Short answer: a virtual video survey gives you the same binding written estimate as an in-home visit, in about 10 minutes instead of 45, on your schedule instead of ours. An video-survey quote still makes sense in a few specific cases — we cover those below.
What actually differs
| video-survey quote | AI video survey | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | About 45 minutes, plus travel and scheduling | About 10 minutes on your phone |
| Scheduling | A fixed appointment window, usually business hours | Whenever you want — evenings and weekends included |
| Who is in your home | An estimator walks your home | Nobody. You record it yourself |
| Turnaround | Days, depending on the estimator’s route | Often the same day |
| Estimate type | Binding written estimate | Binding written estimate — identical |
| Coverage of the awkward stuff | Depends on what you show the estimator | Depends on what you show the camera |
Is a video survey actually as accurate?
Accuracy on an interstate move comes down to one thing: does the inventory match what actually goes on the truck? Interstate moves are priced on shipment size, so a missed closet or an unlisted patio set is what turns a quote into a surprise on moving day.
The old enemy of accuracy was the phone estimate, where a customer lists what they remember. A video survey beats that comfortably, because the camera sees the garage, the hall closet and the things people forget to mention. Against a good in-home estimator, a well-recorded video is comparable — both depend on everything being shown. The difference is that a video can be re-watched, and our team reviews every AI-built inventory before your binding quote is issued.
If you want the inventory to be right, the highest-leverage thing you can do is record properly. We wrote a short guide: how to record the perfect video walkthrough.
When an video-survey quote is still the better call
- Very large or complex homes. Four bedrooms and up with outbuildings, workshops or a packed basement can be easier to assess in person.
- Specialty items that need a look. A piano, a gun safe, a pool table, large aquariums, or antiques needing custom crating.
- Difficult access. If a long carry, a shuttle truck, or an elevator reservation is likely, an estimator seeing the street helps.
- You would simply rather. Some people want a person in the room, and that is a perfectly good reason.
For the large majority of studio-to-3-bedroom interstate moves, the video survey is faster and gets you a real number sooner.
What about privacy?
Your video is used to build your moving inventory and prepare your quote. It is not shared or used for anything else. If that still feels like a lot, an video-survey quote remains available — just ask.
How to get either one
You can start a free video survey now and have an itemized inventory built from your walkthrough, or contact us and ask for an video-survey quote instead. Both end in the same place: a binding written estimate, where the price you are quoted is the price you pay.
More on how the technology works: how AI builds a moving inventory, or see the AI Video Survey service page. Planning a specific move? Our long-distance moving and interstate moving pages cover how pricing and delivery windows work.
Frequently asked questions
Is a video survey as accurate as an video-survey quote?
It produces the same binding written estimate in about ten minutes instead of forty-five. Accuracy comes down to whether the inventory matches what actually goes on the truck, which depends on how thoroughly you record.
When is an video-survey quote still the better call?
Very large or complex homes, four bedrooms and up with outbuildings, workshops or a packed basement. Also specialty items such as a piano, a gun safe or a pool table that are easier to assess in person.
How long does a virtual survey take?
About ten minutes, on your schedule, compared with roughly forty-five minutes for an in-home visit.