Moving out of your parents’ house is one of the most challenging times in everyone’s life. When you leave the nest in your twenties, you get overwhelmed with the moving landscape and the related real-estate industry.
There is a lot to check on, understand and decide to ensure you have a smooth and less stressful moving experience. One of the toughest things of all is understanding the difference between being approached by a moving broker ad finding a professional moving company to work with. As per the best cross country movers associated with Moving Feedback, the majority of the first-time moving clients do not understand the distinction between the two and end up messing things altogether.
In this post, we lay out the key difference between a professional moving company and moving service brokers while also recommending who might be the preferable one to the other.
What is the difference between a moving company and a moving broker?
Moving broker and moving company are two different entities. Although used interchangeably, the two entities have a different profile, which is closely related to each other. Let us understand the difference between the two:
Moving Broker:
You might already have the experience of working with a real estate agent. They are professionals who work on a commission and help people find the right apartment r home as per their needs. Even if the commission/ fees charged by the brokers become significantly high, it is not possible to avoid working with them at all times, especially when you are running out of time.
The concept of moving broker is relatively new. When the moving industry got the digital revolution, it became very easy for the clients to reach out to the movers and get an instant moving quote by filling a request form. As soon as the form is submitted a return call from the company is expected. However, little do we know that most of the time it is a moving broker that contacts us post inquiry? A moving broker can be taken as a salesperson who makes the sales pitch to you and often works as a middleman between the company and the customers. A moving broker may or may not work for more than one company at a time.
Professional movers
Professional movers, on the other hand, are professionals who are licensed and registered to offer moving services of a specific kind. These are the experts of the moving landscape and exactly the type of resource which you must connect to when you are planning to move out of your parents’ house or any other type of relocation. Professional movers or moving company has an office of their own, along with moving equipment, trucks, moving labor and more. They are responsible to take care of your valuables as they pack, load, move, unload and unpack for you.
Professional movers hire a wide range of moving services and often offer tailor-made solutions based on the client’s needs.
When you should use a moving broker?
We understand that you will have your doubts about moving broker services by now. Many of you must be wondering why you should contact a moving broker at all. These professionals are the salesperson who is dedicated to making more turnover for their bosses. This means that they make you realize that you need professional movers and then convert you into a client.
A moving broker is often confused about:
- The actual pricing of the move as they do not understand the moving company’s pricing policies completely.
- They cannot guarantee you a no-damage move as it’s the moving company that would handle your valuable during the process.
- You may have to pay an advance deposit which may primarily land in the broker’s pocket.
When you are engaging with a moving broker, you are limiting your ability to know about the moving company. Also, you may have no control over things when something and happens during the moving process resulting in damage to your valuables. Moving companies are the most trusted source to take help when you are moving to another house or commercial unit.
Finding a professional moving company
What experts recommend is hiring a professional moving company that has a great reputation in the market, finding such a company can be tough but not impossible, all you need to do is detailed internet research and you will have the list of top 10 movers in your region in a few seconds.
Approaching more than 3 movers from the list is the second step, you should ask for moving quotes from the movers and compare the prices. It is very easy to get a moving estimate as most of the reliable moving companies offer online moving estimates nowadays.
Once you are sure of the price, you must fix a meeting with the companies you have chosen and get to know the movers here, you must be particular about their professionalism and customer service. Also, read reviews of these moving companies and choose the one that appears to be loved by the customers.
We do not suggest that all moving brokers are bad and work for their private gains. There are several reliable moving service marketplace where one can get exposure to a wide range of moving companies However, what we suggest is to steer away from shady moving brokers and instead choose moving companies or moving brokers who appear professional and trustworthy.
