The new terrace house in Sembawang that the 47-year-old bought has a lift. Located in the dining hall on the first floor, it makes it easy for her to access the other levels of her four-storey home.

She paid $1.3 million for the 99-year leasehold property.

Her home is in a development of 14 houses. That project is one of five in Sembawang - all with lifts - by developer Fragrance Homes.

All together, there are 65 such homes priced between $1.3 million and $1.5 million. Seventeen houses in two of the projects launched last November were sold out within two months.

Over in Tanjong Katong, another builder, Wenul Development, is also touting homes with lifts. Five of the 10 properties, priced between $3.4 million and $3.8 million, have found buyers since last November.

'Our customers, who are usually in their 50s, find the lift very convenient to move from the basement to their rooms on the third floor,' said Mr Calvin Tan, 30, managing director of Wenul.

'As for the young crowd, they think it's cool to have a lift.'

Certainly, the interest in home lifts has given lift companies, well, a lift.

Mr Ganesh Annamalai, managing director of Schindler Lifts, said he has noticed a growing number of inquiries from customers. He did not want to reveal sales figures.

Read the full story in today's edition of The Sunday Times.