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Preparing your sofa for delivery
If you’re in the market for a second-hand couch, moving house or just transporting a sofa for another reason then you’ll need to think ahead a bit to make sure your furniture arrives fit for purpose. Unless you’re moving a kid’s couch, you will need more than one pair of hands to shift the furniture. Undertaking the move yourself is doable, but sometimes it pays to hire a sofa delivery specialist.
Preparing your Sofa for Transport
Clean and remove covers: Vacuum the sofa and remove exterior covers, these can be transported separately.
Take off the cushions: These are only going to get in the way when transporting a sofa, so take them off beforehand – simple!
Work out your route carrying a sofa can be hard work, so plan where you’re going to take it first. Set up stops (with padding on wooden floors) if you can’t make the lift all in one go.
Protect it: Before your sofa is loaded onto the van, cover it in a sheet or plastic protective cover to prevent damage.
When Moving your couch
If you need to lift your sofa do be careful, make sure you keep your back and arms as straight as possible. The weight distribution of sofas can vary, but the majority tends to be where the back joins the base, therefore, they can be prone to tipping towards the backrest.
Laying out spare carpet at key points where you may need to stop and rest or pivot the settee can help you avoid damage to wood flooring too.
It always makes sense to have spare hands to help you move, and even spare eyes to make sure you don’t end up in a slapstick situation – knocking over lamps and banging into walls.
Delivering the sofa
Depending on how much of the lifting you want to do you can try three different levels of service when it comes to sofa delivery and transportation. You can go it alone, find a sofa courier to help with some of the move or sit back and let someone else do all the work (not on the sofa).
Doing it yourself: Obviously the most economical option and the most difficult way to transport a couch. You’ll want at least two people to lift the sofa if it’s a 2 or 3 seater and more if it’s larger or especially heavy. Plus you’ll want an extra pair of eyes to watch out for those tight corners. Don’t forget to pivot.
Having padded feet on the sofa is always helpful, as this way you can put it down anywhere without fear of damage; this will also help prevent it slipping should you need to rest it on stairs.
Partial service: If you can get the sofa in and out of the houses, up and down the stairs, but don’t own a large enough vehicle to transport it, then a simple man and van could be useful to you. You’ll pay less if you’re doing all the work and s/he’s just doing the driving.
Full-service : If you’re unable to tackle the move yourself, or just don’t want the hassle, then the full works is for you. A complete service will take your sofa from a to b including removal and installation; all you have to do is put your feet up, and maybe give them a cup of tea!
When looking at any delivery services you should ensure a couple of things. Firstly, be sure that the driver has goods in transit insurance. Secondly, though not required, check to see if they are associated with any specialist removals organisations, as this can mean an inherently high level of service. Thirdly, make sure you double-check with the transporter what service you’re getting. You don’t want to assume they will help with removals and end up with you doing all the legwork.
Comparing sofa delivery quotes
Getting sofa delivery quotes for can be a tiresome and time-consuming process, phoning around companies and browsing prospective webpages gets very boring very quickly – which is why we help you find sofa couriers by having them come to you!
List your sofa moving requirements on Shiply, including when and where you need it moving, as well as optional details such as size and weight. Available couriers will then be able to quote you a transport estimate for carrying your furniture.
Compare the transporters’ quotes as well as their feedback scores from other Shiply users, meaning that you can choose your preferred transporter, be it the cheapest or the best rated.
Completing Your Sofa Move
When courier sofa and you meet at the destination, make sure you’ve prepared an adequate room for the furniture, as well as a route into its new home that’s free of clutter.
Depending on the sofa courier service you arranged, this is where either you or the driver will be doing some heavy lifting. The same rules apply as moving most things; lift with your legs, keep a straight back and put it down if the sofa becomes too heavy.
When you’re happily seated on your new settee please do leave feedback for the Shiply courier. Feedback and reviews help us create a stronger database of reliable couriers, which in turn assists future users who are looking for deliveries.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Shiply Cover My Area?
Yes! There are couriers using Shiply all over the country and abroad, so whether you need to move a sofa across town or send a car across Europe, we have got you covered.
Does Shiply Have Different Sized Vehicles?
There are thousands of couriers on Shiply, with a wide range of vehicle sizes capable of handling any delivery. Providing the rough dimensions (and pictures if possible) on your listing will allow the delivery company to get the right vehicle sent out to you.
How Can I Contact Shiply Support?
Shiply Support is available from 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday. You can send an email to .
Who Will Carry Out My Delivery?
Whoever you choose! There are thousands of rated transport providers on our platform ready to make a bid to carry out your delivery. It is up to you to decide which quote to accept.
When Will I Receive A Quote?
You will typically start to receive quotes within 30 minutes. If you are worried about the lack of quotes, try adding some more detail to your listing as transport providers may be unsure of dimensions or weight and feel unable to provide an accurate quote. If your delivery is urgent, you can try our 'featured delivery' feature which moves your listing to the top of the search page for couriers.
How Many Quotes Will I Receive?
Whilst there is no guarantee of quotes, 98% of our listings receive at least 3 quotes, so you are likely to find someone who can undertake the delivery of your items.
Does Shiply Provide Packing Materials?
If your item requires packing materials or extra care then you should make sure this is highlighted in your listing and discussed with any transport provider whose quote you are considering. Couriers on Shiply are able to provide all levels of service and can help pack your items, just ensure you inform them of your needs.
Will My Goods Be Tied Up Securely?
Transport providers will almost always tie up an item in the transport vehicle, as the risk of damage from moving around during transit is high. You should always confirm safety precautions and packing needs with transport providers before accepting a quote.
Can Items Be Taken Upstairs?
Yes, items can be taken upstairs if needed, and can also be assembled. Transport providers on Shiply are happy to provide these services, but you should ensure that you are mentioning these requirements in your listings as it may mean a second person is required for the move.
Can I Travel With My Goods?
The majority of transport providers on Shiply are only insured for the transportation of goods, however, some are also able to take people. If you need to travel with your goods, make sure to mention this in your listing and highlight this to any courier who quotes on your listing.
What If I Need To Cancel My Booking?
If you have accepted a quote and paid the deposit but wish to cancel the delivery, then you should first inform your chosen transport provider that you no longer require the delivery. You should then contact us at to have your deposit refunded.
Can I Change The Address Of The Delivery?
If you have not yet accepted a quote then you are able to change the address of your listing. Note that editing details of your listing after publishing will result in active quotes being voided, so you will have to wait for new quotes to come in. If you have already accepted a quote and need to change the address, please let your transport provider know and contact us at .
How Shiply Works
How Shiply Works
- 1
Request quotes from our 459,219 rated transport providers.
- 2
Compare prices and read previous customer feedback to pick the right delivery quote for you.
- 3
Sit back and relax while your item is safely delivered by your chosen transport provider.
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How Shiply Helps The Environment
By utilising spare capacity of vehicles running on the road, Shiply helps reduce the number of otherwise wasteful journeys needed to transport the item.
Recent Testimonials
Mark W.
"Simple and effective, will be using regularly. Good value and makes the process of moving big things around so much easier!"
Sandy B.
"In a matter of hours, I received an offer that matched my budget from a company with very good feedback. I love being able to rely on Shiply for getting the precious finds from eBay across the country for a reasonable price."
John G.
"Shiply fills the gaps between getting bulky items collected and delivered and you having to go get them yourself. Used them many times, saves me lots of time and money."
Charlotte H.
"All went very smoothly and easily and the courier whose bid I accepted were lovely, good communication, and helpful. Couldn't fault at all and would certainly use again."