You arrive at the pickup address with a full tank, a clean truck and the price you accepted. Then you see the third floor, no lift, a wardrobe that will not fit the stairwell and a customer who says helpers are "on the way". The job is already harder than the request said.
Most bad moving days are decided before the driver leaves home. A few questions asked at the start would have caught nearly all of them. Here are the ones worth asking.
Questions about the load
What exactly is being moved?
"Household items" can mean a self-contain or a five-bedroom house. Ask for the main pieces: beds, wardrobes, fridge, freezer, sofa set, generator, gas cooker. If the customer cannot list them, ask for a photo of the main rooms. A picture of a packed living room tells you more than a paragraph.
Is anything unusually heavy, long or fragile?
Freezers, generators, pianos, glass tops, long pipes and large mirrors all change how you load. Ask early, because they affect vehicle choice and timing. Our post on lifting heavy items safely covers what to do when the weight is real.
Is it a full load or will there be a second trip?
A pickup van that cannot hold the whole move needs a clear plan. Settle the number of trips before you accept, not after you have loaded half the house.
Questions about access
What is the pickup like?
Ask about the floor, the stairs or lift, the gate, the width of the street and where you can park. A narrow road with a long carry takes much more time than the address suggests. If the street is tight, our guide on moving from tight-access homes will help you judge it.
Is there an estate or a gate pass?
Many estates in Lagos and Abuja have rules on move-in times, passes or levies. Ask who sorts it and who will meet you at the gate. A delay of an hour at the gate costs you time that was not in the offer.
What does the drop-off look like?
Do the same checks at the other end. Many drivers only ask about pickup and are surprised at the destination.
Questions about help
Who is loading and offloading?
This is the question that causes the most arguments. Agree loading and offloading help with the customer before you accept. Ask whether helpers will be there, how many, and whether you are expected to carry heavy furniture yourself. Do not assume. Our guide on working with a loading crew covers how to share the work.
Who will be at the address?
Ask for a contact person at both ends and confirm a phone number that will actually be answered.
Drive with Sphere
Turn your truck or van into steady income
Accept move requests in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan on your own schedule. Free to join, and you keep 90% of every job.
Questions about time
When can I start, and how long is the customer's window?
If the customer's lift is only available between certain hours, or the landlord wants the flat empty by noon, that changes the schedule. Ask for the earliest and latest times and work backwards.
What is the distance and the road like?
A route across the Lagos mainland and island is not the same as a short run within one area. Think about traffic and any long wait at a bridge or toll point, and be honest about how long the trip will take.
Using the answers
Once you have the answers, you have three options:
- Accept the customer's proposed price if the job is as described.
- Send a counter-offer if the access, weight, distance or loading help makes the job harder than the price suggests.
- Decline politely if the load does not fit your vehicle or you cannot do the timing.
A counter-offer backed by a clear reason is accepted more often than a bare higher number. Our post on counter-offers that win jobs goes through how to explain yours.
Write down the answers in the app chat so both sides have the same record. If the customer says "helpers will be there" in the chat, you both know what was agreed.
How to do this on Sphere
- Open the request and read the load description, addresses and any notes.
- Message the customer with your questions before you accept or counter.
- Accept, counter or decline based on the answers.
- Confirm the final details in the chat, including time and loading help.
- Drive to the pickup with the agreed information on your phone.
Not yet a Sphere driver? Read about joining on the drive and earn page.
Frequently asked questions
Should I ask questions before I accept or after?
Before. Once you accept, the customer expects the job to match what was said, and surprises at the door are harder to fix.
What if the customer cannot answer my questions?
Ask for photos of the load and the access, or reduce your risk by sending a counter-offer that allows for the unknowns.
Is it fine to decline a request?
Yes, if the load does not suit your vehicle or the timing does not work. A clear decline is better than a rushed acceptance.
Do I have to help with loading?
Only if you agreed to it. Settle who carries what before you accept, and keep that agreement in the chat.
How many questions are too many?
Ask the ones that change the price, the time or the vehicle. A short, clear message is better than a long list.
Start driving
Turn your truck or van into steady income
Accept move requests in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan on your own schedule. Free to join, and you keep 90% of every job.
Get New Guides
Join Sphere's logistics insights list
New guides on moving homes, offices and business goods, sent to your inbox.
