Introduction
Buying an elevator is unlike buying most building equipment. You will depend on the company you pick for the next 15 to 25 years, through installation, licensing, servicing, and repairs. Yet most buyers decide based on two or three quotes and a cabin photo.
This buyer’s guide walks you through the full process, step by step. You will know what to prepare, what to compare, what to ask, and what to put in writing. We have been designing, installing, and servicing elevators for over 30 years, and this is the same process we recommend to builders, homeowners, and facility managers.
Why the Company Matters More Than the Quote
The machine is only part of what you buy. The rest is installation quality, safety compliance, and service response for decades.
A useful way to see it: the lift itself is a small slice of what you pay for over 20 years. The rest is the relationship: maintenance visits, repairs, parts, and how fast someone shows up when the lift stops.
Step 1: Define Your Building’s Needs
Before calling any company, write down the basics. This stops sales teams from steering you toward what they want to sell.
- Building type: Home, apartment, office, hospital, mall, hotel, or factory
- Floors and travel height: Number of stops and total height
- Users: Daily users and peak-time load
- Capacity: Passengers or kg
- Special needs: Stretcher, wheelchair, goods, or glass cabin
- Space available: Shaft size, pit depth, overhead height, machine room
- Power supply: Single-phase or three-phase
- Budget range: Purchase plus five years of maintenance
Step 2: Shortlist Three Companies
Check Experience
Years in business tell you whether a company has handled problems across many building types. Ask how many installations they have done in projects like yours.
Check Product Range
A company that builds passenger, home, hospital, capsule, hydraulic, and MRL elevators can recommend the right fit. A single-product company will push that product.
Check Manufacturing Capability
Ask whether they make cabins, frames, and doors in-house. Manufacturers can customise sizes and finishes. Traders and assemblers often cannot.
Check Local Presence
A service team in your city is worth more than a big name with no local office.
Step 3: Check Safety Standards and Licensing
- Ask which BIS standards their lifts follow. IS 14665 covers electric traction lifts, and IS 15259 covers home lifts.
- Ask whether they will apply for the lift licence or registration required by your state.
- Confirm key safety parts: overspeed governor, safety gear, door interlocks, overload sensor, and an automatic rescue device (ARD).
The ARD deserves special attention in India. It brings the car to the nearest floor and opens the doors during a power cut. With frequent outages in many areas, it should be standard, not optional.
Step 4: Compare Quotes Line by Line
Do not compare totals. Compare contents. A good quote lists:
- Lift type, capacity, speed, and stops
- Drive type and machine specification
- Controller and VFD details
- Door type (manual, automatic, telescopic)
- Cabin finish, flooring, and lighting
- Safety features included
- Installation charges
- Civil and electrical work (who does what)
- Licensing and inspection fees
- Warranty and free service period
- Delivery and installation timeline
Common Gaps in Low Quotes
- ARD listed as “optional”
- Manual doors where you expected automatic
- Civil work and scaffolding excluded
- Licensing fees missing
- Vague component descriptions
Put all quotes in one table. The gaps show up quickly.
Step 5: Evaluate the Installation Plan
Installation quality decides how smooth and quiet the lift will be for years.
Ask:
- Will your own team install it, or a subcontractor?
- Who supervises on site?
- What civil work must be ready before you start?
- How many weeks from order to handover?
- What tests do you run before handover?
Rail alignment is the hidden quality factor. Small errors cause vibration, noise, and early wear on rollers and ropes.
Step 6: Evaluate After-Sales Service and AMC
This is where most buyers lose out, because they treat the AMC as paperwork.
Understand the Two AMC Types
- Non-comprehensive: Covers routine preventive maintenance and breakdown calls. Parts are charged separately.
- Comprehensive: Covers maintenance and most spare parts. Higher annual cost, fewer surprise bills.
A standard AMC includes monthly preventive visits, which means about 12 visits a year, plus breakdown calls.
Ask About Service Strength
- How many technicians serve your city?
- What is the guaranteed response time for breakdowns?
- Is there a 24/7 helpline?
- Are common spare parts stocked locally?
- Is the response time written into the contract?
A company with one technician for hundreds of lifts cannot respond fast, however good its intentions.
Step 7: Read the Contract and Warranty
Before signing, confirm in writing:
- Warranty period and what it covers
- Free service period after handover
- AMC price after the free period, and yearly escalation
- Payment schedule tied to milestones
- Penalties for delays, if any
- Exclusions (misuse, power surges, water damage)
Verbal promises disappear when staff change. Written terms stay.
Step 8: Verify References
- Ask for three installations similar to yours.
- Visit at least one.
- Ride the lift: check noise, jerk at start and stop, and levelling at each floor.
- Ask the building manager about response time and breakdown frequency.
Five minutes with a building manager tells you more than any brochure.
Questions to Ask Before Signing
- Which lift type do you recommend for my building, and why?
- Do you manufacture the cabin and doors yourselves?
- Which BIS standards does this lift meet?
- Is the ARD included?
- Who handles the lift licence?
- Who does the installation, and who supervises it?
- What is your written breakdown response time?
- What does the AMC include and exclude?
- How long will spare parts be available for this model?
- Can I visit a similar installation?
FAQs
How long does the full buying process take?
Typically four to eight weeks for selection and contract, plus four to ten weeks for installation after civil work is ready.
Is the cheapest quote ever the right choice?
Only if it matches the others line by line. Often, a low quote leaves out items that come back as extra costs.
Should I sign a comprehensive AMC?
For commercial and high-use buildings, usually yes, because it caps your yearly cost. For a low-use home lift, a non-comprehensive AMC can work well.
Can I switch service companies later?
Yes, but some lifts use proprietary parts or controllers that only the original maker can service easily. Ask about this before buying.
What documents should I keep after handover?
The contract, warranty card, test certificates, lift licence, wiring diagrams, and the AMC agreement.
Conclusion
Choosing a top elevator company is a process, not a price comparison. Define your needs, compare quotes line by line, check installation and service strength, and put every promise in writing. Do that, and you will pick a company that serves you well long after the lift is installed.
Ready to start? Send us your building details and get a detailed, itemised proposal.
About Express Elevators
Express Elevators & Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd. has over 30 years of experience in elevator manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. We offer a full range of passenger, home, hospital, capsule, hydraulic, and MRL elevators, built to strict safety standards and backed by on-demand, round-the-clock service.