Nowadays, there are many ways a company can give a price estimate for their moving and storage services. A decade ago, the most common method was an in-person estimate, where a representative of the business comes to your home, looks it over thoroughly, and quotes a price based on your household belongings.
But it's starting to become more and more common for a mover to offer virtual variations. Many moving companies now have an online tool on their websites that produces an estimate based off information the customer provides, or an AI-generated quote working in a similar manner. These estimates happen remotely rather than in-person.
While online and AI estimates may be more convenient in the moment, they aren't nearly as reliable as an in-person quote. Below are some of our top reasons to always get an in-home moving estimate when possible.
Learn More About Your Moving Company
Unlike an online or AI moving estimate, an in-home quote requires a representative of your moving company to physically come to your home. This means you'll have time to talk with them one-on-one, giving you an idea of the type of service they provide, from their expertise on moving and storage solutions to the quality of their customer care.
You can use your in-home estimate as a time to ask your mover about things like:
- Licensing and Insurance
- Valuation Protection Options
- References from Past Customers
Get All Your Moving Questions Answered
Similarly, you can use your scheduled in-home estimate time to make sure you and your movers are crystal clear on each line item listed, and ask questions about what moving day will look like in general. Since an in-home estimate allows for face-to-face communication with your mover, it makes it easier to get answers to anything you're still wondering about.
Some things you may want to ask about could include:
- Delivery Windows
- Shipment Tracking
- Add-On Services
You Will Avoid Less Hiccups on Moving Day
Homeowners aren't expected to know what type of equipment will be necessary for a residential relocation, that's part of the reason you hired professionals in the first place. But if you go with an online or AI estimate, your movers won't have the opportunity to come see your belongings ahead of time.
Moving companies will utilize different strategies, equipment, and numbers of workers depending on the weight, delicacy, and other factors of your belongings. By seeing your items firsthand, your mover will know the amount and types of trucks to bring, if they need more specialized equipment for disassembling furniture pieces, packing materials needed, and how many movers will be necessary.
Your Estimate Will Be More Accurate
For an online or AI estimate, the quote you are given is dependent on you inputting your information in correctly. Maybe you looked all around your household and were pretty certain you included everything, but moving companies are professionals when it comes to household relocations. Did you remember everything in your garage? What about the closet in the guest room? For these sorts of reasons, online and AI moving estimates aren't nearly as accurate as in-home versions.
Bekins of South Florida is a trusted moving and storage company that's also an agent of the well-known Bekins Van Lines, allowing us to complete long-distance relocations with ease and efficiency. We offer a wide variety of moving and storage services, and have earned hundreds of 5-star reviews from our past customers for our expertise and seamless relocations.
If you have an upcoming relocation in South Florida, get in touch with Bekins of South Florida today for a free, in-home estimate on any of our moving and storage services, and find out more about what we can do!
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