How to film a video for a removal quote

Why a video works

Most of what affects the price of a move can be seen on a phone screen: how much furniture there is, how big the larger pieces are, and how easy it is to get them out. A short video lets us give you a fixed price in writing without anyone visiting your home.

It also saves you time. You can film it whenever suits you, even in the evening, and send it on WhatsApp in a couple of minutes.

Before you start

Turn on the lights and open the curtains so we can see clearly. Hold the phone horizontally if you can, and move slowly. A steady, slow video is far more useful than a quick one.

Open wardrobes, cupboards and the loft hatch if you can do so safely. What is inside them is often the biggest unknown in a quote.

What to film inside

Go room by room, starting at the front door. In each room, stand in the doorway and pan slowly from one side to the other, then point the camera at anything large: sofas, beds, wardrobes, dining tables, fridge freezers, pianos and gym equipment.

Say out loud anything that isn't obvious, such as 'the wardrobe comes apart', 'the bed stays', or 'these boxes are going to the tip'. Mention anything heavy or valuable that needs extra care.

Don't forget the loft, garage, shed, cellar and garden. Garden furniture, tools and bikes add up quickly.

What to film outside

Access matters as much as the furniture, especially on Huddersfield's hills. Film the path from your front door to the road, including any steps, gates or slopes, and the street outside so we can see where a van could park.

If you live in a flat, film the stairs or lift and tell us which floor you are on. If you know the new address has tricky access, a quick note or a photo helps too.

Common mistakes

Filming too fast, skipping rooms you think are empty, and leaving out the loft or garage are the most common reasons a quote needs to change. Leaving furniture out doesn't make the move smaller, it just makes the quote less accurate.

If you are not sure whether something is coming, film it and say so. We would rather price it in than surprise you later.

How do you film a video on WhatsApp for a quote?

Open a chat with us on WhatsApp at 07414 949493, tap the camera icon and hold the record button, or record in your phone's camera app and attach the clips afterwards. Recording in the camera app is usually easier for longer rooms, as you are not holding a button the whole time.

Send the clips in room order, and add a short message with both addresses, your preferred moving date and anything you want us to know, such as a piano or a narrow lane. If a clip is very long, split it into two. Several short clips upload more reliably than one long video on a slow connection.

Before you send anything, play the clips back to check they are clear, especially if a room was dim. If WhatsApp is not convenient, you can still send photos through the online quote form instead.

What to say while you film

Talking as you go saves us guessing. Name the room, then mention anything that is not going, anything that comes apart and anything that is very heavy. Point out items that are being sold or given away before the move, so we do not count them.

Say if you plan to pack yourself or would like us to pack, and roughly how many boxes you expect. If you would like help with packing, our packing service can be added to the quote as a listed extra. It is also helpful to mention the floor number and access at the new address, even if you cannot film it.

Mention any items you are unsure about too, such as a sofa that might go to a relative instead. We can price both options so you are not caught out either way.

What happens after you send the video?

We watch it, check anything we are unsure about with you, and send a fixed price in writing. We aim to reply the same working day. The quote lists what is included, such as the van, crew, blankets, fuel and simple dismantling, and shows any extras separately.

Quotes are free and there is no obligation. If something changes before your move, such as a new sofa or an extra room in the loft, send another short clip and we will update the price before the day rather than on it.

If you would rather not film, you can use the short online form to get a quote instead, and add photos in the optional second step.

Filming a home that is half packed or very cluttered

You do not need to tidy before filming. If you have already started packing, film the stacks of boxes and say roughly how many there are and what is still to be packed. A rough count is far more useful than none.

If a room is cluttered, film slowly and point at the larger items so they stand out. Open the doors to built-in cupboards and under-stairs storage too, as these often hold more than people expect.

If some spaces are out of bounds, such as a lodger's room or a locked loft, tell us what is in them and roughly how much there is. Mention too if a garage or shed is shared and some of its contents belong to someone else.