If you’re planning a house move, one of the first steps is arranging a pre-move home survey. Whether you’re moving from a small flat or a large family home, a survey allows your removals company to assess the volume of items being moved, identify any access challenges, and provide an accurate quotation. In this guide, we’ll explain what a pre-move survey is, what happens during the visit, and how it helps ensure a smooth moving day.
A Ballards Pre-Move Home Survey is a free consultation carried out either in person or via video call. One of our experienced move consultants will walk through your home with you, assess the items you plan to move, identify any access challenges, and understand your packing or specialist requirements.
Think of it as the planning stage that ensure your more is organised, efficient, and completely tailored to your home and schedule. By gathering accurate information early, we can allocate the right vehicle, crew and equipment – helping your moving day run smoothly from start to finish.
Moving house involves much more than transporting boxes from one property to another. A pre-move home survey helps your removals company understand exactly what needs to be moved, identify any challenges, and provide an accurate quotation. In this guide, we explain what a pre-move survey is, how it works, and why it plays such an important role in a successful house move.
What the Pre–Move Survey Covers
The survey focuses on several key areas that shape how your move is planned. Each element helps us build a clear, reliable picture of what you need and how we can best support you.
Your consultant will complete a room‑by‑room inventory of your belongings, noting furniture, boxed items, fragile pieces, and anything requiring special handling.
This allows us to calculate the total volume of your move, which determines the size of the vehicle, the number of crew members, and the time required.
Accurate volume assessment ensures we arrive fully prepared, with no last‑minute changes or unexpected delays.
Access can significantly affect how a move is carried out. During the survey, we assess:
- Tight corners or narrow hallways
- Staircases and landings
- Parking restrictions or limited driveway space
- Long carries from the property to the vehicle
- Access at your destination as well as your current home
Some items need extra care or specialist handling. Your consultant will note anything that requires:
- Fragile or export‑grade packing
- Crating
- Specialist lifting equipment
- Timed disconnection (e.g., appliances)
- Additional crew for heavy or awkward items
This may include antiques, artwork, pianos, large appliances, glass cabinets, gym equipment, and more.
Once we understand your volume, access, and requirements, we create a detailed move plan. This includes:
- Estimated loading and unloading times
- Number of days required for larger moves
- Packing schedules if you choose our packing service
- The most efficient route between properties
- Any preparation needed before moving day
This plan keeps your move organised, predictable, and aligned with your schedule.
How the survey works
Your pre‑move survey will take place at a time that suits you. We offer both in‑person and video call surveys for maximum flexibility.
In-Person Survey
An in‑person survey typically takes 30–60 minutes, depending on the size of your home. Your consultant will walk through each room with you, discuss packing needs, and assess access points. This option is ideal if you prefer a detailed, hands‑on assessment.
Video Survey
A video survey is quick and convenient. Using your smartphone or tablet, you’ll guide the consultant through your home. A typical video survey takes 15–30 minutes for an average‑sized property and provides all the information needed to plan your move accurately.
How the survey helps you
Because we gather detailed information during the survey, we can provide a clear, fixed‑price quote with no hidden extras.
Every home is different. Your survey allows us to create a plan that fits your property, your belongings, and your schedule – including packing options, timings, vehicle allocation, and any specialist requirements.
Spotting potential issues early means we can prepare the right equipment and crew, preventing delays on moving day. This includes identifying tight access, large furniture, or long carries. During a recent move, a pre-move survey identified that a large American-style fridge freezer would not fit through the property’s front door. By spotting this early, specialist equipment was arranged in advance, preventing delays on moving day.
Your consultant can offer practical advice on:
- Packing and preparation
- Decluttering before the move
- Protecting fragile items
- Organising belongings for easier unpacking
- What to expect on moving day
This guidance helps you feel prepared and reduces stress in the lead‑up to your move.
How to Prepare for Your Survey
You don’t need to prepare anything. Simply be available to walk through your home with the consultant – either in person or via video call.
If you want to make the most of the survey, you can:
- Point out any items you’re unsure about moving
- Mention anything you plan to dispose of before moving day
- Highlight items of sentimental or high value
- Let us know if you’re considering storage or packing services
But none of this is essential. We’re here to guide you through the process.
What Happens After the Survey?
Once your survey is complete, we’ll compile all the information into a clear, written quotation. This usually arrives within a few days and includes:
- A fixed price for your move
- A breakdown of services included
- Any optional services (packing, storage, specialist handling)
- Your personalised move plan
- Recommended timings and next steps
You can then review everything in your own time, ask questions, or make adjustments if needed.
Key Takeaways
- A Ballards Pre‑Move Survey is free, simple, and essential for a smooth, well‑planned move.
- It ensures you receive an accurate, fixed‑price quote with no surprises.
- It allows us to tailor your move to your home, belongings, and schedule.
- It identifies challenges early so we can prepare the right crew, vehicle, and equipment.
- It gives you expert guidance and complete peace of mind ahead of moving day.
With decades of experience moving families throughout Lincolnshire and across the UK, Ballards uses every survey to ensure a tailored moving plan that minimises disruption and helps your move run smoothly.
Ready to Plan Your Move?
Whether you’re moving locally, relocating across the UK, or need specialist moving services, a Ballards Pre-Move Survey is the first step towards a smooth and stress-free move.
Contact our team today to arrange your free survey and receive a tailored quotation.
Call us or request a survey online.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-Move Home Surveys
Yes. Every Ballards pre-move home survey is completely free and comes with no obligation. The survey allows us to understand your requirements, assess the volume of belongings to be moved, and provide an accurate quotation tailored to your move.
The length of the survey depends on the size of your property and the number of items being moved.
- Video surveys typically take 15–30 minutes.
- In-person surveys usually take 30–60 minutes.
Larger properties or moves involving specialist items may take a little longer.
Yes. We offer convenient video surveys using your smartphone or tablet. A video survey allows our move consultants to assess your home remotely while providing the same level of planning and accuracy as an in-person visit.
No. In fact, it’s often better if your belongings are still in their usual locations. This allows our consultant to accurately assess the volume of items being moved and identify any furniture or possessions that may require special handling.
During the survey, one of our experienced move consultants will walk through your home with you and assess:
- The volume of items being moved
- Access arrangements at your property
- Parking and loading considerations
- Any specialist items requiring extra care
- Packing or storage requirements
- Your preferred moving timescales
This information allows us to create a tailored moving plan and provide an accurate quotation.
A pre-move survey helps prevent unexpected issues on moving day. By understanding your requirements in advance, we can allocate the correct vehicle, crew, equipment, and time needed for your move. This helps ensure a smoother, more efficient moving experience.
Yes. Following the survey, we’ll provide a clear quotation based on the information gathered. This helps avoid unexpected costs and ensures you know exactly what services are included before booking your move.
Our consultants will identify any items that require specialist handling during the survey. This may include pianos, antiques, artwork, large appliances, gym equipment, or delicate furniture. We’ll then recommend the most appropriate equipment, packing methods, and crew requirements to ensure everything is moved safely.
Absolutely. If you require professional packing services, short-term storage, or long-term storage solutions, we can discuss these options during the survey and include them within your quotation if required.
In most cases, we’ll provide your quotation within a few days of completing the survey. Your quotation will include a breakdown of services, pricing, recommended timings, and any optional services you may wish to add.
We recommend arranging your survey as soon as you have a likely moving date or once your property sale or purchase is progressing. Booking early gives you more time to plan and helps ensure your preferred moving date is available.
