Give Your House A Lift

What industry moves more people than any other by at least 50 percent? It's the elevator industry by far. It is also the safest industry statistically speaking. The industry has dramatically changed too, since its original design. I remember going to Norfolk Street near Delancey Street to pick up a date. I had to pull the rope on the elevator to get the car moving and then grab it to stop the car. That was nearly 60 years ago.

Being in the industry as long as I have, I've been around the latest technology. No buttons in the elevator cab. You talk to the cab now and tell it what floor you want. If you do not know the floor you can call out the name of the firm you are visiting. Next thing you know, they will serve you coffee while you're traveling. The elevator cab will give you the latest news and weather and of course throw in some advertising as well. But no elevator music. The ride has truly changed over time. In hotel chains such as the Hilton and Marriot, waiting more than10 seconds for an elevator is unheard of and is a reflection of unacceptable performance. It should only take 20 seconds to reach floors on the 39th level. These floor-to-floor runs are a combination of equipment and the level reached by new electronics. Elevators can actually be adjusted from any distance without the "hands on" of a service person. That is a reflection on the industrial side of what has taken place in the home elevator industry.

First, a residential elevator is no longer a luxury item. It is an amenity that belongs in a multi-floor home. Yes, even if the house only has two floors. In California, 70 percent of new homes over $600,000 have home elevators. In Florida the number is more likely 80 percent, especially in the condo market. Private town houses all have their own elevators. How about in the Hamptons? I've seen a tremendous growth while living here. When I talk to local design firms they tell me that every home they design with more than one level that an elevator is contemplated.

Home elevators are not toys. The codes require safety features that specifically measure how much you can allow between the door and the wall. No one can get into these areas and codes also require yearly inspection to make sure everything is running correctly. It is a good idea and costs very little.

The hardest part about installing a home elevator is choosing your elevator as carefully as your contractor. Ask to visit a home in which they have installed units - especially ones that are a few years old, just to see how satisfied the customers were in dealing with the company. You usually only buy one elevator, so the relationship is very important. If you have a good company that you like, finding out whose equipment they are using and the price difference from the best equipment to the cheapest can be $5,000. That is a big chunk for an item that should sell in the $28,000 range. Do your homework and enjoy the ride.

Morty Lynn, who lives in the Hamptons, has been supplying the majors such as Otis Schniederl and Kone Controls for many years. Recently he combined with a local elevator company. All-Ways Elevator, Inc., to sell and install commercial and residential units in the Hamptons.

For more information about how to install your own home elevator, please call 631-204-9157.

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