One of the biggest debates in the moving industry is the broker versus carrier debate. Many people just have no clue how this industry really works, so we aim to explain that a little better here.
How It Works
Anyone who decides to hire a mover will do it one of two ways. You will either hire a major van line or go with an independent carrier (either directly or through their specific broker). Some carriers will not even take direct bookings because their specific broker handles all their scheduling. So, in some situations, you have no choice but to use a broker if you want to book with a specific carrier.
Major Van Lines
If you call a van line (Allied, North American, etc.), they will refer you to their local carrier agent. For example, if you are in Los Angeles, California, and you need to move to Tennessee, you call Allied, and then a day later, Joe from Joe's Movers in Los Angeles calls you to schedule a time to do your home survey. This doesn't mean you aren't dealing with Allied; it means Joe's Movers is Allied's local dedicated agent for your pickup area. Joe's Movers has to carry out the move based on Allied’s methods and business practices. Joe's Movers has signed on to be an agent of Allied.
Brokers
If you call a broker, that broker will find you THEIR local agent to do the job on your route. A good broker will have a large network of carriers around the country to facilitate almost any move at almost any time. Whether you use a van line or a broker, they are picking the carrier for you. The van line uses their local agent; the broker does the same. Either way, you end up with a carrier.
Getting a Quote
The main key when getting a quote from either a carrier or their broker is to make sure the VOLUME of the quote is correct. The price means nothing if the volume (size of move in weight lbs or cubic feet cf) is not correct. The biggest fear around getting a moving quote is the fear of being mispriced from a volume standpoint, either accidentally or intentionally. Intentional mispricing of a move by manipulating the size of the job to be lower than it really is, is a practice called "lowballing." Agents of BOTH carriers and brokers are guilty of this practice.
Best Practices for Accurate Quotes
The best way to get a moving quote, assuming you have a lot of items to move, is to get one of the following types of quotes:
- In-Home Quote: When the rep physically comes to the house to survey and size the job.
- Virtual Quote: When the rep connects with the client via a third-party app (FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom) and can be walked through the house to size the job.
- Pictures/Videos: When the client has a listing online through a realty site like Zillow, etc., and the rep can walk through the pictures with the client to determine size, or the client just sends pictures and/or videos of the items being moved.
Years ago, an in-home quote was much more necessary. Nowadays, with the technology available to all of us, this is really an unnecessary step. The same exact quote can be obtained with a 5-10 minute virtual walkthrough as with a time-consuming in-home appointment.
Ensuring Accurate Comparisons
A consumer should be concerned with one thing: that any of the competing quotes they get are of similar size (not price, size). If you were to get three quotes, for example, and one is a little bigger than the other two, we would suggest asking the smaller two quotes to up the volume to match the biggest one, so you can know their price based on the biggest size.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between brokers and carriers can help you make an informed decision for your move. Whether you go with a major van line or an independent carrier through a broker, ensuring accurate volume quotes is crucial to avoid unexpected costs. For a smooth moving experience, consider using a combination of in-home, virtual, or picture/video quotes to get the most accurate estimates. And remember, getting professional help can simplify the process. Visit our site to get a quote today and see how we can assist with your move!