You don’t need to interrogate anyone — most of these take ten seconds each, and a good assembler will volunteer half of them unprompted. But every question below exists because skipping it has burned someone.
The money questions
1. “Is that price fixed, or an estimate?” The single most important question. A fixed price can’t grow; an estimate can. If it’s hourly, ask for the expected hours and the minimum charge — see hourly vs fixed pricing for how to choose.
2. “What does the price include?” Travel, parking, wall-anchoring, packaging disposal. Four quotes that look different are often the same quote with different things left out.
3. “How would you like to be paid, and when?” Payment on completion is standard. Card or bank transfer beats cash for the paper trail. Large upfront payment is a red flag.
The competence questions
4. “Have you built this item before?” For big modular pieces — PAX, Stuva, sliding-door anything — experience specifically with that product is worth paying for. “Dozens” is the answer you want.
5. “Do you have public liability insurance?” A yes, with the insurer’s name. This covers damage to your home during the work. No legal requirement exists, which is exactly why you have to ask.
6. “Will you anchor tall furniture to the wall?” The correct answer is “yes, that’s standard — what are your walls?” Wardrobes and tall chests genuinely kill children when unanchored; an assembler who shrugs at this is telling you something.
The logistics questions
7. “What do you need from me before you arrive?” Listen for: boxes in the right rooms, floor space cleared, delivery checked against the note. An assembler with a clear answer has a process.
8. “What happens if a part is missing or broken mid-build?” It happens even with good brands. You want to hear how they handle it — identifying the part number for reorder, building everything else, and what a return visit costs. Our missing parts guide explains your side of that process.
9. “What’s your cancellation policy?” Deliveries slip. Most assemblers happily move a booking with a day’s notice; confirm it rather than assume it.
10. “Can you confirm all that by text or email?” Item list, price, inclusions, date. Ten seconds to send, and it converts every answer above from a conversation into an agreement.
Using the answers
Two or three quotes, ten questions each, and the decision usually makes itself: the best assembler is rarely the cheapest or the dearest, but the one whose answers were specific. When you’re ready, request quotes here and put the list to work.
Frequently asked questions
Is it rude to ask an assembler about insurance?
Not at all — established tradespeople get asked constantly and answer without blinking. The awkwardness you might feel asking is nothing next to the awkwardness of an uninsured accident in your home.
What if I don’t know my furniture’s product names?
Photograph the box labels — they carry the product name and article number, which is everything an assembler needs. If the boxes aren’t delivered yet, your order confirmation email lists the same details.
Prices and timings on this page are indicative, based on typical quotes we see across the UK. Your job may cost more or less — the only way to know is to get quotes for your specific items and location. This site earns a fee when we pass enquiries to assembly firms; this never changes what you pay.