The current pandemic has catalyzed massive changes in the real estate and relocation industries. Among the notable shifts include an almost universal movement towards remote solutions facilitated through technology. While many of these solutions have been technically accessible for many years, the pandemic has finally pushed companies to prioritize their use.
According to the Florida-based moving company New Leaf Moving Group, one of the most prominent shifts occurring in the operational structures of moving companies is the trending away from in-home estimates. In an effort to abide by social distancing regulations and limit the potential for the spread of the virus, companies like New Leaf Moving Group have gravitated towards contactless estimate alternatives such as over-the-phone estimates. Looking to the future, the company even plans to implement video call estimates for increased accuracy.
While some companies did provide phone estimates previous to the pandemic, their offering was not necessarily the industry standard. Currently, however, the majority of estimates occur over the phone—particularly in regions where COVID numbers are high and in-home visits are discouraged. Here’s how the pandemic is inching in-home estimates out of common practice, and how phone estimates are changing the way relocation companies operate.
How phone estimates work
No two homes are alike—for that reason, no two moving jobs are exactly the same, either. While some companies are able to provide general base rates, it is the specifics of your home and situation that will determine how much a mover charges. Each job comes with its own unique factors, which makes estimates an essential measure.
Phone estimates (like in-home estimates) serve to help moving companies like New Leaf Moving Group gather information about a job’s scale and difficulty in order to determine an approximate cost. Factors taken into consideration include how many team members will be required to complete the job, the distance between the two locations, and how much equipment will be necessary to execute the move. An estimate will also seek to identify how mover-friendly your home is and whether or not any unusual or challenging logistics will arise in the process of completing the job.
During a phone estimate, a member of the moving company’s team will guide you through a series of questions aimed at determining the above listed information. You’ll be required to detail the items you need moved with special attention to large items like pianos and large pieces of furniture which may require special measures. Based on your answers, you will then be provided with the approximate cost of the job.
Benefits of phone estimates
While in-home estimates require a moving agent to come out to your home in order to assess moving costs, phone estimates can be executed remotely. Amidst the current pandemic, this aspect has clear benefits for both the moving company and the potential clients because it eliminates the possibility of virus exposure. In certain regions where cases are high, in-home estimates may even be considered outside lawful regulations.
On top of its virus-related benefits, however, phone estimates are simply more convenient for both parties. New Leaf Moving Group, for example, has seen an uptick in phone estimate requests since the onset of the pandemic. While the situation as a whole is far from ideal, the decreased demand for in-home estimates has allowed the company to help a wider range of clientele in a shorter amount of time.
In general, phone estimates are usually far easier to schedule both for the moving company and the individual. Because they require no travel or physical interactions, they fit seamlessly around other obligations and prove less of a headache to schedule. All-in-all, phone estimates are quickly gaining traction as the hassle-free, convenient alternative to the traditional in-home standard.
Drawbacks of phone estimates
While phone estimates certainly come with their fair share of perks, their convenience and ease does come with some very minor drawbacks. For one, phone estimates rely on the honesty and transparency of the client in regard to accuracy. When not present to see the home for themselves, it’s slightly harder for a moving agent to deliver a precise figure.
For best results, it’s advised that those wishing to schedule a phone estimate do so while they are present in the home and able to physically walk through the house as they speak with the moving agent. This helps minimize the risk of forgotten details and other miscommunications that could potentially lead to a less accurate estimate.
For optimum results, you may also want to prepare for the phone estimate by compiling a comprehensive written list of the items you intend to move. Notable details will include their approximate size as well. During the phone estimate, this list will serve as a valuable guide which will help ensure a more comprehensive estimate of the job.
Are in-home estimates gone for good?
While COVID-19 itself is still currently thought of as a temporary situation, many of the industry shifts it has caused will likely prove permanent regardless of the pandemic’s resolution. Mirroring the way in which remote work has gained favorability even outside the threat of the virus, the remote alternatives to in-home estimates will likely prove popular even after the pandemic ends. In short, it doesn’t look like over-the-phone estimates will be disappearing any time soon.
It may be a while before in-home estimates become obsolete (if they ever truly do). As more clients become accustomed to the convenience of phone and video estimates, however, it’s likely that moving companies will universally add them as an offered option. While companies like New Leaf Moving Group are ahead of the curve in adapting their services, it seems certain that relocation businesses across the board will inevitably follow suit.
