In relation to the building space

• Impact of a pit
• Impact of the headroom
• Available shaft space, and how much lift car size will be achieved in relation to the lift shaft size.  What is the most economical fit
• Is the shaft going to be constructed from masonry, reinforced concrete, or consider purchasing a steel or aluminium shaft together with the lift.
• Where will the machine cabinet be located (up to 10m away at your landing of choice)
• Is fire rating required
• Is the lift through car/ adjacent through car or single opening
• Are the stairs suitable

In relation to the building appearance & the doors of the lift

• How will the landing doors look, will they blend in – or stand out
• Which way will they swing
• Are different hinging and different appearances required for different landings
• Are the call buttons incorporated into the door jambs or wall mounted requiring penetrations etc
• What finish to the landing doors

In relation to the lift

• How will it look
• What floor finish is best
• What ceiling finish is best
• What will look great
• What will be hardwearing
• Can the cabin be changed, is it possible to redecorate later
• What do the profiles and finishes look like. INSPECT THEM
• Quality of the interiors is a major issue and they should be inspected

In relation to the approvals

• Is the product approved for use in Australia
• Is the design properly registered
• What section of the Australian lift code is the lift being offered to comply with and is my building certifier comfortable with the proposed solution
• Is it a compliant product

In relation to the alternatives

• What is really being offered, speed, load capacity, time in cabin for journey
• Each potential supplier will try to entice you, are they offering an all inclusive price or have they left something out? like doors? or expensive cranage for the installation process? or scaffold, shaft lights, fixation requirements
• Does the quote match what will be supplied, ie lift speed, car ceiling height
• What is really being offered, speed, load capacity, time in cabin for journey
• Can the alternative be trusted (what is their trading history)
• Do they deliver on time (check references)
• Can the lift be ridden prior to making a decision, what is being purchased
• What are the control mechanism, there is a significant difference between AUTOMATIC CONTROL and CONSTANT PRESSURE
• What are the safety features, there is a significant safety difference between genuine FULL HEIGHT (180 beam protection) and 3 single beams protection.  (LIFT SHOP WILL NOT SELL SINGLE BEAM PROTECTION MACHINES DUE TO RISK OF ACCIDENT)
• What is the load capacity, is 3 person 250kg enough, usually 350kg (5 person) is adequate or is the heavy duty 500kg solution preferred.
• What does it REALLY COST

In relation to the after sales experience (service & maintaenance)

• How long is the warranty and does the supplier provide comprehensive maintenance during the warranty period
• What is the company's service performance like, have you checked references
• What is the ongoing service and maintenance cost (this can be substantial)
• What is the recommended and required level of servicing for the product
• Are sensible service contracts available
• What are the running costs
• What will happen in the unlikely event of a trapped passenger

In relation to the environment

• Does this require single or 3-phase (a more expensive form of power, to install and run)
• What is the noise impact of the drive mechanism
• Is there the visual pollution of an overhead motor room