Showroom
October 28, 2026
6 min read
The delivery crew is in your living room, the new sofa is on the floor, and everyone is smiling. This is exactly the moment to slow down. A proper furniture delivery inspection takes about ten minutes, and it's the single best way to make sure any issue gets sorted quickly.
We schedule deliveries across the Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill Triangle, so we've seen what a good handoff looks like. Here's the routine we'd follow in your house.
Problems are simple to fix when they're reported the same day. A scratch noticed in the doorway with the crew still there is a quick conversation. The same scratch discovered three weeks later is a mystery: did it happen in transit, or in your house? Nobody wants that debate.
Before delivery day, it helps to have your space ready. Our guide to prepping your house for a furniture delivery covers the path-clearing side. And if you're curious what the crew handles for you, read what white-glove delivery actually means.
If a box or wrap arrives torn, crushed at a corner, or wet, say so right away and take a photo before anyone cuts anything open. Don't make a big deal of it. Just note it. Most pieces arrive perfectly fine, but this is the one chance to record the condition they showed up in.
Once it's unwrapped and in place, do a lap. Go with your eyes first and your hands second.
Tip: use your phone flashlight held low, almost parallel to the surface. Raking light shows dents and finish flaws that overhead light hides.
Drawers should glide and close flat. Doors should hang square and latch. Extension tables should open and lock. If a table has leaves, ask the crew to open it once so you see it work. Sit on the seat. Lean on the arm. Rock gently. A solid piece should feel the same everywhere, with no creaks or tilts.
On a dining table or case piece, set a level or even a phone level app on top. Floors in older Raleigh homes aren't always flat, so a slight tilt may be your floor, not the furniture. Better to know now.
Compare what's in front of you with your paperwork. Finish, fabric, size, and quantity. With made-to-order pieces especially, it's worth confirming the fabric matches the swatch you approved. This is also where taking swatches home first pays off: you've already seen the color in your own light, so there are no surprises.
Take wide shots of each piece in place, plus close-ups of anything that looks off. If something is wrong, write it down on the delivery paperwork before you sign. Be specific: left front leg has a scratch about two inches long, for example. Vague notes are harder to act on.
You don't need to approve a piece you aren't sure about. If you can't decide, say so, note it, and call us. Our number is (919) 516-8744, and we'd much rather hear from you the same afternoon.
Some things look alarming and aren't. Fresh upholstery can show creases from packaging that relax over a day or two. Cushions may feel firmer than they did on the showroom floor and soften with use. Natural wood varies in grain and tone from piece to piece; that's the point of wood.
What isn't normal: structural wobble, visible damage, wrong finish, or hardware that doesn't fit. Flag those.
Report it the day of delivery whenever you can. Note it on the paperwork and call the showroom promptly so we can sort out next steps.
If the damage is clear, tell the crew and note it on the paperwork before signing. For anything you're unsure about, document it and call us rather than guessing.
Yes, ideally. Someone should be there to direct placement and do the walk-through while the crew is still on site.
Want to see what a well-built piece should feel like before yours arrives? Visit us at the Raleigh showroom, Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 7pm. Run your hands over a few floor models and you'll know exactly what to look for.