Buying Furniture from China: A Project Quotation Checklist

A useful quotation begins with a clear brief. When furniture, fitted cabinets and finishes are discussed together, a structured room list helps identify what is included and what still needs to be decided.

1. Share a plan and a room list

Send a floor plan showing room names and dimensions. A preliminary plan can support an early discussion, but it should be identified as preliminary. For fitted cabinetry, final production dimensions need to be confirmed against site measurements and approved drawings.

List what you need room by room: sofas, occasional tables, dining furniture, beds, wardrobes, kitchen cabinets or other fitted elements. Mark existing items you want to keep. Include quantities where you know them, and identify rooms that will be completed in a later phase.

2. Explain what you like in the reference images

A picture can communicate a mood without defining the product. Add notes such as “this timber tone”, “closed storage below” or “a similar rounded edge”. Identify the details that matter and those you are willing to change. This helps separate your design direction from the exact items shown.

3. Ask for an itemised supply scope

For each quoted item, review the quantity, dimensions, materials, finish and included fittings. For cabinetry, discuss internal hardware, lighting, appliances and installation separately. A room rendering should not be treated as a list of everything included in the price.

Ask which drawings, samples or specification sheets will be approved before production. Keep the approved information together so later changes can be checked against the same brief.

4. State the destination and target timing

Share the project country, city and delivery destination, along with your target delivery date. Explain any access restrictions or project milestones that could affect receipt and installation. Production, packing, shipment and local delivery are separate stages; request a schedule based on the actual order.

Ask the quotation to identify the delivery point and the responsibilities included. Clarify freight, local handling and installation scope instead of assuming that one quoted amount covers every stage.

5. Give a working budget and priorities

An approximate budget helps frame the conversation. If you have flexibility, say where quality or a particular finish matters most and where alternatives are welcome. You can also ask for rooms or phases to be quoted separately to make the proposal easier to review.

Your enquiry checklist

• Project country, city and delivery destination.
• Floor plan, measurements and site photographs if available.
• Room list, product quantities and items to retain.
• Reference images with notes about finishes and priorities.
• Approximate budget and target delivery date.
• Questions about drawings, samples, packing, delivery and installation scope.

For inspiration, explore Guzman and Gran Via. For the next planning step, see our planning and ordering guide.

Images are product design concepts, not completed client projects. Final specifications and supply scope are confirmed for each order.