House moving in Lagos

Plan a Lagos house move properly

The vehicle is only one part of moving house in Lagos. There is the landlord, the estate rules, the gateman, three flights of stairs, the traffic on the way and the rain that always seems to start when the mattress is outside. Sphere handles the transport. You choose the vehicle, propose a price and agree terms with a verified driver in the app, and that leaves you free to deal with the rest.

Which vehicle fits your home?

• Single room or self-contain: a pickup van is often enough.
• One- or two-bedroom flat: a full van load or a small truck, depending on how much furniture and how many appliances you have.
• Three bedrooms or more: a truck, and sometimes more than one trip.

The surest way to know is to list your main items in the request: beds, wardrobes, fridges, sofas, the dining table and the number of boxes. Drivers will tell you whether it fits.

House moving checklist

One week before

• Confirm the date with your landlord or estate management.
• Start packing what you do not use every day: books, spare bedding, the good plates.
• Get boxes, tape, a marker and nylon for wrapping.
• Decide what is not coming with you, then sell it or give it away.

Two or three days before

• Book on Sphere, and agree the price and any loading help with your driver.
• Ask the estate office about gate passes and the hours when moving is allowed.
• Switch off and defrost the fridge and freezer so they are dry on the day.

On the day

• Keep documents, valuables, chargers and medication in one bag that never leaves your side.
• Show the driver which boxes are fragile.
• Walk through every room, including the store and the boys' quarters if you have one, before you hand over the keys.

Lagos-specific tips

Leave early or go later in the day. Rush hour is usually the slowest time to move, and it is worst when you are crossing between the Mainland and the Island.

Weekends often have lighter traffic. Check with your estate first, though, because some estates have their own rules about which days you can move.

In the rainy season, wrap mattresses, electronics and upholstered chairs in nylon before they leave the house.

If the truck cannot reach your gate, tell the driver in advance and agree where it will park.