Why I Do What I Do

I started Safeguard Stairlifts because I saw too many Utah families overcharged by national companies or left without service after installation. My mission is simple: provide honest pricing, quality equipment, and personal service to every family I help.

After 20 years in this business, I've installed thousands of stairlifts in Utah homes. Every installation has a story - a family member who needed help, a senior determined to stay independent, a caregiver looking for peace of mind. These stories are why I get up every morning.

How It All Started

I didn't plan to spend my career installing stairlifts. Like many paths in life, it found me.

The First Installation

Twenty years ago, a family friend needed a stairlift. She was in her 80s, fiercely independent, but struggling with the stairs in her Salt Lake City home. Her kids wanted her to move to assisted living. She wanted to stay in the home where she'd raised her family.

I helped arrange the installation through a national company. The salesperson was polished, the brochure was glossy, and the price was steep. But it was what it was, I thought.

Then came the problems.

The Wake-Up Call

Within six months, that stairlift needed repair. When my friend called the company:

• She was transferred three times
• No local technician was available for two weeks
• The repair cost nearly $400 for a minor issue
• Nobody could explain what went wrong

I was frustrated. This woman had paid thousands of dollars for a mobility device, and now she couldn't use her stairs safely because of corporate red tape.

I started asking questions. I learned about stairlift mechanics. I trained with manufacturers. I got certified.

And I made a decision: Utah families deserved better.

What I Learned Along the Way

Twenty years of installations teach you things no manual can:

Every Home Is Different

Utah homes come in endless varieties:

• Split-levels with multiple short staircases
• Victorian-era homes with narrow stairs
• Modern designs with floating staircases
• Basement stairs with low ceilings

I've learned to see solutions where others see problems. When another company says "can't be done," I often can.

Every Family Is Different

Some families need help quickly - a surgery is scheduled, a fall happened, time is critical. Others are planning ahead, wanting to age in place safely.

I've learned to listen first. Understanding your situation matters more than any sales pitch.

Relationships Matter More Than Transactions

I still service stairlifts I installed 15 years ago. Some families have called me back when they moved to a new home. Others have referred their neighbors, their friends, their children's in-laws.

That's not because I'm the cheapest. It's because when you call Safeguard, you get me - not a call center, not a stranger, not a recorded message.

The Safeguard Difference

Owner-Operated Means Something

When I say Safeguard is owner-operated, here's what that means:

I answer the phone. Not an answering service, not a receptionist - me. If I'm on an installation, I'll call you back the same day.

I do the assessments. I personally visit your home, measure your stairs, and discuss your options. No traveling salespeople, no high-pressure tactics.

I oversee every installation. Even when I have help, I'm responsible for quality. Every stairlift has my name on it.

I provide the service. Years from now, when you need maintenance or repair, it's still me. I know your stairlift, I know your stairs, and I remember our conversations.

Why This Matters

Big companies have advantages: advertising budgets, brand recognition, nationwide reach. But they also have:

• Corporate overhead you pay for
• Bureaucracy that slows service
• Staff turnover that breaks relationships
• Pricing that prioritizes shareholders

I'll never have television commercials. But I'll also never make you wait two weeks for a repair.

The Families I've Helped

Names changed for privacy, but these stories are real:

The Veteran

A Korean War veteran in Sandy called me when his wife needed a stairlift. He was on a fixed income, worried about cost. We found a quality used unit, I installed it myself, and we worked out a payment plan.

Three years later, he called again - needed a second one for their basement. He told me, "Barry, you're the first person in this industry who treated me with respect."

That phone call made my year.

The Emergency

A family in Draper called on a Friday afternoon. Their mother had fallen on the stairs and broken her wrist. She was coming home from the hospital Monday. They needed a stairlift immediately.

I rearranged my weekend. By Sunday evening, the stairlift was installed and tested. When she came home Monday, she could safely navigate her home.

That's not possible with a national company. But it's possible when the owner answers the phone.

The Skeptic

A gentleman in Ogden had been burned by a national brand. High-pressure sales, a stairlift that never worked right, service that never came. He was skeptical of everyone in the industry.

I spent two hours at his home. Not selling - listening. I heard his frustrations, acknowledged the industry's problems, and explained how I do things differently.

He didn't buy that day. Or the next week. But a month later, he called. We installed his stairlift, and it's been running perfectly for four years.

His referral? His son called me last year for his own home.

What I Believe

After 20 years, here's what I know to be true:

Independence Matters

Staying in your own home isn't just about convenience. It's about dignity. It's about sleeping in your own bed, looking out your own windows, living your own life.

A stairlift can be the difference between staying home and moving somewhere else. That's a profound responsibility.

Honesty Builds Trust

I give honest assessments, even when honesty costs me a sale:

• "Your stairs don't need a stairlift yet - try a second handrail first"
• "This brand isn't right for your staircase - let me suggest alternatives"
• "A used unit will work perfectly - don't overspend on new"

Short-term, these conversations cost revenue. Long-term, they build the reputation that keeps Safeguard going.

Service After the Sale

Anyone can sell equipment. What happens in year 3, year 7, year 12 - that's what matters.

I service every stairlift I sell. Not because it's profitable (it often isn't), but because that's what families deserve. When you invest in a Safeguard stairlift, you invest in a relationship.

Utah Is Home

I've lived in Utah most of my life. I've raised my family here. I've built my business here.

When I drive through Salt Lake City, I pass homes where I've installed stairlifts. When I'm at the grocery store, I sometimes run into past customers. When families call, they often mention neighbors I've helped.

That's what it means to be local. Not just geographically, but woven into the community.

Looking Ahead

Twenty years in, I'm not slowing down. Utah's population is aging, and more families need mobility solutions. I'm here for them.

My commitment remains the same:

• Honest pricing with no hidden fees
• Quality equipment from trusted manufacturers
• Personal service from start to finish
• Long-term relationships built on trust

If you're researching stairlifts, I hope this gives you a sense of who I am and how I work. I'd be honored to help your family.

Give me a call. Let's talk about your situation. No pressure, no obligation - just a conversation about how I can help.

That's what Safeguard is all about.

- Barry R. McKendrick President/Owner, Safeguard Stairlifts