Leave room for other people on the stairs
Ask how the chair folds, where the rail finishes and whether a doorway crosses the lower end. Include everyone who shares the staircase in the discussion. The available passage needs measuring in your own home.
What to ask at the survey
Ask where the rail starts and finishes, whether it crosses a door and where the chair charges. Check the folded seat, armrests and footrest rather than comparing only the rail. Have Acorn explain any proposed hinged or retractable section and how you would operate it.
Choose around the person using it
Discuss sitting down, fastening the belt, reaching the controls and turning at the upper landing. Ask what happens if a footrest or swivel mechanism is manual. A stated weight limit or minimum stair width alone does not establish that a particular model suits you.
Before you sign
Request an itemised fitted price, named model, written warranty and aftercare terms. Check who supplies the chair, who installs it and who will answer a fault report. Keep a copy of the survey and ask about removal costs if the lift is no longer needed.