, permits
Questions to ask every dealerCompare quotes with confidence
IndependentNo commissions or referral fees from dealers
Which lift fits your home?
Two quick questions point you in the right direction. The right lift depends on who’s riding and where the climb is, not on which product you’ve seen advertised.
The quickest, least invasive way between floors for someone who can safely sit, swivel and stand. Straight stairs are simpler and cost far less than curved.
Read the stair lift guide →What each one solves, and what it takes to install
Stair Lifts
A seat that rides a rail up your existing stairs. Best for someone who can still transfer to a chair.
- Straight vs. curved stairs
- Batteries and what the warranty leaves out
- Outlet and power needs
Home Elevators
A true elevator between floors, wheelchair-ready. The biggest project of the three, and the one where a builder’s view matters most.
- Hydraulic, traction or pneumatic
- Cab size for a wheelchair and a helper
- Shaft, pit, power and inspections
Porch & Platform Lifts
A platform that lifts a wheelchair or walker a few feet, from driveway to front door, deck or garage step.
- Lift vs. ramp: space and slope
- Concrete pad and weather
- Gates, railings and landings
What the brochures don’t tell you
The lift itself is only part of the job. These are the house questions that change the price, the timeline and whether it fits at all.
Know what to ask before any dealer comes to your house.
An 18-page guide that walks you through choosing the right lift, getting your house ready, and comparing quotes, written from the construction side.
- Side-by-side comparisons of all three lift types, with 2026 cost ranges
- Brands, warranty fine print, batteries and five-year ownership costs
- Elevator cab sizes and door layouts for a wheelchair and a helper
- Funding options: VA grants, Medicaid waivers, local aging programs and taxes
- Who to hire for the house work around the lift, and how to find one with special training in aging-in-place work
- House-readiness checklist and questions to ask every dealer
- A quote comparison sheet for up to three dealers
Not ready for the full guide? Start with the free checklist.
12 things to know before the in-home visit: what the dealer is looking at, the questions to ask, and how to spot a quote that doesn’t add up. Free, printable PDF.
I’ll also send a few short emails with tips from the construction side. Unsubscribe any time.
Michael Stoler, third-generation builder
For more than 30 years I built custom homes in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Home Sweet Freedom shares what I know about fitting accessibility into a real house, so families can plan well and talk to dealers as informed buyers.
Also from Michael: The Builder’s 2nd Opinion →