It depends on size of your basement staircase, if it is an average size staircase and has any turns-it will be difficult to get downstairs in the box. I once got a machine stuck halfway down the stairs while in the box. The way I move my machines into basement: I open in garage and have a friend help me lift onto pinball cart and remove packaging, strapping, and leg bolts. I then have another cart placed in basement to put machine on when we get to basement. We then put on some good grip gloves and essentially just lift and carry the machine down the stairs going very slow through doorways to make sure not to scratch backbox. I have tried dolly's, etc. and find they are not as easy as just carrying the pin down the stairs. I am a bigger guy and have some strong friends-so I guess that helps.