A virtual moving estimate is a quote based on a live or recorded video walkthrough of your home instead of a visit from an estimator. You show the mover your rooms, closets, garage and storage areas on your phone, the mover builds an inventory from what it sees, and you get a written price. For most apartments and small to mid-sized homes it takes less than half an hour and saves you a morning of waiting for someone to knock on the door.
This guide explains how the process works from booking to quote, what to show on camera, why a final bill can differ from an estimate, and what a written quote must contain before you rely on it.
TL;DR
- A virtual estimate is a video walkthrough of your home, usually 15 to 20 minutes, that lets the mover price your move without visiting.
- Accuracy depends on you: open every closet, the garage and any storage area, and point out anything heavy, fragile or hard to reach.
- Stairs, elevators, long carries, extra packing and added items are the usual reasons a price changes, so mention them on the call.
- Get the final quote in writing, on company letterhead, with boxes, items, costs, payment terms and service times listed.
- Pianos, safes and very large households still benefit from a closer look in person.
Table of Contents
- What a virtual moving estimate is
- How a video estimate works, step by step
- What to show and say during the walkthrough
- How accurate is a video estimate?
- Virtual, in-home or online quote: which one fits?
- What to check in the written estimate
- Are virtual estimates free?
- How to prepare before the call
- Our perspective
- Get a quote for your Abbotsford or Fraser Valley move
- FAQ
- Sources
What a virtual moving estimate is
A virtual estimate replaces the clipboard visit with a camera. The estimator either joins you on a scheduled video call while you carry your phone from room to room, or you record the walkthrough yourself and send it in. Either way, the goal is the same: the mover must see everything that is going on the truck before naming a price.
The Canadian Association of Movers notes that virtual estimates by video call became a safer, faster and more cost-effective alternative to in-home estimates after the pandemic, and that the approach is now a regular part of how moves are planned in Canada.
There are a few formats you will run into:
- Live video call: you walk the estimator through your home in real time and they ask questions as they go. Industry write-ups put these at 30 to 60 minutes, though a straightforward apartment is often much quicker.
- Recorded video: you film at your own pace and upload the clip, and the estimator reviews it later.
- Photo-based or AI-assisted surveys: you send photos or footage and software helps list the items, with an estimator checking the result.
- In-home estimate: the estimator comes to you. This is the traditional method.
- Online or phone quote: a form or a short call where you list items from memory. It is the fastest, and it relies the most on your own description.
One mover-industry comparison from 2026 puts a virtual estimate at about 15 to 20 minutes, an in-home survey at 30 to 45 minutes on site, and a self-service online quote at under 10 minutes. Treat those as typical ranges rather than promises, since every move is different.
How a video estimate works, step by step
- Request the estimate. Give the mover your current address, destination, rough move date and the size of your home. A good mover will also ask about floors, elevators and parking at both ends.
- Book the walkthrough. Choose a time with good light and a decent signal. If your building has a weak connection in the basement or storage locker, tell the estimator in advance.
- Do the walkthrough. Go room by room. Open closets, cupboards and wardrobes. Show the garage, shed, balcony, crawl space and any storage unit. Say out loud what is staying and what is going.
- Talk through access. Describe the stairs, the elevator, the distance from the door to where a truck can park, and any tight corners.
- Discuss services. Say whether you need packing, disassembly of furniture, special handling or storage.
- Receive the written quote. The estimator turns the inventory into a price and sends it to you. Read it against the checklist later in this article before you accept.
When the quote arrives matters less than whether it matches what you showed. Compare it with your own inventory, and call back right away if a room, a shed or a heavy item is missing.
What to show and say during the walkthrough
The estimate is only as good as what the estimator sees. The same industry source says virtual estimates can match the accuracy of in-home surveys for studio to three-bedroom moves, as long as you take the camera through every closet, the garage and any storage area.
Use this list as you film:
- Closets and cupboards. Open them fully and pan slowly. Full closets mean boxes, and boxes mean time.
- Large furniture. Show beds, sofas, dining tables, wardrobes and desks. Mention which ones come apart and which do not.
- Heavy or awkward items. Gym equipment, appliances, a barbecue, a workbench or a large TV. If you have a piano or a safe, say so early, because they change the crew and the equipment.
- Garage, shed and storage. These are the places most often forgotten, and they often hold the most volume.
- Things that are not going. Point out what stays so it does not end up in the quote.
- Entrances and routes. Film the front door, hallway, stairwell, elevator and where the truck will park. Long carries and narrow stairs affect labour time.
- Packing. Tell the estimator exactly what you want packed by the movers and what you will pack yourself. The Canadian Association of Movers says an accurate estimate requires a concise list of items the mover will pack, and that movers do not move loose items, so everything should be boxed or contained by move day.
Apartment or condo moves
For apartments and condos, the building matters as much as the unit. Ask your building manager about elevator booking, move-in hours and whether a deposit or padding is required, then pass that on to the estimator. Show the loading area and the route to the elevator. Our apartment moving checklist covers the building-side tasks to start one to three months ahead.
Houses
Walk the whole property, including the basement, attic, garage and yard. Houses hide volume in places you stop noticing, such as under stairs and in cold rooms. A house moving checklist helps you build the inventory before the call, so you can answer questions without guessing.
Offices and businesses
For an office, show workstations, server or network equipment, filing cabinets, boardroom furniture and storage rooms. Mention anything that needs disconnecting or special handling, and give a contact who can talk about building access and after-hours moving. Our commercial and office moving page outlines what we handle for businesses.
Long-distance moves within BC
With a long-distance move, the volume of your belongings drives the price more than almost anything else, so thoroughness counts. Add the destination access details too: stairs, elevators and parking at the new place. If you are heading up-island, north or to the Interior, see how long-distance moving works with us.
How accurate is a video estimate?
For most homes, it can be very close. One mover-technology blog says companies using virtual surveys report results within about 5 to 10% of in-person surveys, though it presents that as an industry figure, not a Canadian regulator number. Take it as a general sense of scale, not a guarantee.
What causes a price to change after the estimate is rarely the video itself. The Canadian Association of Movers lists the usual reasons a mover may change the price when circumstances differ from the written estimate:
- Incomplete or added packing
- Destination access problems such as elevators, long carries or stairs
- Items added or changed
- Changed dates or extra stops
- Rearranging or restacking items
- Delays beyond the mover's control
Notice that nearly all of these are things you can control or disclose in advance. That is the point of a careful walkthrough: what you show and say becomes the basis of the quote.
When a virtual estimate is not enough
Some moves need a closer look. The same 2026 comparison says in-home surveys remain the safer choice for large households and specialty items, such as a piano, a safe, or a home with tricky stairs or elevator access. If that is you, a virtual estimate can still be a good first step, followed by a short visit or a detailed conversation about the specialty item. Our guides on moving an upright piano and moving a safe explain what a crew needs to know.
Virtual, in-home or online quote: which one fits?
| Situation | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Studio, one- or two-bedroom apartment | Virtual estimate | Quick, and the camera covers everything |
| Three-bedroom home, standard furniture | Virtual estimate | Matches in-home accuracy if you show every storage area |
| Large house, lots of storage | In-home visit or detailed video | Hidden volume is easy to miss |
| Piano, safe or very heavy items | Video plus in-person check | The crew and gear depend on the specifics |
| Tight deadline | Virtual or recorded video | Same-day turnaround is common with video |
| Rough budget only | Online quote or phone | Fast, but less precise |
One industry source suggests live video surveys can return a quote the same day, where an in-home visit may take three to five days to schedule and turn around. Timing varies by company and season.
What to check in the written estimate
A video call is a conversation. The estimate that counts is the one on paper. The federal Office of Consumer Affairs advises getting costs and terms in writing, making sure the mover sees every item that must be moved, and creating a household inventory list. It also recommends the quote be on company letterhead, signed by a representative.
Check that the document includes:
- The number of boxes
- The size and value of items
- The cost
- Payment terms
- The time of services
- Commitments about the delivery date and special-care items
- The final cost and the terms and conditions
The same source notes that a mover can legally ask for payment before delivery, but in most situations that payment will not exceed the estimate by more than 10%.
Rules differ by province. In Ontario, for example, the Consumer Protection Act requires moving contracts worth more than $50 to be in writing, with itemized prices, start and end dates, and payment terms, and caps the charge at 10% above the contract estimate unless you agree to extra supplies or services. That is an Ontario rule, so for a BC move use it as a useful benchmark and rely on the federal guidance above and what your written quote says.
Before you sign, read our guides on questions to ask movers and on comparing three quotes for coverage, not just price. A low number that leaves out packing, stairs or insurance is not really lower. See also our overview of moving insurance in Canada for what protects your belongings in transit.
Are virtual estimates free?
Many movers offer estimates at no charge, and virtual ones are often part of that, but policies differ. Before you book, ask:
- Is the estimate free, and is it written and signed?
- Does the number include travel time, packing materials, stairs and storage?
- How long is the quote valid?
- What happens if the inventory changes before move day?
- How is the final bill calculated, by the hour or by a fixed total?
We do not publish set prices for our services, because each move is priced by distance, size and the services involved, such as packing or specialty items. That is why the quote has to start from an accurate inventory.
How to prepare before the call
A little preparation turns a 20-minute call into a precise quote:
- Declutter first. Anything you are donating or discarding should be set aside so it is not counted.
- Make a rough inventory. List large furniture, appliances and anything unusual. Our house moving checklist is a good start.
- Charge your phone and test the connection. Pick a time of day with good natural light, and turn on lights in dark rooms and closets.
- Unlock and open everything. Storage lockers, sheds and cupboards should all be accessible on camera.
- Note the access details. Floor numbers, elevator size, parking distance and any building rules.
- Prepare your questions. Write down what you want to ask about coverage, timing and payment.
After the quote, plan move-day access too. Our guide on preparing for movers explains how blocked access can delay a move.
Our perspective
A quote is a promise about what will happen on move day, so it should start from what the crew will actually see and carry. In our experience, most surprises come from details that were never mentioned: a full garage, a narrow staircase, boxes that were not packed in time.
That is why we focus on clear communication and careful planning. We want you to tell us everything, even the awkward things, so the plan fits your move. Apartment moves, condo moves, houses, offices and long-distance moves within BC all have different needs, and we treat them that way.
Our goal is affordable, dependable service with careful handling of your items. A clear, detailed conversation about your move at the start makes the day itself calmer for everyone.
Jack W.
Get a quote for your Abbotsford or Fraser Valley move
We move households and businesses in Abbotsford, Mission, Maple Ridge, Langley and across the Fraser Valley, plus long-distance moves within BC. Our services include local moves, apartment and condo moves, furniture moving, packing, loading and unloading, and storage moving. Tell us about your home, your access and your timeline, and we will help you plan.
Start on our Abbotsford movers page, or look at local moving and packing services if that is the help you need.
FAQ
What is the difference between a video moving estimate and an online quote?
A video estimate involves a walkthrough where the mover sees your belongings, rooms and access routes. An online quote is usually a form where you list items yourself. Video takes longer, often around 15 to 20 minutes, but gives the mover far more to work from.
Can a video estimate be binding?
That depends on what the written quote says, not on how the estimate was made. Ask for the quote on company letterhead, signed, with the cost, payment terms and services listed. The Office of Consumer Affairs says payment requested before delivery will not usually exceed the estimate by more than 10%.
What if I forget something during the walkthrough?
Tell the mover as soon as you remember, before move day. Added or changed items are one of the recognised reasons a price can change, so an updated written quote protects you both.
Is a virtual estimate enough for a long-distance move?
For most homes, yes, provided you show every storage area and describe access at both ends. If you have a piano, safe or other heavy specialty item, mention it at the start so the mover can plan the right crew and equipment.
Sources
- Frequently Asked Questions, Canadian Association of Movers
- Moving advice, Office of Consumer Affairs
- Hiring a mover, Ontario.ca
- Virtual Moving Estimate vs In-Home, Movers Development
- Types of Moving Surveys: Pros and Cons 2026, HomeSurvey.ai
- Virtual Surveys: How to Quote Moves Without Entering a Home, Elromco