Start with how the furniture is supported

The product's design matters more than its shop category. A tall open storage unit may be described as shelving but stand on feet. A compact cupboard may look like ordinary flat-pack furniture yet be designed to hang from a suspension rail.

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What belongs in a bookcase assembly enquiry?

Assembly normally concerns the product's own components: side panels, base, top, back, shelves and any doors or drawers. Supply the model and quantity, and say whether it is new in boxes, partly assembled or being rebuilt after a move.

For bookcase and storage cabinet assembly, include photographs of the intended position and enough information about access and working space. A finished unit may fit an alcove even when there is insufficient room to assemble it there.

Confirm how the manufacturer requires the unit to be secured. IKEA's BILLY guide, for example, requires wall attachment using suitable fixings for the wall material. Include this in the enquiry rather than assuming a floor-standing unit needs no wall work.

Also disclose uneven flooring, skirting boards, missing parts or existing damage. Anti-tip restraint is not a repair for an incorrectly assembled or damaged body. Do not describe a leaning, already assembled bookcase as a straightforward new assembly without mentioning the fault.

When is it wall-shelf installation?

A wall-supported shelf relies on its mounting system and the wall to carry the shelf and contents. Visible brackets and concealed floating-shelf supports are different arrangements, but both need assessment of the product, location and supporting construction.

For shelf and floating shelf installation, send the shelf dimensions, product link, supplied bracket details and a clear photograph of the proposed area. Explain whether it will hold a few decorative objects or a substantial collection of books.

Do not assume that a smooth painted wall reveals what is behind it. Masonry, plasterboard and other constructions can require different fixing arrangements. The installer also needs to consider concealed services and the suitability of the proposed position before drilling.

IKEA's LACK guidance illustrates that fixing choice and stated loads depend on the specified wall arrangement. Figures for one shelf model should not be transferred to another. Ask about the actual product and installation instead of requesting a universal “heavy-duty” fixing.

A floating appearance does not mean the shelf is attached without structural support. Confirm whether the correct concealed mounting hardware is present. Existing holes or brackets should not be assumed suitable simply because they are in a convenient position.

What if the product is a wall cabinet?

A flat-pack cabinet can involve two distinct stages: assembling the body and installing the specified suspension system. Describe both when requesting wall cabinet and storage unit installation. An assembled cabinet on the floor is not the same completed job as one safely installed in its intended position.

Send the manufacturer's instructions and intended contents. Do not convert a floor-standing cabinet into a wall-hung unit merely because it has a back panel or anti-tip fittings. The product must be designed for the proposed installation, and the wall arrangement must be suitable.

For modular systems combining floor units, wall cabinets and shelves, list each item separately. A single photograph of a showroom combination may not show all the rails, connections and fixing requirements.

Send enough information to define the booking

• Product links, model numbers, quantities and instructions.
• Whether items are boxed, partly assembled or already installed.
• Photographs and dimensions of the intended position.
• Known wall and floor details; say when these are uncertain.
• Intended contents and any removal or repositioning required.
• Access restrictions and any permission needed for wall fixings.

Ask the provider to confirm assembly, wall work, supplied hardware, any separately required fixings and packaging arrangements. If wall suitability remains uncertain, ask what needs checking before a final installation plan can be agreed. In rented accommodation, resolve necessary permission before the visit.

“I have a floor-standing bookcase and two wall shelves. Here are the product instructions and location photographs. Please confirm the assembly, required bookcase restraint and shelf installation tasks, including anything that needs checking on site.”