A villa lift is a long-term decision. It affects your floor plan, your electricity connection and how your family moves through the house for years. Working through the questions below — ideally before construction or renovation drawings are final — makes the choice much easier.
Start with who will use it
- Elderly parents or anyone with limited mobility — prioritise smooth starts and stops, accurate levelling and automatic doors.
- Wheelchair users — plan a cabin and door width that genuinely accommodates the chair and, if needed, a carer.
- Everyday convenience — think about groceries, luggage and occasional furniture.
Decide where the lift will go
The best location is usually near the main staircase or living area, stacked vertically through every floor you want to serve. In an existing home, a stairwell void, a stacked set of cupboards, a structural opening or an external wall can work. Sakshi's compact MRL and hydraulic home lifts are designed for exactly these retrofit situations, including external glass hoistways.
Choose the drive type
Hydraulic
A hydraulic lift is pushed up by a ram and lowers under controlled release. It suits low-rise homes, needs only a shallow pit and keeps the machinery compact.
Machine-room-less (MRL) traction
Traction lifts use ropes or belts over a driven sheave with a counterweight. In an MRL layout the machine sits inside the shaft, so no separate machine room is needed. Gearless MRL traction is efficient and very smooth.
Get the space right
Every lift needs a shaft (or self-supporting structure), some form of pit, and headroom above the top floor. These dimensions depend on the specific model, so ask for the supplier's layout drawing before finalising your plans. See how much space a home lift needs.
Doors, cabin and finishes
Automatic doors are easiest for everyone. For finishes, decide whether the lift should blend into the interiors or become a feature — a panoramic glass capsule lift can be the centrepiece of a luxury home.
Check power and safety
- Confirm whether the lift runs on single-phase domestic power (Sakshi home lifts do).
- Ask about the Automatic Rescue Device (ARD) for power cuts.
- Ask about door sensing, overload protection and emergency alarms.
Plan for service
A lift needs regular maintenance. Ask how service works after handover, what an AMC includes and how emergencies are handled. Read what a lift AMC covers.
