Have you heard about what’s called a “moving broker”? This is a middleman who offers you a cost-of-moving estimate. Then he searches for a Michigan moving company to do the job. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?
Hold on a second. There’s a catch (or several). For starters, the broker has no skin in the game.
A moving broker doesn’t have trailers standing by in his parking lot. (In fact, he might not even have a parking lot.) He doesn’t visit your home during the estimating process, either. The biggest mistake individuals probably make is erroneously believing the broker has more oversight regarding the move than he does. In fact, a broker holds virtually no accountability over the physical moving process itself.
When all is said and done, the process eventually comes down to just two parties: the mover and the moved. The broker isn’t a concerned party to possible disputes, for example.
Keep your cash
Guidelines developed by the American Moving & Storage Association (the pro moving industry’s national trade association) are skeptical of the frequent broker method of offering phone-only estimates. “If a mover insists that he can provide a ‘final’ estimate over the phone without ever seeing your home and your furniture—choose another mover,” AMSA officials say.
Instead, a quality-based estimate should include either an in-home survey, a virtual survey (via a phone app providing a virtual tour of your home), or an extensive Q&A in which the surveyor creates a shipping list you review and approve.
Also keep in mind a broker frequently either will demand cash up-front or a 50% down payment prior to loading your items on a moving truck. We at All Around Moving & Storage recommend payment 24 hours prior to unloading your items. This permits sufficient time to inform your bank a substantial transaction will occur and to accept the payment as valid.
Broker facts
Federal officials realize thought the broker practice important enough to issue guidelines governing the practice that have been law since 2011. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s “Brokers of Household Goods Transportation by Motor Vehicle” rule requires brokers provide:
- U.S. Department of Transportation number on ads and websites
- estimates of expected moving charges and brokerage fees
- FMCSA pamphlets containing tips for successful moves and the consumer’s rights and responsibilities
- the broker’s deposit, cancellation and refund policies
FMCSA insists it monitors broker websites to determine whether they’re providing “misleading information.” The agency states it also conducts compliance reviews and initiates enforcement action when appropriate.
“An interstate household goods moving broker is not a moving company and is not held to the same legal standards as a moving company,” states Michael Garcia, a San Diego-based attorney specializing in transportation law. “Generally interstate brokers of household goods are not liable for the acts or omissions of the motor carrier.”
Meet your mover
As reputable Ann Arbor movers and an agent of one of the most highly respected national relocation van lines, All Around Moving & Storage is responsible for the whole process. Plus, our accountability doesn’t end once our trailer leaves your new home.
Realize it’s unlikely you’ll meet or even know the identity of the actual mover prior to moving day should you take the broker route. A qualified Ann Arbor moving company needs to have proper licensing and insurance. This might not exist with a broker-arranged mover or, at best, the mover’s status would be unknown to you.
Since brokers operate sight unseen (or should we say “site unseen”?) their estimates often come up incorrectly low. Plus, a simple dollar figure shouldn’t be the deciding factor on what constitutes conscientious long-distance movers. Several factors should be weighed to gain a complete picture as to which mover is right for you.
“Be prepared for an unpleasant surprise,” AMSA officials warn the public about broker-arranged moves, “when the final charge turns out to be much higher than the original estimate provided over the phone or the internet.”
Peace of mind
Reputable movers always will place a premium on providing accurate information and remaining accountable through the process. A moving professional worth his salt will want to see your home to determine an accurate estimate as well as to provide proper valuation to your prized possessions.
Peace of mind, affordability and quality service are significant considerations when selecting moving and relocation services.
Seeking movers in Michigan who take the utmost pride in their work? Look no further than All Around Moving & Storage, your go-to home mover among Ann Arbor moving companies. Whether you’re seeking to move to or from Canton, Birmingham, Royal Oak, Rochester, Sterling Heights or elsewhere in Michigan, we’re the moving company Michigan residents trust. Contact us today for a FREE moving quote: (734) 941-2280.
