Shopping decisions
Measure for a sofa before ordering it
A sofa that looks right in a room planner can still be impossible to deliver if the stairwell or front door is narrow. Measure the room, every doorway on the route and any tight corners before you start searching.
A text to start with
My living room is [length] by [width]. The sofa goes on the wall opposite the TV, and I want a walkway of at least [your preferred clearance]. The front door opening is [width], the hallway is [width], and there's a [angle] turn before the living room. I'm looking at sofas around [your size target]. Help me work out the maximum dimensions to shop for, and list questions to ask the retailer about delivery.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.What to check in the answer
The maximum dimensions should be set by the tightest point on the route, which may not be the room itself. A sofa may ship in one piece or in sections, and that changes what fits through a door, so the answer should tell you to ask. Diagonal clearance at hallway turns is easy to miss. If the answer doesn't address it, ask directly.
What to do next
Send the maximum dimensions to the retailer before ordering and ask for written confirmation that delivery to your address is feasible. If the route is borderline, ask whether the retailer offers white-glove delivery, and read its failed-delivery and return policy before you pay.