Everything You Need To Know
Statistics show that moving is seen by most people as one of the most stressful experiences. And this is true, especially when you don’t have a lot of time on your hands. It can feel quite overwhelming. This is why most people choose the assistance of professionals, so that they could ease up the burden.
Nonetheless, a common confusion is the one regarding the difference between moving brokers and moving companies. Many times, these terms are used interchangeably, when, in fact, there are some differences worth noting. This is what we’ll concentrate on in the following paragraphs.
What Are Moving Brokers?
In simplest terms, we could say that moving brokers act as intermediates between moving companies and home movers. In addition to that, they are usually responsible for organizing the means of transportation of your household goods. Nevertheless, they don’t usually deal with the actual process of delivery, storing, shipping, packing, or any other aspect concerning the relocation.
To be more precise, moving brokers could be defined as a sales team that books a move. Afterward, they will sell it to a professional moving company. In addition to that, they usually get all the necessary information from the person that is moving. They also communicate the specifications and requirements of the project, so that moving companies can place their bids.
That is not all; brokers are also responsible for providing estimates. Concurrently, they accept the deposits offered by the client on behalf of the movers. In other words, they contribute to the organization process of the move, but moving brokers don’t perform the move themselves.
We could say that a moving broker is pretty much an agent that connects the moving company with the client. This significantly saves a lot of time, meaning that the client won’t have to look for the right moving company. Therefore, moving brokers are highly efficient and convenient. Another thing you should note about moving brokers is that they focus exclusively on long-distance moves.
What Are the Differences between Moving Brokers and Moving Companies?
In order to better understand the responsibilities of a moving broker, we would like to focus exclusively on the distinctions between moving brokers and moving companies.
First of all, a moving broker doesn’t have the authorization to transport household goods, as it is in the case of moving companies. In addition to that, they don’t own the corresponding equipment in this respect – namely moving trucks, supplies, or professional moving staff.
Aside from that, it is not the moving broker’s responsibility to ensure that the items of the client are preserved in excellent condition from start to finish.
On the other hand, movers are actually engaged in the process of transporting the goods. Of course, they also own the appropriate equipment to complete a successful and efficient move, time after time. The employees of a moving company are trained and specialized to handle a wide range of relocation scenarios.
Why Should You Call on a Moving Broker?
There are, of course, many advantages associated with hiring a moving broker. We’d like to focus on the most noteworthy ones.
Enhanced Flexibility
This is, without a doubt, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of moving brokers. Distinct from individual moving companies that have a given route and a specific number of moving trucks and professionals, moving brokers collaborate with a wide range of moving companies.
To that end, since they have access to a large network of professionals, you can pick the one that will meet your most specific needs.
In fact, the moving broker will do the job for you, selecting the company that fits your description accordingly. In comparison to a moving company, a broker offers a higher degree of flexibility, which is highly valuable especially if the client’s time is limited.
Increased Safety
Safety is a common concern for people that move from a state to another. This is, supposedly, why some people might hesitate to get the assistance of a company, due to such doubts.
Nevertheless, the good news is that moving brokers collaborate with licensed movers. To that end, when you work with movers through a broker, you can be sure that you are dealing with licensed professionals. Of course, the risk of fraud is notably minimized.
Optimal Level of Efficiency for Long-Distance Moves
Of course, efficiency is another advantage worth pointing out. Some moving companies, particularly smaller ones, might not be able to provide their clients with all the services they need.
This applies especially in the case of long-distance moves. A moving broker will do all the work for you, connecting you with different moving companies in distinct states, which will facilitate the services you need. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about doing extensive research and selecting from a sea of professionals.
Compliance and Licensing
Furthermore, it is crucial for the moving broker to be adequately licensed. More specifically, it has to be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). According to this, they can collaborate solely with moving companies that are also registered and licensed.
The reason why you should always collaborate with licensed companies is that of safety and reliability. Granted that anything were to happen, this comes as a guarantee that you will be provided with compensation. On top of that, this is also an indicator of the company’s reliability, which is a key element when it comes to moving – and not only.
Conclusion
In summary, moving brokers can offer a high level of efficiency and convenience. Clients that lack the time to do all this planning and research will find the assistance of a moving broker invaluable. On a final note, if you’re planning a long-distance move, you might end up realizing that completing all the steps by yourself is quite challenging and demanding. In this case, don’t hesitate to collaborate with a broker.
Even if they are different – both moving brokers and companies aim at making relocations as successful and stress-free as possible.