CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- Leah Smith, her husband and three children are sitting in an empty apartment in Castle Rock.

Everything they own was destroyed when their moving van went up in flames.

What is even worse is, they said the cost of their move was three times what they were originally quoted.

"There's some things you just can't replace. You can never get that stuff back," said a tearful Leah Smith.

A lifetime of momentos, family photos and all her children's toys are gone.

"You get attached to certain things. You worked hard for it. You took pride in it. You'll never get that back," she said.

The Smith's lost everything when the van carrying their belongings from Omaha, Neb. to Castle Rock went up in flames in a Denver storage lot.

It was sitting there because the family did not have the money to pay the moving charges.

"They were trying to tell us balance was over $3,000 to get our stuff. Our initial quote was around $1,200," Smith said.

Smith said she did not realize the company she booked her family's move with online, Nationwide, was a broker who was subcontracting the work and adding new charges each time.

"We never knew it would go to another company until that company called," she said.

"There's a lot of companies out there that act like they're a big van line, but they're not. All they are is a booker," said Joe Rondinelli.

Rondinelli owns All Pro Movers, the company that ended up with the Smith's load.

He said the fire that claimed their belongings in his storage lot is an unusual event, but their dilemma with the broker is something he sees all the time.

"The customer's not advised up front what the charges are. They should be telling you all the things up front," Rondinelli said.

Smith admits she should have read the contract more carefully and said next time her family will move themselves.

"I would never recommend going through broker," she said.

Arson is suspected in the moving van fire and it is under investigation.

The Smiths said their homeowners insurance will cover much of their losses.

Rondinelli said when hiring a mover; get at least three estimates in person, check out the company ahead of time, ask about all the possible charges including weight, mileage and packing or storing items, and always get a written estimate.

He also recommends you keep your homeowners insurance policy in effect throughout the term of your move.