How to Prepare for a Video Call Valuation

With COVID having left a permanent mark on the ways we now communicate in our day-to-day lives, at Dawsons, we understand that meeting face-to-face may no longer be desirable for all our clients.

Whilst we love meeting our clients face-to-face, we also appreciate that life gets busy and that the ability to engage in professional meetings from home can be a far more convenient option for many.

As is the case with face-to-face valuations at Dawsons, a video call appointment with one of our expert Valuers is also entirely complimentary, and typically take place over Zoom or WhatsApp… lasting roughly 30-minutes. 

For those who have opted to use our online valuation service, or are thinking about doing so, we have compiled a list of helpful tips so that you know exactly what to expect and can prepare yourself accordingly.

Check your Wi-fi connection

This may seem like an obvious point, but it never hurts to reiterate it. It is fair to say most of us have experienced those awkward moments where the video buffers or freezes at the worst time, invariably capturing your rather less flattering angles! Not to mention frustrating lags in the audio whilst you are trying to keep up a flow of conversation. Of course, this is not something we want you to have to worry about during your meeting with our valuers.

On a more practical level however, the work of our Valuers is intricate and requires a close view of the object undergoing valuation. We want you to get the most out of your appointments with us, so make sure to double check that signal beforehand.

If you are worried that your Wi-Fi might be a problem, a video call may not be the best solution for you, so remember you can always book to meet one of our Specialists face-to-face in our London or Berkshire salerooms (or we can arrange to visit you if you’d prefer).

Check your camera and audio

It is easy to panic when you enter a call and straight away no one can see or hear you. Whilst you could be experiencing technical difficulties, there is also a high chance you may have simply forgotten to activate your sound or camera when entering the call.

Once you have clicked to join the meeting, your screen will give you the option to ‘join computer audio’ and a tick box to ‘turn camera on’. The easiest thing to do is to accept both these options before you begin… making sure the box has been ticked for your camera activation, and you have selected ‘join’ on the audio invitation.

However, if you do forget, don’t panic! When you have joined the call, you should see a row of icons at the bottom of your screen, the two most important ones are your camera and microphone icons. If there is a red line through either of these, it means the function is not activated, and all you need to do to correct this is to click on the icon.

Once your camera is switched on and you sound is working, you should be up and running and ready to proceed with your valuation.

Present your item in the best possible light

We mean this in a literal sense as well as metaphorically. As mentioned above, our specialist Valuer will need to be able to inspect your item closely, and good lighting will make a huge difference in their observations and subsequent valuation accuracy. They want to see as much detail as they possibly can.

It is also important to remember that this is ultimately a showcase for your item and this will be the first opportunity our Valuer will get before deciding whether your item is suitable for auction. It is extremely important for them to be able to see the item clearly (including any possible defect) in order to determine an accurate auction estimate for you.

Choose your device wisely

Whilst it usually makes sense to use a laptop or computer for professional video calls, you may find it easier to use something more portable for your video valuation. During your call, you will be required to present your item to the valuer and show them as much detail as possible. It is entirely up to you how you wish to do this, but you may find it easier with a smart phone or tablet that you can easily hold and flip the camera with where necessary.

Book a Video Call Valuation

 If you are thinking of selling any Art, Antiques or Jewellery, why not arrange to speak with one of our friendly Experts?

We can provide you with an auction estimate from the comfort of your own home via video call, you can book a face-to-face appointment at one of our salerooms in London or Berkshire, or alternatively, we can arrange to come and visit you at home.

Please do get in touch with us with any enquiries you may have.

We would love to hear from you.

0207 431 9445 / info@DawsonsAuctions.co.uk