A website chatbot for local and long-distance movers

Written by the Allinaa team · Updated October 15, 2026

An estimator's first call is usually spent collecting basics: when, from where, to where, how big, anything heavy. An Allinaa assistant collects that inventory on your website before anyone picks up the phone, answers the packing and storage questions people ask while planning, and passes your estimator a request that is ready for a real quote.

What an estimator needs before calling back

Write down the minimum your estimators want, and the assistant will ask for it in up to three short questions, one at a time, skipping anything the customer already said:

Move date, and whether it's flexible
Origin and destination (city or ZIP is enough at this stage)
Home size: number of bedrooms, or square footage for offices
Access: stairs, elevator, long walk from the truck, parking restrictions
Special items (see below)
Services wanted: packing, unpacking, storage, junk removal

Then it offers the inquiry form. The customer confirms contact details and agrees to be contacted; your office gets an e-mail with everything above, and the customer gets a confirmation. Allinaa does not connect to moving software, so the estimate itself stays with your team. See quote requests.

Local vs. interstate moves: the questions that differ

A move within the same metro area and a move across state lines are different products, often with different pricing methods. Local moves are commonly priced by time and crew size, so access and stairs matter most. Interstate moves are commonly priced by weight or volume and distance, so the inventory and the delivery window matter most. Describe how your company prices each type, in your own words, and tell the assistant which questions belong to which. When a customer says "from Austin to Denver", it should switch to the interstate questions.

Specialty items: pianos, safes, art

Heavy and fragile items change the crew, the equipment and sometimes the truck. Add to the knowledge which items you handle and which you refer out:

Pianos (upright vs. grand) and whether stairs are involved
Gun safes and their approximate weight
Artwork, antiques, mirrors and items that need crating
Pool tables, hot tubs, exercise equipment

The assistant asks about these explicitly, because customers often forget to mention them until moving day.

Valuation options from your policy, plus FMCSA consumer resources for interstate moves

Customers often confuse valuation with insurance. Explain the options you offer, word for word from your policy, and let the assistant quote that text. Don't let it improvise on liability amounts. For interstate moves, federal consumer protection rules apply, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration publishes consumer information at Protect Your Move. Linking customers there is a simple way to show you have nothing to hide. If you hold a USDOT number, include it and how to look it up.

Inventory photos (Premium); walkthroughs stay with your team

On Premium, customers can send photos of rooms, the piano, or the narrow staircase. Files are checked for malware and stored privately for your estimator. Photos help, but they don't replace your walkthrough or video survey for larger moves. The assistant doesn't estimate weight or volume from a photo, and it should tell customers that the binding estimate comes from your team. See file uploads.

Peak season: month-end and summer

Lease end dates pile up at the end of each month, and summer is busy for families moving between school years. When your calendar fills, add a note to the knowledge ("the last three days of June are fully booked; we have openings mid-month") so the assistant can steer customers before they fall in love with a date. Update it as dates fill. See seasonal peaks.

Illustrative conversation

Visitor: Need a quote to move from Columbus to Charlotte in August.

Assistant: I can help with that. How many bedrooms are you moving, and do you know your preferred dates in August?

Visitor: 3 bedrooms, around the 15th. We have an upright piano.

Assistant: Thanks. We move upright pianos, and I'll note it for the crew. Does either home have stairs or an elevator? Would you like us to pack for you? Once I have those, I'll send your request to our estimator, who will set up a video survey for an accurate estimate.

Illustrative example, not a real conversation.

Questions owners ask

Can the chatbot give a moving estimate?

No. It collects the move details and inventory notes so your estimator can prepare an accurate estimate quickly.

Does it understand the difference between local and interstate moves?

Yes, if your knowledge describes both. It asks the questions you assign to each type.

Can customers send photos of their furniture?

On Premium, yes. Photos help your estimator but don't replace your in-home or video walkthrough.

What does it say about valuation?

It quotes your published valuation options and can link to FMCSA's consumer resources for interstate moves.