Moving Without Stress

Reasons to move from an apartment to a house

There is a time in our lives when we decide to make a new move. Usually, people decide to relocate. They want to change their lifestyle. However, at one point, they want to settle down. For example, they want to find their own peace. If they are living in an apartment, they are certainly going to make a change of their living place. In this article, we are going to present to you reasons to move from an apartment to a house. Continue reading “Reasons to move from an apartment to a house”

What Is A Moving Broker

When it comes to the relocation process, you need all the help you can get. No matter where this help is coming from, it is always more than welcome. One thing we all know can aid us greatly in the relocation process are reputable movers. Moreover, not only can they help us, but they are also necessary for any moving to go smoothly.

And, if you don’t have enough time to put in hours of research into finding reliable movers, you can always rely on a moving broker. In case this is the first time you hear of this term, stick with us. Let Big Apple Movers teach you what exactly a moving broker is, and why you should hire one the next time you move!

business people

What Is a Moving Broker?

First things first, you need to be familiar with the term ‘moving broker’ before you decide you need one. A moving broker is a middleman between you and all the available moving companies on the market.

He or she is a professional, who can give you an estimate and find the best possible moving company for you. Whether you need residential or office moving experts, you can rest assured your broker will be able to find the best one for you.

Moreover, they work for a fee and are usually cheaper than moving companies. Don`t get us wrong. Moving brokers do not equal moving companies. A broker’s job is to find a suitable moving company for your needs.

However, as nothing in life is perfect, the same applies to these relocation professionals. There are certain things you should be wary about when looking for your broker.

What Are the Risks Associated with Moving Brokers?

Hiring a broker comes with a certain amount of risks. For starters, there is a chance that the broker`s estimate might not be suitable and that it will not be accepted by the moving companies. Usually, this is because the broker`s estimate is too low. In case this happens, you would be left without a moving company on your moving day. Can you imagine a worse scenario?

Furthermore, you need to check whether your moving brokers are licensed and insured! Just like a lot of moving scams and fraudulent companies have resurfaced lately, so have unlicensed moving brokers. So, how can you ensure that a moving broker you are interested in is indeed legit?

  • Look for a moving broker that is registered with the FMCSA.
  • Ask them to show you a list of the moving companies they usually work with.
  • Moreover, ask to see the written agreements they have with those movers.

Once you ensure that the coast is clear and that your moving brokers are who they advertise they are, you can proceed with hiring them.

Before making an agreement, inform yourself more about a moving broker.

Moving Broker vs Moving Company

While both options offer services related to moving, they have distinct roles and functions. Understanding the difference between a moving broker and a moving company can help you make an informed choice that suits your needs and preferences.

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Moving Broker

A moving broker is an intermediary or middleman that acts as a link between you, the customer, and various moving companies. Instead of physically handling the moving process, a broker facilitates the connection between you and a moving company that can best accommodate your needs. Here’s how a moving broker works:

  1. Estimates and Options: When you approach a moving broker, they gather information about your move, such as the distance, size of the move, and specific requirements. Based on this information, they provide you with estimates from different moving companies within their network.
  2. Connections: The broker has established relationships with a network of moving companies. They match your requirements with a suitable mover from their pool of partners.
  3. Negotiations: The broker negotiates the terms of the move on your behalf, including pricing and services. They aim to secure the best deal for you.
  4. Coordination: Once you’ve chosen a moving company, the broker coordinates the details of the move, including scheduling and logistics.

Moving Company

A moving company is a business that specializes in providing moving services. When you hire a moving company, they handle various aspects of the move directly, from packing and loading to transportation and unloading. Here’s what to expect when working with a moving company:

  1. Direct Service: A moving company is responsible for all aspects of the move. They have their own team of movers and equipment.
  2. Customized Service: You work directly with the moving company to outline your requirements and preferences for the move.
  3. Responsibility: The moving company is accountable for the entire process, ensuring that your belongings are handled safely and efficiently.

Conclusion

In case you weren’t paying close attention, let us sum it up for you. A moving broker is a person who conducts its business between two parties – a client and moving companies. They are a good way to save money in the Big Apple since their fees are affordable. However, even they don`t come without risks, which is why you should make sure they possess the necessary licenses.

How to evaluate a good local moving company?

A relocation process is an important event in everybody’s life. It is something you need to think through and plan carefully, however you are doing it. If you insist on doing it yourself, it is important to think about every small detail of the move, so you avoid mistakes and possible loss and damage. However, there is a safer option, that doesn’t have to be necessarily more expensive. If you think about it, hiring professional movers means paying seemingly more, but you can avoid all the stress and risks. There is only one thing – you need to choose reliable and efficient movers. How to find them? We prepared a guide on how to evaluate a good local moving company and have a stress-free move. Continue reading “How to evaluate a good local moving company?”

Tips for moving your business to Brooklyn

Moving business is not an easy task. Even though the reasons for moving your offices are different, the process is pretty much the same. But the moving process is not the same as moving your home. Here, you have office equipment, employees, working hours, etc. The more offices you have, the more complicated it gets, but don’t you worry. We will show you how moving your business to Brooklyn can be a smooth, stress-free process.  Continue reading “Tips for moving your business to Brooklyn”

How to escape Manhattan moving scams?

Moving can be stressful and overwhelming so being well organized is imperative. Hiring the right movers is the most important thing in your moving process. Be sure to look for the best moving services in Manhattan and hire your reliable movers. Reliability, honesty, and professionalism are the most important traits a moving company should have. But, how do you know that your moving company is reliable? You should do a detailed background check and make sure that you follow the guidelines you are going to read here. Yes, moving scams are possible and doing a detailed check is the best way to avoid Manhattan moving scams.

road sign that says SCAM - avoid Manhattan moving scams
Do a detailed background check to avoid Manhattan moving scams

How to avoid Manhattan moving scams

You should always choose an experienced moving company with a long history. If a moving company has been out there for a very long time they are probably very reputable. These companies care about their reputation and that is why they are still working and functioning. Just think about it, if there were scams they would be reported. If a lot of people report scams the authorities will check this out and close the business of the moving company. If this hasn’t happened by now it probably will not happen in the future. So this is a good guarantee that the moving company is legit.

Check if the company is insured

It is very important to check if the company has all of the necessary papers and that they are insured. They need to have insurance against any unfortunate mistakes that might happen. They should also ask you if you have insurance. If you don’t they should offer you to buy an insurance policy from them. If this happens it is a sure sign that they are reputable and that they care about their clients. In addition, you should check if their workers are bounded. A reputable moving company will have bounded workers that work under a legitimate contract. You should check this as well.

Get references and check their BBB rating

What you should definitely do is check online reviews of the company. This should give you some kind of an insight into the experiences of the prior customers. Moreover, to be completely sure they are legit ask for a contact number and names of some previous satisfied customers. A good and reputable company will not have a problem with this.They will gladly comply with your wishes. However, if they don’t accept you should just move on. It is a good idea to check the company at Better Business Bureau. Focus on moving scam reports. You will be able to track any kind of bad reports of the company here. This is a sure way to avoid Manhattan moving scams.

lap top that says fraud alert - avoid Manhattan moving scams
Check online reviews to avoid Manhattan moving scams

Additional things to do to avoid Manhattan moving scams

Here is a valuable piece of advice for you. You should plan your move well in advance because this is a sure way to hire the best and the most reliable companies. If you plan in time you will get these benefits

  • You will hire the best and most reliable companies
  • Tou might get a discount. So first learn about the NYC moving costs and them book way before the move to get great discounts.

If you don’t act in time others will book all of the best moving companies.

Ask your real estate agent for some advice

You might be quite inexperienced when it comes to moving scams but your real estate agent has seen it all a million times before. Both good and bad news spread like wildfire. You should ask your real estate agent for some information and recommendations. If the moving company you want to opt for has been involved in any  Manhattan moving scams your agent will probably have some information about this. You should ask them about the good and bad experiences of their previous clients. They are a wonderful and reliable source of information.

Ask for a detailed contract

A reliable moving company will make a detailed and elaborate contract. Be sure to know what you are signing. The contract should include their estimate, all of their fees and additional fees and exact date of the move. Check all of this before you sign anything.It should match the information they have given you beforehand. If there is no paperwork than you can be sure that you are dealing with scammers.

Never settle for large deposits

If the moving company is asking you to pay a large deposit there is something wrong there. A reliable company will only ask you to leave a small deposit as a sign of trust and goodwill. If you are asking about the sum of money it is usually between 100 and 500 dollars. If your moving company is asking for much more than this something is fishy and you should avoid them. Pay attention to the cost of the move. If the cost is too cheap or much cheaper than you expected than something is probably wrong. You could be dealing with rogue movers or scammers.

Your movers should have an office

There is an increase in scammers who pretend to have Internet only moving companies. It is not enough to check the website of the moving company. It could be top notch or too good to be true and promise you the best service. However, your moving company needs to have an office. You should go to the address you find on the website and check that the company is there. If you don’t find them there, they are probably just part-time scammers.

a scammer taking a file from a computer
The moving company should have an office

Check their trucks and storage units

If the moving company is professional and reputable they should have trucks that are in excellent condition. If the trucks are in a great condition it means that your belongings will stay safe during transport. You should check if they have affordable storage units. However, it is more important that the storage units they offer are safe and hygienic.

Following all of these tips is a good way to avoid Manhattan moving scams. Your move will be safe and everything will go more smoothly.

Moving from Brooklyn – hire decent movers

If you have decided to move from Brooklyn the first step is choosing among moving services Brooklyn has to offer. You will want to choose the best moving company out there.That is completely normal. Everyone who is moving is looking for reliable and professional movers. Whether you are moving from Brooklyn or any other place you will want to look for the same things in a moving company. You should focus on their reviews, reliability, and price. We are here to help you with some tips on how to hire decent movers. You will discover what to pay attention to and what the right questions you should ask are. You will also discover what to avoid doing when you are hiring movers. Continue reading “Moving from Brooklyn – hire decent movers”

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