Building a Legacy of Service: Move Concierge’s Path to Reshaping Home Services Support
February 7, 2025 Executive InsightsMake Your Move Easy
Save yourself hours of research and way too many phone calls with all of the different home service providers.
Get StartedWhen Gabe Abshire founded Move Concierge (formerly Utility Concierge) in 2009, he wasn’t just starting another home services company – he was addressing a fundamental challenge he’d discovered firsthand in the real estate industry. After years of running a successful satellite installation business across multiple states, Abshire noticed a recurring issue that was costing his company both time and money: technicians would arrive at homes only to find they couldn’t complete installations because basic utilities weren’t set up or TVs were still in moving trucks.
“That’s when the aha moment happened,” Abshire reflects. “We really understood that there was this little part in the moving process that was stressful as hell, and you really didn’t have someone to help you.”
This revelation led to the creation of a company built on three core principles: operating as a referral-based business focused on real estate professionals, giving customers genuine choices rather than pushing specific products, and maintaining transparent, efficient communication throughout the process.
The company’s streamlined approach begins about two to three weeks before closing, when real estate agents share their clients’ information. A dedicated concierge reaches out on behalf of the agent, immediately establishing trust and continuity in the home-buying process. What follows is a focused 30-minute consultation that covers everything from basic utilities to home security systems.
“We’re going to call you on behalf of that real estate professional,” Abshire explains. “We gush over our referral partners. When we have a conversation with you, we’re like, ‘Hey, Steve referred you over. We’re part of his process. He knows that moving is stressful, and he wants to help you.’”
In markets like Texas, where homeowners might face choices between 45 different electricity providers, this guidance proves essential. The concierge team helps clients navigate these decisions efficiently, presenting clear options based on the client’s specific needs. After the initial consultation, a separate team handles all the necessary connections, freeing the client to focus on other aspects of their move.
This systematic approach saves clients an average of eight hours of phone calls and approximately $1,000 in their first year through optimized service packages. But beyond the tangible savings, it’s the stress reduction that clients seem to value most. “Moving is often a happy experience – you’re moving to the next opportunity, a change in your life,” Abshire notes. “And if it’s not a happy experience, if you’re moving for another reason, we don’t want you to have to worry about this stuff.”
The company’s commitment to customer service has earned them over 20,000 positive reviews. Their approach is refreshingly straightforward: “We tell our concierges to recommend things that you would recommend to your mother, and talk to your clients like you’re your best friend,” Abshire explains. This philosophy has resonated particularly well with first-time homebuyers who may not have established service provider relationships.
Looking ahead, Move Concierge is expanding its service offering while maintaining its core focus on customer care. The company recently brought on Jason Lindwall, former COO of RealPage, as president to help drive growth into the multifamily and property management sectors. They’re also developing a tech-enabled platform to complement their high-touch service model, recognizing that some customers prefer digital solutions.
The company’s “concierge for life” concept represents its next strategic evolution. Through partnerships with premier moving companies and carefully vetted service providers, Move Concierge aims to become the go-to resource for all home-related services, from moving day and beyond. Unlike other platforms that might sell customer information to multiple vendors, Move Concierge maintains its commitment to curated, high-quality recommendations.
“We’re not trying to skip to the post-close services like refinances and insurance – we’re focused on taking care of the customer and getting them into the house first,” Abshire emphasizes. “We’ve mastered that over the last 16 years. We are the best in the world at it.”
For real estate professionals seeking to enhance their client relationships, Move Concierge offers a service that simplifies a traditionally complex part of home buying. By managing utility and home service setups, agents can focus on their core expertise while providing lasting value that extends beyond closing day. The result is an experience that has become indispensable for agents in today’s demanding market.
Read the full article on KeyCrew Journal.
