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Virtual Estimates via Video Call

Run a professional estimate without leaving your desk — set up a video call, walk through the home remotely, and send an accurate quote.

Virtual estimates save you drive time, let you cover a wider service area, and can be just as accurate as in-home visits — if you do them right. This guide shows you how.

What this covers

This is your remote estimate playbook — how to schedule, run, and close a virtual estimate using video call tools like Google Meet or Zoom.

Who uses this

Virtual estimators — this is your primary workflow. Sales agents — if you handle estimates from your desk. Owners — use this to expand your service area without adding estimators.

Before you start

  • You know how to build an estimate: How to Create an Estimate
  • You have a Google Meet or Zoom account set up
  • Your camera and microphone work (test before the call)

Step 1: Schedule the call

When a customer requests a virtual estimate, you:

  1. Open their opportunity in MoveRight
  2. Confirm the move date and address
  3. Send a calendar invite with a video call link — use Google Meet, Zoom, or whichever platform your company uses
  4. Add a note in the opportunity: “Video estimate scheduled for [date/time]”

Tip: Schedule the call when the customer is home and can walk around. Evenings and weekends often work best.

Step 2: Prep before the call (5 minutes)

Before the call starts:

  1. Review the opportunity — check any details from their web form or phone call
  2. Open Google Street View for their address — get a sense of the home size, number of floors, parking situation
  3. Open MoveRight estimate builder — have it ready so you can add items in real time
  4. Have a checklist open — rooms to ask about: bedrooms, kitchen, living room, dining room, garage, basement, attic, closets

Step 3: Run the call (20–30 minutes)

Open the conversation

“Hi [Name], thanks for hopping on the call. I’m going to walk you through a quick inventory of your home. If you can take your phone and show me room by room, that would be great. It usually takes about 20 minutes.”

Walk through each room

Ask the customer to hold their phone in landscape mode and walk you through each room. For each room:

  1. Have them do a slow pan — left to right, so you can see every wall
  2. Count the big items — ask them to open closets and cabinets
  3. Ask about specialty items — “Any pianos, safes, artwork, or antiques?”
  4. Note the access — “Is there an elevator? Any narrow staircases?”

Enter items in MoveRight as they show you. Pausing to enter items keeps your estimate accurate and shows the customer you’re being thorough.

Rooms people forget to show you

Ask about these explicitly:

  • Garage — “Can you show me the garage?”
  • Basement / attic — “Do you have a basement or attic with items going?”
  • Storage areas — “Any storage units with things to move?”
  • Outdoor items — “Any patio furniture, grills, or lawn equipment?”

Check the exit path

Ask the customer to show you the front door, any stairs, and where a truck could park. This helps you assess:

  • Stair surcharges
  • Long carry distance
  • Elevator requirements

Step 4: Discuss and send the estimate

After the walkthrough, summarize:

  • “I counted about [X] rooms with [Y] major items. I’m seeing a [Z]-person crew for about [W] hours.”
  • Mention any specialty items or surcharges
  • Ask: “Does that sound right? Anything I missed?”

Then send the estimate from MoveRight while still on the call:

“I’m sending the estimate to your phone right now. You should get it in a few seconds.”

Stay on the call while they open it. If they have questions, answer them live. Many customers sign right there on the call.

Step 5: Follow up

If they don’t sign on the call:

  1. Send a follow-up text within 2 hours: “Great chatting today! Let me know if you have any questions about the estimate.”
  2. If no signature after 24 hours, call them
  3. Track the estimate open count in MoveRight — multiple opens with no signature means they’re comparing

Common questions

What if the customer’s Wi-Fi is bad? Ask them to switch to cellular data. If that doesn’t work, pivot to a phone call — have them describe each room while you enter items. It’s less ideal but works.

Are virtual estimates as accurate? For most homes, yes. You’ll miss things occasionally (a closet behind a door, an attic they forget). That’s why you ask the explicit “any basement/attic/garage” questions. For very large or complex homes, an in-person visit is still better.

Should I offer virtual or in-person first? Offer both. Some customers prefer the convenience of a video call. Others want you in their home. Let them choose.

What happens next

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