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Quick Answer: Real PVE customers report high satisfaction with their home elevators for everyday tasks like carrying laundry, groceries, and even pets between floors, describing the experience as simple, reliable, and a genuine addition to their home’s design. This page shares one couple’s firsthand experience installing a PVE37 to age in place in their multi-story home.
Customer Testimonial
Home Elevators by PVE had the pleasure of interviewing a couple about their residential elevator installation. Seeking an alternative to taking the stairs, this husband and wife spoke about their desire to remain in their home of 32 years and their experience installing the self-supporting, eco-friendly vacuum elevator. Looking to access the bedroom on the 2nd level of their residence, this balcony-mounted application allowed the elevator to be free standing next to their 2nd floor mezzanine. Offering a beautiful design feature inside their 2-story home, these homeowners chose the two-passenger PVE37 residential elevator, which includes a folding seat inside the cabin, and purchased the elevator with a white exterior finish.
Read the customer testimonial below to learn why this couple wanted to age in place, and how installing a home elevator by PVE gave them access to their 2nd floor bedroom.
Female Homeowner (FH): “I’ve been here thirty two years in our home.”
Male Homeowner (MH): “Same house for thirty two years! (laughs)”
“It’s almost, what, a year and a half ago since we had the home elevator installed. We should have done it a lot sooner.”
FH: “It was an age thing, slash, bad back.”
MH: “Just became more difficult using the staircase.”
FH: “The house was perfect for us. Perfect. We didn’t want to give up our bedroom upstairs but we got older. Having the residential elevator has allowed us not to go through construction. And the home elevator fit perfectly in that corner. I don’t even use the stairs and the thought of going up the stairs… carrying the laundry? Forget it!”
MH: “The home elevator is just so much easier going up and down than walking the staircase. We started researching home lifts and residential elevators. The difference between a lift and an elevator. And in the lift, it’s a safety factor because you’re holding a button to make it go up and down. In the home elevator it’s pressing one button, goes up. Pressing one button, and it goes down. And we’ve been very satisfied with the one button press up and down.”
FH: “The elevator, it can be used anywhere. I think in any home, it would just melt into the décor.”
MH: “And this home elevator is actually almost like a piece of art. It also is a big selling feature having the elevator put in the house. We ended up with the double one, which is the one that will carry both of us easily. We found that the middle one worked the best for us because if we had to go to a walker, we can put a walker in there.”
FH: “It also carries a suitcase. It carries a dog.”
MH: “Our dog has learned that she goes in one side and comes out the other.”
FH: “It has made my life so much easier.”
MH: “The home elevator is so much better and it’s just created a better lifestyle for us.”
FH: “This is our dream.”
MH: “But anytime anybody comes in here that hasn’t seen the elevator they go: wow! And then they say: Can we ride the elevator? And we say go ahead!”
Frequently Asked Questions
Are PVE residential elevators noisy?
All elevators generate sound while the machinery is operational, and PVE has machinery options that are as quiet as, if not quieter than, alternative products on the market. With the machinery only activated when the elevator is in use, homeowners can choose from a number of machinery options to fit their audio comfort and needs.
Are PVE residential elevators made out of glass?
While PVE residential elevators are panoramic, they are manufactured using polycarbonate panels and are not made of glass. Polycarbonate panels are much lighter and stronger than glass, with an impact resistance approximately 200 times stronger. Each panel can be replaced individually if damaged or scratched.
How much space is needed for a residential elevator?
PVE’s self-supporting residential elevators require the least amount of space and construction to install. Requirements vary depending on the model chosen and the type of application. With four models to choose from, each has a different exterior diameter. There are 2 types of installation applications: through-floor and balcony-mounted. For through-floor applications, the opening needs to be 2 inches greater than the elevator’s exterior diameter. For balcony-mounted applications, there needs to be clear space to accommodate the exterior diameter, and often a landing needs to be constructed for ease of entry on the top floor. Speak with a PVE Sales Representative to verify the space needed for your desired model.
What should I know before buying a home elevator?
Every home elevator is a significant investment, so it’s worth going in informed. Cost varies by model and installation type, see the home elevator cost guide for a full breakdown. Installation location matters too, balcony-mounted and through-floor applications have different space requirements, so a PVE Sales Representative should confirm what your home can accommodate before you order. And like any mechanical equipment, elevators benefit from routine maintenance to keep running smoothly for years. Customers like the couple in this testimonial generally report high satisfaction once installed, but doing the homework on cost, space, and maintenance upfront leads to the best experience.
