When researching moving companies for your upcoming move, you may come across the term "moving broker." When you see this term, you may wonder how a moving broker differs from a moving company and which is best to book your move through.
Learning the benefits of booking through a moving company will help you understand why they may be better for your move than a moving broker.
What Is a Moving Broker?
Moving brokers are sales teams that take the responsibility of booking your move, turning it around, and selling it to a moving company. Their main job is to pair the customer with the right carrier, and they look at different critical pieces of information like moving distance, budget, and location and then use that information to find the right mover.
They generally work with multiple carriers and have a legally binding contract that lays out the terms like:
● Insurance details
● Due dates for payments
● Invoices
● Pay rates for the carrier
● Outline of services
Benefits of Moving Companies vs. Brokers
A broker might be the right choice in some situations. However, many moving companies locally and nationwide offer professional and reliable moving services, so you know you are getting the right company with the right coverage for your move. Here are a few benefits a moving company has over a moving broker.
You Are Dealing With the Company Moving Your Belongings
One of the biggest advantages of working with a moving company is dealing directly with the company that provides your moving services. When you hire a moving broker, they act as a middleman. They handle booking your moving services, and you don't have any say in who moves your belongings.
In fact, you may not know until the day who will be arriving to pack or move your belongings or what their reputation is. When you hire a moving company, you can research their company and learn who they are.
Moving Companies Are Often Cheaper Than Moving Brokers
The other major advantage to hiring a moving company over a moving broker is that working directly with a moving company is often the cheapest option. A moving broker, or middleman, has to make money. So they charge you a percentage of the movers' fee.
The average cost of hiring a local mover can run between $920 and $2530. While brokers might make researching moving companies easier, they typically cost anywhere from $1700 to $2500, keeping 20%-40% of the total as part of their finder's fee, and you will still need to pay some of the moving costs.
Moving Brokers Cannot Guarantee Delivery Dates
The last major advantage is that moving companies can guarantee delivery dates as they move your belongings. Brokers are not legally allowed to guarantee dates because they do not handle the transport. They can state the items should be there by a specific date, but they cannot guarantee it.
If you need your items by a specific date and time, you should use a moving company.
When You Need Expert Moving Services, Ed's Moving & Storage Has You Covered
If you want to book a move in the Tacoma, Washington, area and wish to work with a moving company rather than a broker, contact Ed's Moving and Storage. Since 1965, we have been your local expert for port services, military moves, home moving, apartment moving, condo moving, packing services, and climate-controlled, secure storage facilities.
Our team is happy to answer all your questions, so give us a call at 253-581-2446 or contact us online to get an estimate for your move or to schedule services.