When our lift provider suggested a full replacement at a cost of $260k, the committee engaged an independent lift consultant. After assessing the equipment, the consultant confirmed that replacement was necessary.
However, the consultant also identified specific maintenance failures that had been causing the frequent breakdowns. Following their intervention with the service provider, call-outs were reduced to zero.
We did likewise a few years ago when we, (an 8-storey building) came to replace our 30 year old lift. We used a list consultant based in St Leonards, NSW from narrowing down just what options we needed, to running the tender, evaluating the responses and recommending who to go with and then signing off at the end of the job. He was especially useful in cutting through the red tape where lift regulations meet fire regulations, an area none of us had a clue about. Worth every penny of his fees.