Summer PCS season is in full swing and since I’m smack-dab in the middle of a move, I thought I’d do an article with tips on preparing for a successful one. The whole process is one of the more stressful to endure in the military, but it’s not unbearable and with a little advance preparation, you’ll do just fine!

Keep in mind that the rules are completely different when doing a “Personally Procured Move” (formerly known as a DITY move). Check with your local personal property office to get all the information you need on how this type of move works. For our purposes, we’ll deal with your standard government move.

Planning and prep should start at least a month before the movers are due out. You should go through everything in your home and get rid of anything that you don’t want to take with you to your new location. This serves a dual purpose: it won’t add to your weight (and possibly push you over your weight limit) and you won’t have to unpack it and find a place for it in your new home. This allows you time to try to sell it if you’d like, or just donate it to a Goodwill-type organization. Also start separating important papers out: official orders, birth certificates, marriage certificates, social security cards, etc. I find it helpful to put everything in a binder for easy carrying.
You should also take pictures of everything. This is an easy way to document what you have and what condition it’s in, which will come in handy if you need to file for “Full Replacement Value” if something is damaged in transit. Either take pictures of or write down serial and model numbers.

If you have items that simply can’t be replaced (pictures, things that have sentimental value, etc.), take them with you. Crocker Hopper has a photo carrier that holds 2000 photos; it is an amazing thing to use to keep pictures if you don’t have them in an album. If you can’t take all these items with you, be sure to keep an eye on them so you know they’re being packed properly.
Depending on your moving company, keep in mind that just because you don’t seal a box you’ve packed doesn’t mean they’ll seal it for you and become responsible for its contents. Many times they’ll simply take everything out and repack it in one of their boxes, leaving you with countless cardboard boxes leftover.

Keep food and drink handy for the movers. This doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, just some bottles of water and sandwiches will suffice. I find it helpful to dedicate a shelf in the fridge to the movers. This way, I can put all the food and drink that is for them on the shelf and they can grab it as they see fit. This keeps them happy which comes in handy if you need to politely ask them to pack something a bit better or need some sort of favor. You want happy movers handling your belongings!

Be sure your items are listed in detail on the inventory forms. This is important if something gets damaged and you need to file for replacement. You want to be sure you get reimbursed for the correct TV. Check everything on the list and make sure all boxes are numbered and listed on the form. Also make sure there is a label on each box with your name and box number. Once you’ve verified everything, sign the list.

Be sure to keep medication, toiletries, paper plates, plastic utensils, extra clothes and a phone out with you. This will all come in handy during the move.

There are many other tips for having a successful move; these are just a few. Check out the Military Families forum and post some of your favorite tips for all to benefit!