Start with overall dimensions
Record total width, depth and height, including arms, back and legs. Distinguish these from seat dimensions: a listing may emphasise sitting space without making the complete footprint clear. Ask which components are genuinely removable and who can remove them without affecting assembly or warranty conditions. Do not assume legs come off because they appear screwed on. For a modular sofa, request the dimensions and weight of each module as well as the final arrangement you want to create at home.
Walk the route with a tape measure
Check the building entrance, lift, stairs, landings, corridors and room doorway. Measure the clear opening with doors open, allowing for handles, frames and radiators. A tight turn can matter more than a doorway's width. Note low ceilings and changes of direction. Measurements help identify obstacles but cannot guarantee a complicated manoeuvre on their own. Give the delivery service a sketch and photographs where access is uncertain, rather than asking them to judge from one isolated doorway measurement.
Test its life inside the room
Mark the sofa footprint using paper or tape compatible with the floor. Open nearby doors and drawers and check the route towards the window. For a sofa bed or recliner, reproduce the extended position too. Do not measure only when it is closed and nobody is using it. If it includes a chaise, confirm its orientation against the seller's diagram: right and left can be described from different viewpoints. Make sure the configuration in the basket matches the arrangement you actually tested.
Agree delivery details before paying
Ask where delivery ends, whether stairs, unpacking or assembly are included, and what happens if the piece cannot enter. Check whether packaging increases transport dimensions and whether it may be removed before a difficult manoeuvre. Keep the answer and product drawing. Do not plan to remove a shared railing, window or communal door without the necessary permission and assistance. If access remains uncertain, manageable separate modules may solve the problem better than hoping the delivery crew will discover an unplanned route on arrival.
