Lifestyle

Interest in Home Elevators Continues to Rise

Published

5 years ago

April 14, 2021

If you take a tour of a new housing development, you might be surprised to see home elevators. Plus, many older homes have been upgraded with the devices for all sorts of reasons. In fact, it’s fair to say that the ultimate American home elevator has finally arrived as a valued feature of new and old residential abodes.

As recently as two decades ago, elevators in private homes were a rarity. Today, they are far from that. In fact, you find them in both upscale and modest structures, in urban and suburban neighborhoods, in houses owned by single people and by large families. Some of the devices are newly installed, or add-ons to existing residences while others arrived in a newly built house in a fresh development. Why are so many homeowners opting to have access to a personal elevator? Here are some of the key factors driving the trend.

Safety

No one like to navigate through long staircases, rickety steps, or winding flights of stairs. Particularly for little children and the elderly, steps pose a supreme hazard. Just losing your footing for a split second can mean a serious injury or even worse. Elevators offer a way around the danger of steps. Older homeowners and couple who have very young children often want a way to eliminate the multiple problems that come with having to use stairs to move between floors. Anyone with a disability can attest to the value of having a safe, non-step option for moving about their home. Whether it’s a case of mile, semi-limited mobility or people who use wheelchairs as their main mode of transportation, stairs are often simply out of the question.

Home Value

You can do some research for yourself the next time you’re engaged in shopping or browsing for homes. Notice that the properties that include elevators often sell faster and for higher prices than those that don’t include this sleek, safe, and super-convenient mode of in-home transport. But for many folks who have been in the same location for a decade or more, adding an elevator makes good economic sense. When the day finally arrives that they choose to put their property on the market, they’ll be able to justify a higher asking price and can expect a quicker sale. With each passing year, there are more people over the age of 70 in the population, as a percentage and in raw numbers. That means demand for this kind of safe, stylish, value-adding transport will only continue to increase.

Style and Price

One of the advantages of adding an alternative to traditional staircases is that consumers have so many choices. Modern residential elevators come in dozens of sizes, shapes, configurations, styles, and designs. Some are one-person conveyances while others are built to accommodate multiple riders. Now that so many people are choosing to include these most modern forms of conveyance in their homes, prices are coming down. Elevators look great in any home, but can become the centerpiece of a room if that’s what the owner wants. They’re truly the utmost in modernity when it comes to the overall look and feel of a room.

Lifestyle

Never Too Late: G.A. Sallee’s Debut Thriller Is an Ode to Creative Timing

Published

6 days ago

October 7, 2025

Michelle Langton

G.A. Sallee’s journey to authorship didn’t begin in a college writing class or with a publishing contract in hand. It began with a lifelong love of storytelling, set aside during his military service. Now, with the release of his debut novel, True Crime: Fact or Fiction, Sallee proves that creative callings don’t come with expiration dates.

Writing Without a Deadline

Sallee first discovered his passion for writing in high school, but like many, life pulled him in different directions. Service in the U.S. Army, marriage, and the everyday responsibilities of adulthood filled the years. But the spark remained.

“Once I started again, it took on a life of its own,” he says. “Halfway through, I realized I was writing a real book.”

That realization mirrors a broader shift in the publishing world. According to Publishers’ Weekly, more than 60% of debut authors today are over the age of 40. Sallee joins this wave with a novel that’s both personal and poignant, shaped by experience and driven by heart.

Inside the Pages of True Crime: Fact or Fiction

The story centers on podcaster Scott Townsend, whose true crime series leads him to investigate a 5-year-old cold case. But when he uncovers a second murder echoing the first, his pursuit of the truth becomes increasingly dangerous. What started as a strategy to grow his audience spirals into something far more threatening.

As Scott’s motives shift and his safety unravels, the novel asks timely questions: When does storytelling cross the line into obsession? And what happens when the pursuit of justice becomes personal?

The title isn’t just about the podcast content: it reflects the uncertainty surrounding Scott’s own reality. Readers are invited to question what’s real, what’s constructed, and how far someone will go for the sake of a story.

A Life That Informs the Work

Sallee served in the Iraq War and currently lives in South Carolina with his wife, Sandrice, and their three dogs. His experiences inform his writing in quiet, powerful ways. Themes of duty, perseverance, and emotional complexity run through the narrative, lending it depth without ever becoming heavy-handed.

“My dog Jake would lie on my lap while I wrote. I’d type on his back for hours,” he recalls. That simple image speaks volumes about the warmth and humanity behind the suspense.

Beyond the military and family life, Sallee’s writing space is steeped in personal meaning. Surrounded by loved ones and memories, he crafts stories that are as much about human nature as they are about crime and mystery.

A Story That Resonates Beyond the Page

In a market often driven by fast-paced trends and debut authors in their twenties, Sallee’s voice offers something different: perspective. His storytelling isn’t flashy, but focused, clear, and emotionally grounded. Readers looking for depth over drama will find a welcome space here.

He writes not just to tell a story but to connect. ‘I want people to feel like they’re part of my journey,” he says.

What’s Next

While Sallee dreams of reaching bestseller lists and publishing more novels, his real success is in showing what’s possible when passion meets perseverance. His book is a reminder to anyone feeling the urge to create – there’s no wrong time to begin. Each word written is a step toward something meaningful.

If you’re searching for your next thriller or murder mystery with substance and heart, True Crime: Fact or Fiction deserves a place on your shelf.

You can learn more and follow G.A. Sallee’s journey at gasallee.com.