Awkward Access, Stairs and Narrow Doorways: How Proovia Handles It
Proovia's two-person crew handles awkward access, stairs, narrow doorways and heavy furniture as standard, at collection and delivery.
Service Guide · Stairs, Doorways & Access
Awkward Access, Stairs and Narrow Doorways: How Proovia Handles It
Proovia sends a two-person crew to every job, on every plan, and that crew handles awkward access, stairs and heavy furniture as standard at both ends of the job — collection and delivery.
From the Standard tier upward, the crew carries your item all the way to the room of your choice, upstairs included. Eco stops at the front door and Eco Plus at the ground floor.
Why stairs and tight doorways are a two-person job
Most of the problems people associate with “awkward access” — a wardrobe that won’t clear a landing turn, a sofa that needs tilting through a narrow hall doorway, a heavy piece of furniture up two flights — come down to one thing: one driver on their own can’t safely manoeuvre a large item around a corner, whether that’s at the collection address or the delivery one.
That’s why every Proovia plan includes a two-person crew, not just the higher tiers. Most couriers charge extra for the second person; Proovia includes it on the cheapest plan as well.
Crews don’t dismantle furniture, so if an item won’t go through a doorway in one piece, it needs taking apart before collection. Measuring doorways and stairwells in advance, and telling us about tight turns when you book, lets the crew plan the route. See Furniture Delivery Service for furniture delivery generally.
How far the crew carries it depends on your plan
“Awkward access” usually isn’t really about whether the crew can get an item up a staircase — it’s about how far into the property your plan covers.
| Plan | Delivery point | Handles stairs to get there? |
|---|---|---|
| Eco | Front door | N/A — stops at the door |
| Eco Plus | Ground floor | N/A — stops at ground level |
| Standard | Room of choice | Yes, upstairs included |
| Premium | Room of choice | Yes, upstairs included |
| First Class | Room of choice | Yes, upstairs included |
If your item is going to a first-floor bedroom, up a narrow Victorian staircase, or round a tight landing, choose Standard or above — Eco and Eco Plus are not built to go beyond the door or the ground floor at all, regardless of how the crew would otherwise handle the stairs.
What to tell us before you book
The crew plans the route in before the day, but only with the information you give at booking. Flag these when you book, not on the doorstep:
- Which floor the item is going to or coming from, and whether there’s a lift
- Narrow hallways or tight turns on the route in, especially in flats and period properties
- Doorway and stairwell width, if the item is large, heavy or an unusual shape
- Anything blocking the route — furniture, boxes, building work — that needs to be clear before the crew arrives
- Parking restrictions near either address
This isn’t paperwork for its own sake: our terms ask you to confirm the access route is adequate and clear before the crew arrives, and to disclose difficult access, extra floors or heavy furniture in advance. Access problems that weren’t flagged at booking can mean the job costs more or the crew can’t complete the room-of-choice part of the delivery on the day.
If access turns out to be unsafe on the day
Occasionally an approach looks fine on paper but isn’t safe in practice — a staircase too tight for a wardrobe, a landing that risks damage to the item or the property. If the crew judges an approach unsafe or impractical, they will stop at the point they can safely reach, and the delivery is treated as complete at that point. This is why the details above matter: the more we know before the day, the less likely the crew hits a surprise at the door.
What customers say
Read more Proovia Couriers reviews on Trustpilot“Delivery of a very heavy kitchen dresser from Amersham to Devon. It was delivered safely and at time arranged with Proovia. The delivery guys, Franz and Jaspreet did a really excellent job, with really good communication over timings and access to the house — they worked hard to get the dresser very safely in two halves to exact location.”
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Frequently asked questions
Ready to book a two-person delivery?
Get a fixed price for your item, and tell us about your access on the way.