Delivering to the wrong house is one of the most common and most avoidable mistakes in courier work. It seems impossible when you're fresh — how can you get the address wrong when it's printed right on the label? But 100 stops into a long day, when the houses all look the same, the numbers are faded or missing, and you're moving on autopilot — it happens. One misdelivery triggers a chain of problems: the intended recipient doesn't get their parcel, someone else gets something they didn't order, and the investigation points back to you. Here's how to make sure it doesn't happen.
Before You Walk to the Door
Read the full address out loud. Not just the number — the full street name, suburb, and unit number if applicable. Your brain on autopilot will read "42" and walk to number 42, even if the street name on the parcel doesn't match the street you're on. Saying it out loud forces your brain to process the full address. According to Australia Post addressing guidelines, a complete address includes unit/level, street number, street name, suburb, state, and postcode.
Check the number on the house. Before you walk up, confirm the house number matches. If the number is missing or illegible (common on older homes), count from the neighbouring houses. If number 40 is to the left and 44 is to the right, you're at 42.
Verify the street name. Especially important in areas where street names are similar — Smith Street, Smith Road, Smith Avenue, Smithfield Drive. Your GPS might put you on the right number but the wrong street. A quick glance at the street sign confirms you're where you think you are.
Common Traps
Odd/even confusion: Odd numbers on one side, even on the other. If you're looking for number 43, make sure you're on the odd side of the street. It sounds basic — but at speed, drivers deliver to 44 instead of 43 regularly.
Unit numbers vs house numbers: "Unit 3, 42 Smith Street" means unit 3 within number 42 — not number 3 Smith Street. Misreading this is one of the most common misdelivery causes, especially with apartment blocks and townhouse complexes.
Duplicate street names: Many areas have the same street name in adjacent suburbs. "Smith Street, Springfield" and "Smith Street, Springfield Lakes" might be 10km apart. Always verify the suburb, not just the street.
New developments: Brand new estates where GPS data hasn't caught up. Houses exist but Google Maps shows an empty field. In these cases, look for temporary address signs, check with the customer by phone, or ask a neighbour.
Habits That Prevent Misdeliveries
One parcel at a time. Don't carry three parcels to three different houses simultaneously. Grab one, deliver it, confirm the address, scan, photo, return. Then grab the next. Juggling multiple parcels is how they end up at the wrong doors.
Delivery photo. Take a photo that includes both the parcel and a visible house number. This proves the parcel was delivered to the correct address — and the act of framing the photo forces you to visually confirm the number.
Slow down at the scan step. The scan is your last checkpoint before the parcel leaves your possession. Take two seconds to verify the address on screen matches the address on the house. This single habit prevents more misdeliveries than anything else.