Monthly Archives: April 2023

There are only a handful of individuals who could claim that moving is easy, and even they would have their misgivings about that statement. The majority of us know that moving is a chore and requires assistance for it. Hiring a moving company is first instinct, of course, but a lot of us don’t really know much about that process either.

If you’ve attempted to hire help for your moving process and have heard the words broker and company being thrown around interchangeably with moving, then you’re definitely confused. You can take a breather because we’re going to give you a detailed session on what differentiates a moving company from a moving broker. Read on to learn about their properties and which one you’ll need for your upcoming move.

A moving broker does the booking but not the moving.

A lot of first-time movers often mistake brokers for movers. This often occurs when they recruit contact numbers online and hire a service without looking too much into it. The safest play is firstly flat-out asking whether a service is a moving company or a moving broker. You want to be clear on this because both entities perform strikingly different functions.

A moving broker is hired when you need someone to do the booking process for you. They’ll be in charge of looking for a moving company and having them ready for the moving date you’ve set. A broker is essentially the middle person that sells a move to a moving company. What this means is that they don’t have the vehicles and equipment required to conduct a move. They just have a convenient contact list of moving companies and make finding one easier for people who are about to move.

A moving company does all the action.

For your moving day, what you need is a moving company. This is a service that will show up for the move and have all the right equipment for everything from packing and loading to unloading and transporting. A moving company will also take a walkthrough of your house to determine the cost of the move in regard to how many items there are and their complexity too.

The process of hiring and approving a moving company is more detailed and significantly requires consideration. The moving company is responsible for ensuring that your stuff safely makes it to another location, so there are many contractual aspects to hiring them. Moreover, a moving company offers a variety of packages depending on the extent of the services that you want to avail of them.

A moving broker provides options.

A moving broker definitely makes sense if you like to have options in place before making a decision. Without a broker, you’ll have to scout out different moving companies yourself. A moving broker makes it easier for you to gather information about a lot of moving companies from a single source, and it provides you estimates about their charges, too, although moving companies are definitely more accurate on that account.

Moving brokers usually have a list of moving companies that are associated with their person. So they’re able to provide information about them in helpful detail. If you’re not one to look around much and find just the thought of hunting down moving companies tiring, then opting for a moving broker is a good choice for you.

Moving companies are seasoned.

The one aspect in which moving companies always beat out the option of hiring moving brokers is that they have lots of experience under their belt. Having direct contact with a moving company will not only help you obtain a more accurate estimate about the move but also give you a first-hand account of the moving company’s approach. When opting for a broker, you won’t be able to test the moving company out for yourself and probably be stuck with them on the day of the move.

Moving companies are also a safer option when you’re a first-time mover and need some insights into conducting an efficient and bump-free move. They’ll give you a lot of information when they conduct a walkthrough of your place. They’ll guide you on packing before the move as well as what you can expect on a moving day. With a moving broker, you have to resort to the come as it may policy, and that doesn’t always turn out the best.

The credibility process of both is different.

When confirming if a service is, in fact, a moving broker, there are some things you need to make sure of before moving forward with them. Firstly, it’s essential that even moving brokers are registered with the FMCSA, and not just the moving companies they’re connecting you with. Moreover, you need to look into contractual and binding agreements that they have with the companies they’re vouching for.

For a moving company, the same registration confirmation applies. Also, taking a look at the certifications and logos that they have on their vehicles and equipment is a must. A moving company also has to provide insurance, which is something you need to look into in detail before finalizing anything with them. Singling out any potential scams on either company’s part is absolutely essential, which is why doing a detailed online search about the movers’ or brokers’ reputations is a must.

Here’s the verdict.

Now that you’re essentially clear on how moving companies differ from moving brokers, you’re on to the question of which one is the sounder choice in the end. Hiring a moving company allows a first-hand insight into a company’s process and how it’ll be operating on the day of the move. Hiring a middleman impedes the sampling process that’s almost essential in conducting a smooth move.

Also, directly approaching moving companies entitles you to various discounts on their part and might save significant expenses on a moving process that will already be costing you a lot of money. In the end, there’s nothing quite like testing a moving company’s credibility and expertise on your own.

The last thing someone who is already stressed out about a fast-approaching moving date wants to know is that there could be scams involved in the process. If you really think about it, the fact that you’re trusting one or multiple companies with all of the items in your house, having them transport everything and have it in their possession for a chunk of time only makes it likely that some scams could be snuck in.

Also, there’s the matter of money, price estimates, and the concern of advance deposits too. Moving scams come in many shapes and sizes, but ultimately they either rip you off financially or cause damages in some other form. You don’t need to worry yourself into an anxiety attack because we’ve got you covered. We’re going to walk you through ten common moving scams and also what you can do to avoid them.

1.    The moving company’s identity is sketchy.

This is the first indication of a scam and something you should look into immediately. Moving companies aren’t casual part-time businesses. These are licensed, registered, and certified workers that curate moving experiences. If a moving company doesn’t have a name to identify themselves, that means that they don’t really exist on the market yet. You need to be able to look up a moving company online, and without a name, that’s just not possible.

2.    Their bids are too good to be true.

Look, everyone wants to save as much as they can during a move, but with the fact that moving involves labor, fuel, and other equipment to execute, it being expensive is a given. If a moving company is giving you a bid or an estimate that is significantly lower than the prices their counterparts are offering, this means that something is amiss. Lowball estimates are a really common scam, and you can counter them by asking for quotes from other companies.

3.    They’re pressing you for a deposit in advance.

Since moving is a pretty straightforward process, moving companies don’t usually ask for a deposit beforehand. If the moving company you’re considering hiring is continuously asking you for a deposit, and a big one at that, you have to stay alert. The most efficient way to make sure you’re not being scammed is to pay through your card and not cash. This way, you can provide proof of the payment in case things go south.

4.    Their miscellaneous charges are through the roof.

When looking at a contract for payment while hiring a moving company, if a lot of undetailed costs are popping up, you need to look into it. Sometimes, moving companies scam customers by including extra charges and unexplained costs in the fine print. These later add up to make a hefty bill. Counter this by discussing each aspect of cost in the contract and catching add-ons while you do that.

5.    They’re hesitant about insurance.

Moving comes with a lot of unexpected and unpredictable facets, and sometimes damage and loss are inevitable. This is why having an insurance policy in place to compensate customers in the face of any such incident is a must for professional moving companies. Some don’t offer this protection at all, while others offer a part of the cost and not full compensation. You need to discuss these details beforehand and determine what kind of valuation and insurance they offer.

6.    They’re not big on liability.

Reputable moving companies are well aware of how important liability claims are to ensure the peace of mind of customers. They’re clear and open about how and when they’re liable and for what kinds of damage. Moving companies that make big claims about liability and won’t elaborate on them are all set to scam you. Have a written record of any and all agreements and claims they make so you don’t regret believing everything they say afterward.

7.    They’re more into doing things verbally.

Hiring a moving company and availing their services needs to be in the form of a contract; otherwise, any advance payment you might give them or any new estimates they might bring your way after are going to brew trouble. Any moving company that insists on finalizing things over a handshake and nothing more is trying to scam you. Counter this by having everything in writing, and make sure to add any extra details you’re concerned about for the move.

8.    Their walkthroughs are brief and cursory.

Any reputable moving company makes sure to have a walkthrough of your house to look over everything they’re going to be addressing and loading during the move. If a moving company’s walkthrough is incredibly short and surface level, there’s a strong chance they’re scamming you. These could very well be con artists that might take off with your things, so be wary of their estimation process to avoid this scam. Remember that efficient moving companies always have lots of questions and look through your items with lots of detail.

9.    They don’t have credentials to their name.

A good moving company has licensure, certifications, and logos from the concerned departments. If your moving company doesn’t have anything to back up its claims of professionalism and experience, then there’s a great chance this could very well be a scam in the making. You can confirm the eligibility of a moving company by doing a quick search through the Federal Carrier Service Safety website.

10.   They lack equipment.

Moving companies help people move for a living, so it doesn’t quite add up when a moving company is short on packing material or other equipment to carry and load heavy items. Moreover, if a moving company shows up on your doorstep with a rental truck and not transportation that is marked with their logo, then you need to beware. Don’t be pressured into moving ahead into the process with them and simply refuse. Nothing is worth the safety of your belongings and family.