A Guide to Deciding if Wheelchair Ramp Rental or Purchase is Best For You

You may find yourself in a difficult position of not knowing how long you will need a wheelchair ramp and whether it would be wise to purchase or consider a Wheelchair ramp rental. The wheelchair ramp experts at Advantage Ramps can help you decide which option is best for you.

Purchasing a Wheelchair Ramp Purchasing a wheelchair ramp is straightforward. There is a single price for the wheelchair ramp and the installation. It is yours to keep for as long as you want it. You can even move it and reinstall it at another location. If/when you no longer need the wheelchair ramp, you can donate it or try to sell it. Better yet, at Advantage Ramps we will buy the wheelchair ramp back from you with our Buy Back program. There is a very small market for used wheelchair ramps and there is labor involved in breaking it down and removing it, which means an additional cost. You will typically get a few hundred dollars for your used wheelchair ramp, not a few thousand as many people would think. The buyer will also need a large truck or trailer to haul the wheelchair ramp away as it will most likely not fit in a typical pickup truck or van. Therefore there are very few buyers for used wheelchair ramps. A purchased ramp is a new, clean and shiny ramp, so if aesthetics are important to you, a new ramp is the way to go. Most rentals are used and may show some signs of wear and tear.

Wheelchair Ramp Rental In renting a wheelchair ramp, there will be two costs – an installation fee and a removal fee, paid up front, and a monthly rental fee typically based on the size of the ramp.

Here are 4 Important factors to consider when renting a wheelchair ramp: 1) Time frame needed 2) Your “Break-Even Point”

3) Affordability 4) Convenience

Time frame The amount of time you’ll need the wheelchair ramp is a key factor but, unfortunately, most people do not know this piece of information and can only, at best, guess. So do your best to guess the length of time you will need the ramp. It is best to bracket your time frame like “3 to 6 months” or “6 months to a year” or something similar.

Break-Even Point Your break-even point is the point in time when the cost of the wheelchair ramp rental is equal to the purchase price. You need to figure out at what month you will be paying more for the ramp than if you purchased the wheelchair ramp. The experts at Advantage Ramps can help you figure this out during the free home evaluation. As a general rule, usually around one year is your break-even point.

Affordability You may not be able to or not want to pay for a wheelchair ramp all at once. Renting is a more affordable option, especially if you don’t have the upfront cash but you can afford a small monthly payment. This is a great way to get the ramp you need right away with a monthly payment you can afford. Also, at Advantage Ramps we sometimes will have older ramp stock that we can offer at a discount to make things even more affordable. Be sure to ask about this older stock if you are interested in saving the most amount of money and the need for a new ramp is of less importance. Be assured that all wheelchair ramps from Advantage Ramps are safe and reliable.

Convenience Renting a wheelchair ramp is convenient- you use it for as long as you like and when you want it gone, you simply make a phone call to us to get it removed. There is no figuring out what to do with the wheelchair ramp after you no longer need it. For your convenience, Advantage Ramps also rents portable ramps and threshold ramps that you might also need throughout your home.

A few more things to consider Ask yourself why you need a wheelchair ramp – if the user broke a hip or is having a knee replaced and is likely going to rehab and get better, a rental is a more appropriate choice. Ion the other hand, f someone is aging and their mobility is decreasing or they have a progressive disease and their mobility is likely to slowly decline, purchasing a wheelchair ramp will be the better option.

Financing If you feel as though you will need the wheelchair ramp for over a year and are leaning towards purchase but may not be able to afford it, you can always finance the wheelchair ramp and pay a small monthly payment similar to the rental fee. The experts at Advantage Ramps can help you determine if financing is best for you.

As you can see there are a lot of factors in making the right decisions about renting a wheelchair ramp or purchasing one, but have no fear. After discussing with loved ones and having an expert on your side like Advantage Ramps, you will be able to evaluate all of the options and come up with the solution that best fits your situation. If you’d like more information on wheelchair ramps and are in the New England area, get in touch with Advantage Ramps over the phone or in person for a free consultation!