Arrived quickly and well-packaged. I put it together slowly and when I could get to it over days, but if you had help, you could put it together in one day. This unit is almost identical to one found an other website, same features, same 400lb weight rating, but almost $1000 less on Amazon. Crazy. Unit is heavy and sturdy, but it might not seem that way until the last few steps, like attaching the steps to the bed frame and attaching the frame to the wall. This made it all very sturdy, very reassuring. Build it in the room you're going to use it in, obviously. Just try to anticipate the next move and how you're going to do it. Don't get yourself boxed in by building up agasinst the wall immediately, for example, but, on the other hand, get it where its going to stay before you build it too big and can't move it. Just take your time. I read the directions over 5-6 times until I got a real sense of it and how i would put it together. Don't rush, don't drink and don't skip any steps...lol. It'll be great. Your kid will love it.