A moving quotation becomes meaningless unless it is based on the actual move. When you get a price from a mover that hasn’t seen your house, there is a likelihood of changes in price on the actual day of moving. It is at this point that the pre-move survey comes into play. It is one of the simplest ways to get more reliable pricing and better professional moving service.
What a Pre-Move Survey Actually Is
A pre-move survey is an assessment of your home or space before your scheduled move date. A representative from the moving company walks through the property, looks at what needs to be moved, asks about specialty items, and gathers details needed for a written estimate.
At Daymakers Moving & Storage, every estimate is done in person or by live video. We do not quote over the phone because phone quotes rely too much on descriptions. Seeing the space directly helps our team understand the real size and scope of your move.
The Elements Analyzed by Our Team During the Walkthrough
As we do the survey, our team examines each room that is going to be moved to identify the quantity of items, sizes, and weights of furniture, as well as any other items that need special treatment.
The room’s layout and access points are also analyzed by our team since these aspects influence the whole process of moving. The access points include:
- Staircases
- Narrow hallways
- Availability of elevator access
- Parking restrictions
- The distance between the entrance and the truck
- Any difficult or tight access points
Knowing these points in advance allows us to have the crew prepared when the moving day comes.
Items That Require Special Treatment
Each item cannot be treated in the same way. The pianos, gun safes, heavy safes, large appliances, and oversized furniture may require special equipment and/or planning.
These items are identified by our team during the pre-move survey and included in the initial estimate. In such a way, we avoid unexpected problems with the crew being unprepared to treat a difficult or heavy item on the moving day.
Specialty items include:
- Pianos
- Gun safes
- Heavy safes
- Oversized furniture
- Delicate items
- Large appliances
Questions to be Asked in the Survey
An effective pre-move survey must be interactive, as our professional movers will ask you about your move date, packaging, storing, and self-moving items.
It is also time to pose questions such as the following:
- How do you calculate the cost estimate?
- What is included in the estimate?
- Do you offer packing services?
- How do you handle valuable/fragile items?
- What if my move date changes?
- Is there any storage option if necessary?
The clear answers to these and other questions during the survey may give you peace of mind before scheduling the move.
How the Estimate is Formed After the Survey
Following the survey, the moving company makes up a written estimate of costs, taking into account all information gathered during the survey, including the size of the move, accessibility conditions, special items, packing and storing needs.
In comparison with the telephone estimates, the in-person or live video estimates are more reliable, and that is why they are so useful.
How to Prepare Before the Survey Appointment
You do not need to pack or clean your entire home before the survey. A little preparation, though, can make the appointment more useful.
Before the survey, it helps to:
- Walk through your home.
- Note heavy, fragile, or oversized items.
- Decide whether you want packing help.
- Point out tight access areas.
- Mention anything that will not be moved.
- Share any possible storage needs.
The more information you provide, the more accurate the estimate can be.
How the Survey Ensures Your Moving Day Goes Well
In most cases, moving day challenges arise from incorrect estimates. The movers might arrive and discover there are many more items, furniture that wasn’t talked about, that is too heavy, or stairs that weren’t part of the initial quote.
A professional moving survey will help avoid such problems. For all those planning to move to Hudson, WI, or to other parts of St. Croix County, having the survey done before the actual move is a good idea.
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