A good used stairlift is a smart buy — if it is actually good
Let us be upfront: the used stairlift market has a reputation problem, and it earned it. Private sellers list lifts "removed and ready to install" with no way to verify their condition. Online marketplaces are full of units missing parts, with dead batteries, or built for a staircase nothing like yours. Buy one of those and you have bought someone else's problem.
Our refurbished stairlifts are the opposite of that. We take in quality used units — often from our own rental fleet or from customers who upgraded — and put them through a full refurbishment: complete inspection, new batteries, new wear parts, new upholstery where needed, full testing, and professional installation with a warranty. You get a lift we would put in our own parents' home, at a meaningful saving over new.
What "refurbished" means when we say it
Every refurbished unit gets the same treatment. We strip it down and inspect the motor, gearbox, circuit boards, and safety systems. Batteries are always replaced — never reused — because batteries are a wear item and we will not sell you someone else's worn-out ones. Rollers, belts, and any worn mechanical parts are replaced. The seat gets new or reconditioned upholstery. Then the unit is reassembled, tested through full travel cycles, and safety-checked before it ever goes on your stairs.
Installation is professional, not DIY: we measure your staircase, cut or fit the rail, mount it, and train you exactly as with a new unit. And it carries a warranty — shorter than a new unit's, but real, in writing, and honored by us locally.
Straight vs. curved: what is available used
Straight stairlifts are the sweet spot for refurbished buying. The rails are standard lengths, the chair units are interchangeable, and a good used straight lift is genuinely close to new in function. This is where the savings are real and the risk is low.
Curved stairlifts are a different story, and we will not pretend otherwise. The rail is custom-built for one specific staircase, so a used curved rail is useless to anyone but its original owner. What can be refurbished is the chair unit, paired with a brand-new custom rail for your stairs. That combination — used chair, new rail — is a legitimate way to save on a curved installation, and we offer it. Just know going in that the rail portion will be new.
What to watch out for (even from us)
Ask any seller of a used stairlift these questions, including us. How old is the unit, and how much was it used? Were the batteries replaced, or are they the originals? What exactly was serviced or replaced in refurbishment? What warranty comes with it, and who honors it — a local company or a distant manufacturer? Will it be professionally installed, and is installation included in the price? Can I see it run before I commit?
Red flags: no warranty at all, "as-is" sales, a seller who cannot tell you the unit's history, batteries that are "probably fine," or anyone who suggests you install it yourself to save money. A stairlift is safety equipment. It should be inspected, installed, and backed by someone accountable.
When used makes sense — and when it does not
Used makes sense when: the budget is tight and a new unit is a stretch; the need is medium-term (a year or two); or you want a quality lift now and plan to upgrade later. It makes less sense when: you want the longest possible lifespan and the full manufacturer warranty (buy new); your staircase needs a curved rail and the savings on a used chair are modest; or the used unit available is old enough that parts are getting scarce.
We stock what we can stand behind, and we will tell you when we do not have the right used unit for your stairs — no stretching a wrong fit to make a sale.
Our process
Step one: call or send the form for a free in-home assessment. Step two: we measure your staircase and check our current refurbished inventory for a unit that fits your stairs and your needs. Step three: you get a written estimate showing the refurbished option and the new option side by side, so you can compare honestly. Step four: we install your chosen unit, test it fully, and train you on operation. Step five: your warranty is registered with us, and you have our direct number for any future service.
Every project is different — contact us for a free written estimate.
Call (301) 679-9193 or send the form for a free in-home assessment.