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Buying a second-hand sofa, wardrobe or dining table can be straightforward until collection day arrives. The seller is only available for an hour, the item is upstairs, and nobody has checked whether it will turn into your hallway. For second-hand furniture collection in London, organise the purchase and the transport together before committing to a collection time.
This checklist helps you prepare a useful brief for a man and van service, whether you found the furniture through an online marketplace, a local advert or someone you know.
Confirm exactly what you are collecting
Save the listing and ask the seller for current photographs of the actual item. Record its dimensions, condition and any loose parts. A description such as “three-seater sofa” or “large wardrobe” is not enough to assess the vehicle or access.
- Ask for width, depth and height, including any fixed legs or projecting handles.
- For modular furniture, list each section and its dimensions separately.
- Check whether cushions, shelves, drawers, fittings and assembly instructions are included.
- Ask whether the item is already dismantled and whether any joints or panels are damaged.
If the listing dimensions are uncertain, ask the seller to measure again. A photograph with a tape measure can help explain which dimension they mean. Do not treat a similar model found online as confirmation of the size of this particular item.
Check the route at both properties
Measure more than the room where the furniture will stand. Consider the entrance, internal doors, corridors, corners, stairs and lift doors at collection and delivery. In a London flat, the difficult point may be the shared stairwell rather than your own front door.
Send your mover photographs of tight turns and tell them about floors, steps and the distance from the loading point. For a lift, obtain the door opening and usable internal dimensions from the building manager where possible. Check whether a moving slot needs to be arranged.
Measurements help the mover assess the route, but they do not guarantee that a bulky item will pass through it. If access looks marginal, resolve the question before paying for collection. Do not assume that removing a door, lifting through a window or dismantling a fixed frame is part of the booking.
Agree who prepares and carries the furniture
The seller may only be offering access to the item. They may be unable to lift it or take it apart. Likewise, “a van with a driver” does not by itself explain how many people will carry the load or which preparation tasks are included.
Confirm the number of movers, whether carrying from the room is included, and whether any dismantling or reassembly has been agreed. Our furniture dismantling and reassembly guide explains the details to discuss. If the piece needs specialist handling, share that information before accepting a quote.
Ask who supplies suitable protection and who secures loose parts. Keep fittings in a labelled bag with the relevant furniture, and identify which separate pieces belong together. Do not start dismantling unfamiliar furniture simply to meet a collection deadline.
Give the seller and mover one consistent collection plan
Agree a collection window that works for everyone, with a named contact at each address. Share the exact address, flat number, entrance instructions and a working telephone number privately with the people involved.
Check current loading arrangements for the particular street with the relevant council or building manager. Explain any restricted entrance or vehicle-height limit to the mover. A nearby space seen in a listing photograph does not confirm that it will be available on the day.
Allow for the handover as well as the journey. Confirm what happens if the seller is absent, the furniture differs from the description or access prevents collection. Ask about waiting, changed instructions and unsuccessful collection before booking; do not assume these are included in the initial price.
Keep purchase approval separate from transport
Decide who will inspect and accept the furniture before it is loaded. A mover collecting an item is not automatically agreeing to assess its quality, negotiate the purchase or pay the seller on your behalf.
If you cannot attend, agree what photographs or confirmation you need and stay available to make a decision. Record existing marks and check that all advertised parts are present. At delivery, compare the item and loose parts with that record and raise any concerns promptly.
Your ready-to-send collection brief
- Item description, photographs and measured dimensions.
- Collection and delivery postcodes, floors and access details.
- Seller’s agreed availability and contact arrangements.
- Required carrying help and any agreed furniture preparation.
- Who approves the item, supplies protection and receives delivery.
- Any uncertainty that must be resolved before collection.
For several purchases, list every collection address and time window rather than adding extra stops on the day. See our van size guide when preparing the full inventory, and our areas we cover page for London and surrounding locations.
Discuss your furniture collection with JP Man & Van
Contact JP Man & Van or call 07925405549 with your item photographs, dimensions, postcodes and proposed collection window. Explain the access and help required so the arrangements can be discussed before you book.