A family in Ikorodu has found a flat on the mainland and the landlord wants the keys on Saturday. The old house has a full sitting room, three bedrooms and a gas cooker. The distance on the map looks short. Anyone who has driven it knows that a Lagos move from the outer edge to the centre is closer to a small intercity trip than a neighbourhood hop.
It is all Lagos, so the request works the same way on the app. The planning, though, is different.
Treat it as a long trip
The driver is not only carrying your things. They are also spending hours on the road, burning fuel and committing a good part of their day. That affects availability, offers and timing, so plan for it.
- Request the move early, so drivers have time to compare it with other jobs.
- Do not stack another errand on the same trip.
- Confirm that the driver knows the route from your end of town, not just the city centre.
- Ask roughly how long the trip is expected to take, and plan your arrival time at the new place around it.
Road conditions in outer Lagos can change quickly with the weather and with roadworks, so we avoid giving fixed times here. Ask the driver for their own estimate.
Start early and finish the loading before the heat
An early start usually gives the truck the best chance of reaching the new address with daylight left for offloading. Have everything packed and staged the night before. Waiting for a wardrobe to be dismantled at 9am means the truck leaves late and arrives into the busiest part of the day.
Use the checklist in the final 24 hours before your move to get the house ready, and leave small items for your own car.
Load as though the road will be rough
Long drives mean more vibration, more braking and more chances for the load to shift. For a house move:
- Heavy items go low, against the cab wall.
- Fridges, freezers and cookers go upright and strapped.
- Mattresses and padded furniture go on top of the heavy base, never under it.
- Mirrors, glass and TVs ride near the front, wrapped and wedged.
- Cover everything with a tarpaulin, in case the weather turns.
Our guide to securing a load explains what drivers will check. A good driver will stop once early in the trip to check straps. Expect that and thank them for it.
Confirm access at both ends
A long trip is wasted if the truck sits outside a gate. Before the day:
- Tell the estate office or landlord at the new address when the truck is expected, and ask about move-in passes. Read getting past the estate gate if the new place is in an estate.
- Make sure someone with keys will be at the new address when the truck arrives, not an hour later.
- Check that the street is wide enough for the truck. If the final stretch is narrow, ask whether the driver should stop short and carry the last distance.
- Ask about lift or stair rules if you are moving into a flat.
If the new place is on the island, remember that movement between the mainland and the island can be slow at certain times. Our guide on mainland-to-island move windows helps with that part.
Ready to 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.
Who rides with the truck
Decide in advance. Some customers ride in the cab or follow in a car. Others stay behind to hand over the old place and meet the truck at the other end. Either can work, but someone must be at each end. If you cannot be at both, ask a relative or a trusted person to take one end, and keep your phone charged. Take what you need for the first night in your own car, as covered in what to carry in your own car.
Offers and distance
Distance is one of the things that affect pricing on Sphere, along with the vehicle, the load, access and timing. A move from Ikorodu or Epe to central Lagos will usually draw different offers from a move within one district. Compare offers rather than accepting the first, and read what each driver says about timing.
How to do this on Sphere
Open the Sphere app, choose a truck or pickup van, and add both addresses as clearly as you can, with a landmark for each. Describe the load: "three-bedroom flat, two wardrobes, one fridge, a sofa set, a dining table, about 40 boxes". Say that this is a long trip and mention floors and gate rules. Propose a price. Nearby verified drivers accept or counter, and you choose. Agree loading and offloading help with the driver before you accept.
For more, see Lagos house moving and Lagos truck hire.
Frequently asked questions
Is a move from Ikorodu or Epe still a Lagos move on Sphere?
Yes. Sphere covers Lagos as a whole, so you request a truck or van the same way, with both addresses.
Should I use a truck or a pickup van?
A full three or four bedroom home usually suits a truck. A smaller flat may fit a pickup van, but a long trip with two loads is slower, so choose by volume.
What time should the truck leave?
Early, if the household is packed and ready. Ask the driver what they prefer.
Can I load part of the house first and the rest later?
It is better to load in one go. A second trip adds time and cost, so settle the load list beforehand.
What if the road is blocked or slow on the day?
Keep your phone on, and ask the driver to update you. Plan a buffer so that the new address can still receive the load in daylight.
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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