Sydney is the most populated city in Australia.
It is also the gateway to the continent, as international visitors typically fly to the Kingsford Smith Airport before fanning toward the other destinations like Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, or Adelaide.
Sydney is also the commercial and financial centre, which means that it will always attract Australians looking to grow their careers or find their forever home.
Space is a precious commodity in Sydney, so the tendency is that they build higher. If the occupant has some form of a physical and medical condition that inhibits their movement, a lift would be the answer to their problem.
Homeowners might feel shy about installing a lift in their private dwelling because they think it is too much.
They believe that it is only appropriate for palatial houses, condo units, and mansions. However, some circumstances demand the installation of lifts in Sydney even for an average Sydney home.
For example, if the occupant is debilitated by a condition that restricts their movement, they need a lift to get to the second floor. More than the ability to move around, they regain their independence and dignity.
While a stairlift may be cheaper, it is not ideal for someone dependent on the motorised wheelchair for movement.
You still need to hire a nurse for assistance, which means you pay for their salary as long as your loved one needs assistance. With the lift, you do away with the nurse and give some semblance of normalcy to their lives.
Admittedly, you need a substantial investment to install a lift in Sydney.
For example, you may spend somewhere between $30,000 and $70,000 to install a lift in your house. But several factors may influence the total price:
As with clothes or shoes, some brands are more expensive than others.
Most manufacturers would already waive the delivery fee, but only within a set radius from their warehouse. The farther away you live, the more expensive the shipment fee would be.
The lift designed to carry only the person and the mobility device is more affordable compared to the bigger lift.
The small lift carries 300 kilograms, but if you have a motorised wheelchair, you need a bigger lift with a carrying capacity of 500 kilograms. The size of the cabin would be 1100 x 1400mm.
Most home lifts only travel up to the second floor. But manufacturers also compute the elevation by the travel distance, which is typically between 2.5 metres to 4 metres. If you have a bigger home than the standard Sydney house, then it will impact the total cost.
Fortunately, you can secure financial assistance through the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIS). The government agency has a program to partially cover the installation of lifts in Sydney.
The program is also not limited to senior citizens as people with disabilities under 65 years old can avail of mobility assistance.
Also, you can get a free quote from the manufacturer of the estimated cost of installing a lift in your home. They will send technicians over to make sure the estimate is tailor-fit to your specifications.
Alice Churchill is a copywriter and content strategist. She helps businesses stop playing around with content marketing and start seeing the tangible ROI. She loves writing as much as she loves the cake.
