Step 1: Choosing a Supplier
A home lift is a long-term system and investment. Therefore, choosing a supplier with proven presence in Malaysia is important. Ensure that supplier has local technicians, established processes and real installation experience.
Ask yourself:
(a) How long has the company been operating locally?
(b) Do they provide after-sales services or is it outsourced?
Step 2: Look Beyond Prices
Connectivity has made selling easy. This is especially true for the lifts you see on aggregate platforms like Alibaba. However, low prices are often tied to overseas outsourcing with limited local support. A good lift system is able to sustain a household for >10 years with proper maintenance and repairs.
Ask yourself:
(a) Where are your products from?
(b) How much is the maintenance service a year and with whom do you service the lift with?
Step 3: Understand the type of home lift being offered
In Malaysia, home lifts come in different systems namely
(a) Hydraulic
(b) Traction
(c) Screw & Nut
(d) Vacuum
Each system comes with trade-offs in space, speed and maintenance cost.
Ask yourself:
(a) What sort of space do I have to fit a home lift?
(b) How much am I willing to spend on construction and renovation?
(c) What is the priority of the lift? Is it for aesthetics or functional?
(d) How much am I willing to spend on maintenance?
With each question, it will help you to narrow down your options.
Step 4: Match the lift system with your home layout
Closely relating to the Step 3, some lifts require shafts and pits while others are designed for minimal structural work. Choosing the wrong system may mean unnecessary construction or compromised performance.
Ask yourself:
(a) Does my home already have space for a lift shaft or pit, or would adding one require major structural changes?
(b) Am I choosing this lift because it fits my home layout or my needs?
ProTip: A proper site assessment usually clarifies this quickly.
Question 5: Factor in Construction Scope
A home lift costs are influenced not just by the lift but also the totality of the construction involved.
Ask yourself:
(a) How extensive is my renovation? Is it a merely cosmetic renovation or functional renovation?
(b) What is my budget for totality of the renovation?
Question 6: What to expect after your purchase
A professional installation process does not end at sale. But rather the follow up thereafter.
You should expect a complete guiding process:
- Site assessment
- Design confirmation
- Installation
- Testing and Commissioning
- Ongoing After Sales Contract
Long-Term service is just as important as installation quality.
