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.