How to Prepare a Sofa for Apartment Pickup
Measure the sofa and the route, clear building access, and tell the crew about stairs or elevators before pickup day.
Start with the route, not the sofa
Measure the sofa at its widest, tallest, and deepest points. Then measure door openings, hallway pinch points, stair turns, and the elevator door. Record what can come off, including feet, cushions, or sectional connectors.
Check the building rules
Ask management about elevator reservations, loading areas, approved work hours, floor protection, and certificate-of-insurance requirements. A confirmed route prevents a crew from arriving at a locked service door.
The day-before checklist
Remove personal items from under cushions. Clear lamps, rugs, wall art, and small furniture from the path. Keep pets and children away from the work area. Do not attempt structural disassembly unless the piece was designed for it and you have the instructions.
Buffalo residents should check the City of Buffalo’s current Streets and Sanitation guidance for municipal bulk-item rules. Other municipalities set their own rules.