RELO Roundtable…a gathering place

As bad as the economy is on small businesses involved in the relocation industry, it was disappointing, to say the least, that both MSN and NBC would post complimentary reports just before the start of the traditional moving season about how to avoid being scammed by movers using consumer advice offered by a “real estate expert”.

I don’t know anything about Barbara Corcoran other than what I learned here but when I read her very general, unqualified, and extremely derogatory opening statement in her MSN article that “…moving companies are slicker than used-car salesmen. Their tricks of the trade fool just about everybody”, I started to wonder just how this alleged ‘expert’ gained her professional notoriety and made her killing in the real estate market. It certainly wasn’t based on accurate and honest appraisals.

To make matters even worse, NBC probably confused and frightened even more consumers considering relocation when they aired Ms. Corcoran’s sensational commentary in this clip with Matt Lauer on the morning news.

Don’t get me wrong.  Some of the information reported is accurate and generally true. It’s helpful that both the Protect Your Move and MoveRescue websites were posted for the public’s reference. Unfortunately neither resource is going to be much help to a family moving locally or intrastate.

The most useful part of this irresponsible smear campaign was reading the accurate, honest feedback at Newsvine from several folks whose professional livelihoods actually depend on moving their customers safely and honestly. They may not be well known TV personalities or millionaires but at least they’re credible experts.

What’s interesting is that most well informed financial experts and media pundits point to irregularities and abuses in the real estate market as the first triggers in the worst downward spiral of the nation’s economy since the Great Depression.

It’s curious, then, that it’s a real estate expert who’s casting the first stone at the very industry that will have to help move the country out of the slump.