In-Home Estimate or Virtual Survey: Which is best for you?

Regardless if you’re moving across the country or across town, creating a detailed accounting of your items is necessary to your relocation to be set up for success. Over the past few years, a few Auburn Hills moving companies have expanded their up-front estimate process to include virtual visits. But Corrigan las an industry leader offering virtual surveys for over 4 years? We’ve blended technology and best practices since 2018 to create the perfect digital estimation process. When some moving companies were figuring out best practices, Corrigan didn’t miss a beat about serving our customers and providing a simple, safe option for the preliminary move consultation. While most customers prefer welcoming us into their homes, the option of having a survey that can be done virtually is not going away. So now, which choice is best for your situation?

What is a Virtual Survey, anyway?

Prior to scheduling a relocation with any moving company, ’ll need to have a move consultation so you can find out their available services and price. It is common that many moving companies give you the option of having this initial consultation in your home or virtually. Though every mover has different approaches, here is what to expect when scheduling a virtual survey with Corrigan Moving.

United Van Lines (who we’re a leading agent for), created their own proprietary virtual platform that pairs with the Amazon cloud. This platform is so secure the government trusts it for many of its agencies! Ahead of your appointment, all you will need to do is download the unique Virtual Survey App from your phone or tablet’s app store. Once downloaded, you will be ready for your appointment!

When your appointment time comes, you’ll get a text and an email from your move consultant to begin. This message includes a link which will open the Virtual Survey App. Then, voila – you have a move consultant in your home! They’ll spend as much time as needed to talk with you about the specifics of your move and finding out what is most important to you regarding your relocation. After that, you’ll use your phone to walk through your home, talking and showing the consultant what items you’d like to move, the logistics of your home, driveway, etc. When you have discussed and recorded everything, your consultant will use that video to create a detailed inventory and move plan, just for you.

Fact vs. Fiction

Are Virtual Surveys Accurate?

New technology and learning how to do something takes time. However, most moving companies have integrated virtual surveys. Why? Because they work!

“When a move consultant is in a customer’s home, they’re talking with the customer along with creating the inventory. Virtual surveys allow our consultants the chance to review survey videos, think through the best solutions, ensuring accuracy. Being able to rely on that video throughout the move process, to allow the move coordinator to see it, sharing images from the videos with crew members and drivers can really eliminate surprises on the day of the move,” said the head of the Virtual Survey Team for Corrigan, Ashley Walsh.

“I worked exclusively in-home for about 7 years before transitioning to virtual surveys 100%,” Walsh continued. “I personally feel I am more accurate and thorough when working with a customer virtually. It allows me to focus on one thing at a time, which also allows the customer to focus on one thing at a time. They’re more likely to slow down, remember and relay all the details that are important to them, so nothing gets missed.”

Those who aren’t used to virtual surveys may also fear that crucial specifics, like whether or not a semi-truck can fit at the home, will be missed using a survey virtually.

“This really isn’t the case,” said Walsh. “When a move consultant drives to a customer’s home, they’re making notes before they knock on the door. How long the driveway is, where the truck should park, the best access into a neighborhood, are all things that are important for a moving company. When doing a survey virtually, we have several tools we use to get the same information. We most commonly use Google Maps, Zillow and Google Street View before starting the appointment. We can even measure the exact length of a road or driveway from satellite images. That allows us to know what we’re about to see, and tailor our questions and dialogue accordingly. Essentially, we’re capturing the exact same information as in-home consultants.”

Is it faster to have a virtual survey?

We often hear customers chose a virtual survey appointment “because it’s faster”. This isn’t really the case! Corrigan move consultants do both virtual and in-home appointments during the business day, so scheduling a virtual appointment does not change their availability for you to be seen quicker. If you have to have an appointment after regular hours, a virtual survey provides more flexible available appointment times.

When is an in-home survey better?

Sometimes having a consultant come to your home is more beneficial. Here are some reasons to think about an in-home move consultation:

 

• If you have a poor, spotty or unreliable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection
• If you own multiple fragile pieces of artwork, statues, glass tops or collectibles that must have exact measurements for crating (this can be done virtually, but you will be the one responsible for taking these measurements)
• If you do not have a smartphone or tablet device

 

Which is best for me?

Essentially, the decision of an in-home or virtual survey when talking with a Auburn Hills moving company is really all personal preference. All Corrigan consultants will give you both options and both methods have been hugely successful for us.

“Virtual surveys are an accurate, convenient option that we’re happy to permanently offer. Allowing our customers to choose which consultation method fits their needs is just another demonstration of how Corrigan Moving Systems prioritizes the customer experience,” said Walsh.

So, which one will you choose? Contact Corrigan Moving today to set up your free, no-obligation, in-home or virtual estimate!