Writing Pickup and Drop-Off Notes on Sphere: Landmarks, Gates and Access

The driver is on the right street, but the house numbers have faded, the gate has no sign and the customer is not picking up because the phone is in another room. A good note on the request would have fixed all of it before the truck left.

On Sphere, you add a pickup and a drop-off, and you can describe the load and the access. This guide shows what to write so a driver can find you and price the job properly.

Why the note matters for the offer

Drivers see your addresses and your description before they send an offer. A vague address makes a driver guess how far to drive, how long to wait and how hard the access is. A clear one lets them accept your price or send a fair counter-offer. Our guide on how to describe your load on Sphere covers the load. This post covers the places.

What to write for the pickup

Treat it like directions to a friend who has never visited.

1. The street and the nearest landmark: a church, junction, filling station, a big shop.
2. The colour of the gate or building, and anything easy to spot.
3. Whether it is inside an estate, and whether a pass or gate approval is needed.
4. The floor, and whether there is a lift or only stairs.
5. Where the truck can stop, and whether the road is narrow or soft after rain.
6. The name and phone number of the person who will be there.

What to write for the drop-off

Do the same for the new place, and think about what the driver will face on arrival. Is the road finished? Is the gate wide enough for the truck, or must it park outside? Who will open it? If the new house is not ready, say when it will be.

Our guide on getting past the estate gate explains why a gateman can delay a truck, and what to arrange early.

Details that save a phone call

• Say if the road is a dead end or if a big truck cannot turn.
• Mention overhead cables or low gates. Our post on clearance checks shows what drivers look for.
• Give the best time for the truck to arrive and whether anyone can be there early.
• If there are steps from the gate to the door, mention them.

A sample note

Here is what a good pickup note can look like: "Behind the filling station on the main road, green gate with a black door, second floor, no lift. Estate gateman needs a name, call Funke on arrival. The truck can stop outside the gate, the road is narrow so please come early." It is short, it names a landmark, it covers access and it gives a contact.

What not to write

Skip long stories and anything about price in the address field. Keep each note short and factual. Do not paste a whole paragraph of feelings about the landlord. Do not put someone else's phone number without telling them.

Check it before you submit

Read the note as if you were a driver who has never seen the place. Could you find it without calling? If not, add the missing landmark.

How to do this on Sphere

Open the Sphere app, choose a truck or pickup van, add the pickup and drop-off, then write the access note and describe the load. Propose a price, and nearby verified drivers will accept or send counter-offers. Choose the offer you want, and agree loading and offloading help with the driver before you accept.

Useful pages: house moving in Lagos and Sphere in Abuja.