There was once a time when residential elevators were only found in large expensive homes owned by those who could afford the things that were once considered luxuries. That is no longer the case. There are many good and valid reasons why an elevator in your home should not be considered extravagant but rather a very wise investment that will pay for itself and become a wonderful addition to your home. Let’s look at some of those reasons.

Convenience and Safety

More than anything else, an elevator just makes life easier. When you’re tired and worn out at the end of the day, and you have a load of stuff to take up stairs, you can save your back and you knees by riding on your elevator. The real danger though is coming back down the stairs with a load in your arms. That can be very risky because you can’t see the next step very well when you are carrying a large armfuls of stuff and it is easy to stumble.

Every year thousands of people are seriously injured due to falls down the stairs in their own homes. Residential elevators aren't just for those who have mobility issues; they're perfect for any homeowner who has a desire to increase efficiency, convenience, and most of all, safety in the home.

Accessibility

If you or someone in your family has limited physical mobility, then you are already aware of the challenges of getting around and the blessing that an elevator or lift can be for that individual. Shouldn’t all areas of your home be accessible to all members of your family?

Building costs

If you need or want a bigger home there are two ways to get it. You can either build taller or build wider. Usually it’s cheaper to build upward instead of outward due to high cost land. Also, the savings on the size of your foundation and the area of the roof will help to compensate for the cost of the elevator.

Planning for the long-term

Even though you may not need an elevator right now, there is a very good chance that you or someone in your family will need it in the future. Installing it now, while you are building your home, will allow you to enjoy the convenience and safety of it today while preparing for the needs of tomorrow. The construction costs will be less if you install it at the time that the home is built.

Another option is to at least install the hoist way or shaft now and then put the elevator in later when you need it. You can easily put temporary floors in the shaft at each level and create closets that are stacked on top of each other. This is much better than trying to figure out where to put the elevator in the future.

Increased Home Value

With the very large group of so called "Baby Boomers" entering retirement age, the need for accessible homes is increasing dramatically. This high demand coupled with the shortage of available homes with elevators makes the resale value for those that do have elevators very high. The initial investment can easily be recuperated when it is time to sell the home.

Bottom Line

Home elevators increase the value and the utility of your home while increasing both your safety and convenience. The cost is a temporary sacrifice that is offset by the long term convenience of being able to stay in the home that you love and accommodate the people that you love. Make your golden years more enjoyable by investing today in something that will make a major difference in your safety and mobility in the future.