Don't hire online moving brokers

Shopping online for moving companies is a great way to find several good moving options.  However, it's critical to avoid companies that want to scam you.  Every year countless customers lose money to moving brokers who don't deliver good service or don't even show up on moving day.  The following tips will save you hundreds of dollars, so please protect yourself.

• ​​Moving brokers are not real movers.  Their website will look just like a legitimate moving company, but a moving broker is nothing more than a salesperson, a phone, and a website.  They will likely not admit to being a moving broker, but even if they do, be very careful.
• Out-of-state moves are based off of the weight of your belongings.  Anyone who tries to estimate the weight of your belongings over the phone won’t be as accurate as an in-home surveyor.  Moving brokers will never do an in-home survey because they likely live several states away.  You should always try to work with a real moving company that is willing to do inhome surveys.  
• After you hire a moving broker, they will require a down payment. This is typically about 20% of the total cost of the move.  You need to be aware that this is their commision.  After they have your money, they then contact several movers to see who is able to perform your move.  They will claim to work with top movers from around the country that have a proven track record but this is not true.  They will farm your job out to any company that will do it and because your move was sold so cheap the only movers that will do it are bottom-feeders.  This means that the quality of your service will be poor at multiple levels.  You also need to know that the mover that performs your move does not work for the broker.  They don’t have to honor what the broker told you.
•  You don’t have any control over what moving company will actually be moving you which means you have no way of knowing their quality of work.  This is what commonly happens to people who hire a moving broker. The companies they contract with typically are not punctual, and many times they are several days late.  Their equipment and quality of work is typically very poor.  They are known for demanding more money for "extra charges" and holding your items as leverage until they get paid.  
• Follow these tips to find out if you are dealing with a broker or not.  Most legitimate moving companies want payment at delivery, so if they require an upfront fee, they are usually a broker.  Lookup their address on google earth and street view and see if they have any moving trucks at that location.  If not, they are probably a broker.  Ask them if they actually own their own moving trucks and have their own employees.  If they avoid directly answering your question and start talking about a network of moving companies that they work with, they are a moving broker.  
• Most people never get their deposit back from the broker and they end up having to pay to hire a new company. Kearney Moving has had to help several customers over the years who have been taken advantage of by moving brokers.  Usually these unfortunate folks call our office in a panic because the mover didn’t show up and the moving broker is unavailable.    Hiring a moving company last minute is very difficult to do and reputable moving companies are usually very busy.

Moving brokers are a national problem that are even getting the attention of congress.  For more information read the articles below.
​Hiring a moving broker could leave you broke (ABC News)
​The difference between a moving broker and a moving company

​We hope these tips are helpful and guide you to the best option for you.  Kearney Moving is an Agent for Atlas Van Lines and has an amazing reputation for serving our customers with quality, integrity, and service.. For a free quote go to kearneymoving.com.​​