By the second week of December every Lagos landlord, shop owner and family has the same idea: sort the move out before Christmas. Everyone wants a truck for the same few weekends, the markets are packed with stock, and half the city is planning to travel. The move that was easy in October needs more planning in December.
This post is about how to plan for the rush, not how to avoid it.
Why December is different
The roads are often busier than usual, especially around markets and on the weekends before Christmas and before the new year. Shops stock up, so traders are loading trucks too. People also leave Lagos for the holidays, which affects the roads out of the city and the number of drivers who want to work on certain days.
None of this is a reason to delay. It is a reason to ask for your truck earlier and to choose your day with care.
Start early, and be flexible on the day
If you know you will move in December, put in your request as soon as the date is firm. Drivers reply faster and with better options when the request is clear and there is time to plan.
- A weekday is often easier than a weekend in December, because weekends fill with events and travel.
- A morning start usually beats an afternoon one, because the trip is finished before the roads fill.
- Have a back-up day in mind. If rain, a funeral or an estate rule moves your date, you will not lose the whole week.
Our guide to Lagos mainland to island move windows is worth reading before you pick a time.
Check what else is happening on your route
December is the season for owambe weekends, church programmes, carnivals and road closures. A party on your street can block the truck from your own gate. Ask your neighbours and your estate office what is planned for your date. For event days in particular, read planning a Lagos move around owambe weekends.
If you must move on a busy weekend, a very early start helps. Be loaded and on the road before the day's events begin.
Estates and landlords before the holidays
Estate offices often reduce staff in late December, and the gateman who knows you may be on leave. Do these things early:
- Ask for the move-in or move-out pass well ahead, not on the morning.
- Confirm the hours the truck is allowed in and whether a refundable deposit applies. Do not assume.
- Tell your neighbours that a truck is coming, so nobody parks across the gate.
- Keep the contact number of the estate manager on your phone.
For the details, see getting past the estate gate.
Ready to move?
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Business owners: do not move into your busiest week
If you run a shop, December is when you sell the most. Moving a shop in the middle of that is hard to justify, unless the lease forces it. Better options:
- Move in the first week of December, then reopen with full shelves.
- Wait until the second week of January.
- Move overnight and open as normal. Our guide to moving a shop overnight in Lagos shows how.
If your stock is arriving as well, plan the restock around the move and not on top of it.
Keep your own travel plans separate
Many people try to move house and travel on the same weekend. That is how keys get lost and boxes get left behind. If you are travelling for Christmas, finish the move at least a few days earlier, or leave the move until you are back. A half-unpacked house is a poor welcome after a long road trip.
Pack with the holidays in mind
Gifts, generators, new appliances and decorations all show up in December loads. Photograph valuable items before they go into the truck, and carry small valuables yourself. Our final 24 hours checklist fits any December move.
How to do this on Sphere
Open the app, choose a truck or pickup van, and add the pickup and drop-off. Describe the load, give your preferred date and say whether it can move to a back-up day. Propose a price. Nearby verified drivers accept it or send counter-offers, and you pick the offer that suits your plan. Agree loading and offloading help before you accept, and ask the driver how early they can start.
More on moving in the city: house moving in Lagos and Lagos truck hire.
Frequently asked questions
Is it harder to find a truck in December?
It can be, because more people want to move and trade at the same time. Requesting early and staying flexible on the date improves your options.
What is the best day to move in December?
A weekday morning is often easier than a weekend. Weekends fill with events, church programmes and travel.
Should a shop move in December?
Only if the lease forces it. Most shops are better moving in early December or in January, or moving overnight and opening as usual.
Can I move just before I travel for Christmas?
It is better to finish a few days before you leave. Moving and travelling on the same weekend is how items get lost.
Do estates restrict moves in December?
Some do, or have fewer staff on duty. Ask your estate office early about passes and hours.
Request your move
Request a truck or van on Sphere
Choose your vehicle, propose your price, and verified drivers in Lagos accept or send a counter-offer.
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