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Home elevators used to be only for the wealthy or for people with disabilities. But today, elevators are quite common in all kinds of homes around the country, and the Outer Banks is no exception. One of the biggest new trends in Outer Banks home construction is the installation of a residential elevator.
Homeowners install elevators for a variety of reasons. Elderly people or those with disabilities, of course, find a great deal of independence and freedom with an elevator.
But today most home elevators are being installed for people who are not disabled or elderly but rather are anticipating the need for a home elevator in the future. These people are simply planning ahead for their own future needs or those of aging parents or relatives who will visit the home.
Some homeowners just appreciate the convenience of an elevator. Development practices have forced houses to become taller and narrower all along the East Coast. On the Outer Banks especially, the reverse floor plan is quite common, and an elevator can save a lot of stair-climbing with heavy groceries.
Many rental-home property owners on the Outer Banks install elevators as a convenience for their guests. Large rental homes with reverse floor plans really require an elevator to get groceries and luggage to the upper levels and to handle several generations of guests.
“The average cost of a basic home elevator is less than $20,000,” says Kenny Pekrun of Atlantic Elevator, an elevator contractor on the Outer Banks. That is a very small percentage of a total new-home cost, especially a large rental home.
“The rental income gained by an elevator will offset the cost of installation,” says Pekrun. “And if the owners decide to retire to their rental home, they will have the added benefit of the elevator.”
Pekrun says that an elevator is just a good investment, both for resale and the rental market. “Providing an elevator is like offering a pool or hot tub or home theater,” says Pekrun. “It adds more rental income by making the house more attractive. The end result is more weeks of rental. And when it comes to selling, the house with the elevator will sell for more money, more quickly.”
Retro-fitting a home to install an elevator is more challenging and more costly than installing an elevator during new construction. Pekrun advises anyone who is building a new home to incorporate an elevator shaft in the home, whether or not they plan to install an elevator. “You can use it for closets now and add an elevator later,” says Pekrun. “It saves you about half the cost of retro-fitting later on.”
Alternatives to elevators include dumbwaiters, stair chairs and wheelchair lifts.
The installation of any of these items is a job that should be done by a qualified professional. As for maintenance, your elevator should be checked by a professional once a year, especially if it is in a rental home. |
