Define where delivery ends
Identify the agreed handover point and the person receiving the load. Ask whether the transport service ends at a depot, at an address or another specified location. Do not assume the driver carries components into a garden or onto a roof terrace.
Confirm booking requirements, access times and restrictions with the carrier and site team. If several parties arrange different stages, keep one written responsibility schedule. The contract and agreed delivery terms govern the actual obligations.
Request the final package schedule
Obtain package numbers, external dimensions, weights and identification references. Profiles, glass and accessory cartons may need different handling arrangements. Have the appointed handler choose suitable equipment using the supplier's handling instructions.
Do not select a lifting method from a photograph or assume every crate is handled identically. When information is preliminary, agree when final details will be issued and make the handling booking conditional on confirmation.
Survey the route to temporary storage
Check gates, corners, overhead obstructions, slopes and working space. Include the route to storage, not just the final installation position. Photograph narrow points and give the handling contractor measurements rather than describing access as easy.
Rooftops and enclosed courtyards can need a separate handling plan. Raise these constraints before packaging and transport arrangements are fixed. Each party should confirm its own part rather than relying on the delivery address alone.
Prepare receiving checks and storage
Obtain storage instructions and reserve a suitable area that remains available if installation is delayed. Keep package labels readable and components associated with their assembly or bay references. Do not improvise stacking or expose packaging contrary to the supplied instructions.
Compare package counts with the packing list and photograph visible damage before opening where practical. Follow the agreed reporting procedure promptly, including applicable deadlines. Retain identifying packaging until shortages and unclear labels are reconciled.
Separate arrival from installation readiness
A shipment can arrive before foundations, wiring or access are ready. Agree who protects the goods and what happens if the installer must postpone work. Confirm installation readiness after the required site checks and receipt reconciliation.
For quotation, provide the destination, delivery restrictions, handling arrangements, storage location and proposed receiving window. Request the packing list and handling information as explicit handover items rather than assuming they will reach the receiving team automatically.
Buyer questions
Does shipping include unloading?
Only when included in the agreed service. Confirm the handover point and responsibility in writing.
Should installation start on the delivery day?
Coordinate with the installer and allow for receipt checks, site readiness and transport changes.
Continue planning your project
- Pergola export packaging and shipping guide
- Louvered pergola installation preparation checklist
- What Should I Check Before My Pergola Ships?
Discuss the details of your project
Send your location, dimensions, photographs and the questions you want confirmed. We can review the proposed product and quotation scope with you.
Request a quote