According to data from the 2007 US Census Bureau, the average American moves around 11.4 times in his or her lifetime. In fact, the US is a highly moveable nation, with its residents moving their households at a much more frequent rate than in almost any other country in the world.

This also might be the reason that moving services are so comprehensive in this country, with a range of options for people planning local and long-distance relocations. Anywhere you are, you’re likely to have options—whether you’re organizing your own move yourself, hiring professional movers, or working with a moving broker to find the best options for your relocation.

At Bekins of South Florida, we’ve been helping customers make smooth and organized moves around the world for over 50 years. We’re dedicated to our customers and committed to providing the best relocation services possible—and are always eager to provide our customers with the information they need to understand their options. In this article, we’re going over moving brokers, how they’re different from moving companies, and how to make the most out of each option for your relocation.

What is a Moving Broker?

A moving broker’s main role is to serve as a middleman between the people who are moving and the moving companies. While moving brokers arrange the transportation of items, the actual packing, loading of items into the truck, delivery or storage of items, and other tasks related to the relocation are not their responsibility.

Instead of managing the actual move, a broker is a sales agent that connects people who are moving with moving companies. What they do is obtain pertinent information from the customer and then bid out this job to several moving companies, in order to find an available one for the mover at a certain price. They provide quotes, accept deposits on behalf of the customer, and then schedule the relocation—but they do not perform the move itself.

What is the Difference Between Moving Brokers and Moving Companies?

Because a moving broker’s job doesn’t involve performing the actual move, brokers do not own moving equipment, supplies, trucks or vans, nor do they work with a team of professional movers, either. Brokers simply help you find a moving company that’s available to help you relocate, saving you the hassle of finding one yourself.

That’s not to say that customers can’t find a moving company to work with on their own. Both residential and commercial movers can use their own resources (through an internet search, the phone book, or through friends and family) to find reputable and professional moving companies in their area.

While it might seem to be easier to just work with movers directly, that isn’t always the case. Here are some of the benefits of moving brokers:

•  Flexibility: Moving brokers can be more flexible to work with for those moving on a tight timeline. During moving season or for last-minute moves, brokers can find professional moving companies quickly that are available to provide the customer’s unique needs.

•  Efficiency: Instead of calling from company to company and asking for custom quotes, a moving broker will do this for you. This can easily save you time, as long as you can trust the broker to connect with only the best moving companies in the area.

•  Security: Working with a reputable, licensed moving company is essential to the success of any moving project. That’s why it’s so important that customers investigate their options carefully to select the most qualified movers for the job. When you choose a registered and licensed moving broker, you can be sure that the movers chosen will reflect the best companies around.

Working with a Moving Broker

For the best experience possible, make sure to research moving brokers to find the most capable and reputable one. When choosing a broker, make sure to follow these steps to ensure that he or she is qualified to handle the request for you:

•  Check the legitimacy of the business and if it is registered with the FMCSA.

•  Physical location and motor carrier number must be disclosed.

•  Ask for a list of moving companies the broker works with and ensure that there are legally binding agreements with such movers.

•  The booklet “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move,” and the brochure “Ready to Move” by the FMCSA should be provided to you when you meet with your broker.

•  An in-house survey of your household items must be performed by the actual moving company, not the broker. Also, this cannot be handled over the phone as it is crucial that the moving company knows exactly what you’re moving and how much it will cost.

Hiring an Award-Winning Moving Company

When choosing from several moving companies, it is nice to be able to hire professionals that can adequately meet your needs, but it is great to find a company that will exceed your expectations.

Bekins of South Florida is an award-winning moving company with offices in Miami, West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and other nearby areas. For more than half a century, our company has been providing top-notch local, long-distance, and international moving services for residential and commercial clients.

If you want to learn how our team of professional packers, movers, consultants, and drivers can help you achieve a hassle-free move, give us a call at Bekins of South Florida today. You can also request a free, in-home estimate by filling out this online form.