Let’s be honest, relocation is rarely an easy process. But there are certain kinds of moves that prove to be rougher than the rest. And among the more specific ones is a PCS move. This particular type of moving can be emotionally very demanding for the whole family. It’s tough, but it’s also far from rare. In fact, members of the military usually go through a change of station every few years. That more often than not includes moving a whole family. At Verified Movers, we’ve helped quite a few families find reliable movers for all sorts of relocations, including military ones. Because of that, we’re well aware of just how demanding a military move can be for everyone. And that is exactly the reason why we’ve prepared a few tips for people who are planning a PCS move. So if you want this process to go as smoothly as possible, read on, and let’s get you ready for your upcoming relocation!
A great military move starts with proper planning and organization
Planning and organizing military relocation can be pretty stressful. That’s especially true if you have a family. If you’re a young lad just able to move on a whim, planning a move to another base will likely be much easier than for someone who has a family. But, regardless of that, planning a move is a must whether it’s just you, or you and your family. And despite the fact that it’s much easier to plan a solo move, in no way is planning a move a joke. That’s why you have to take it seriously. Especially since you’re moving for work, and for the military work no less. That’s why, before you go about hiring one of the top movers in Denver, you should first take a moment to plan your relocation.
Any move is easier with proper planning, military moves included.
A plan, a schedule, and a whole lot of timely preparation
The reason why planning is so important is that it keeps you away from slacking. And slacking is the last thing you want to be doing when moving. However, a plan is not enough to stop you from procrastinating. That’s where a good schedule comes into play. With a schedule, you’ll be likely to put off your moving-related tasks. Of course, you’ll still have to get up and do these tasks yourself. It doesn’t matter if you’re moving from Virginia to Texas, or from Kentucky to Arkansas, it’ll be much easier to motivate yourself if you have a visual cue that you should do something.
That said, it’s not enough to plan and schedule. If you wish to have a peaceful military relocation you have to start early on. If you do so, it’s less likely that you’ll have to rush and do things last minute. So don’t just think that everything is going to take care of itself. You have to make sure you’re doing everything you can to ensure your relocation is smooth and simple!
Planning tools can be very helpful with military moves
Pen and paper is all you need to make a plan and create a schedule. However, there are quite a few organizational tools that can be used to make planning easier and more fun. That said, you don’t have to spend crazy money on these tools. Most are rather affordable, and for some of them, you can use what you already have. For example, your phone is a great tool you can use for planning. Aside from numerous apps, you can download, you can also use the inbuilt alarm and calendar to plan and organize. But, if you’re feeling a bit more ambitious, you can also get a dedicated moving planner, create a moving checklist, or a visual timeline.
Time flies fast when moving.
There are quite a few things you should take care of before your military move actually happens
After planning comes doing. But packing and preparing for the actual move is not the only thing you have to take care of. No, there are quite a few things that you have to handle before you move on to the actual preparation. Here are a few things that require your immediate attention.
Deal with housing as soon as you can
As we’ve already mentioned, a military move is different from your run-of-the-mill household relocation. For one, when an average family decides to move, they can freely choose where they’re going. But when you’re doing a PCS and your family is following you, obviously, you’ve got a far smaller say in the matter of where you’re going. But that doesn’t mean that choosing where you live is not important – on the contrary. And luckily, even though you can’t really choose one of the most affordable and safe states in America yourself for this relocation, there are quite a few choices you can make to ensure this move is a positive thing for your family!
Choose the right home and neighborhood for your family
In many cases, a permanent change of station means that you and your family will be moving long distance to a military base. Obviously, in that case, you don’t have a variety of housing options. But if your family will be living outside the base, you’ll kinda have to choose a location. And seeing as the family is going through a big transition, picking a good spot for your new home is important.
For example, you’ll need to make sure that your kids are in a good school district. Just that alone is enough to have you researching all day and night for at least a couple of days. Add to that other family requirements and choosing a new place might be a month-long endeavor. But, all of that effort will be worth it in the end. Just make sure that you don’t leave this for the last minute because you’ll have much fewer choices then.
You’ll be a lot less stressed if you find a home early.
Safety above all else
Safety is the biggest priority for most people. That’s why you should ensure you and your family will be safe even after the relocation. But to ensure said safety, there are a few things you should do. For example, finding a new, reliable doctor in your area, where you’ll transfer your medical record is very important. Also, if you have a pet, finding a great vet is equally as important as finding a doctor for yourself and your family. On top of that, you should see to it that your home is properly secured. Talk to your landlord and arrange for necessary safety modifications if you have any concerns.
Get to know the state you’re moving to!
Whichever state you’re moving to, it’s important to learn about it before your military move. Why? Well for one, that will make adapting to that state much easier. Plus, you’ll also prepare for the relocation much easier if you know what you’re preparing for. And, that knowledge will also certainly be helpful when it comes to choosing a new neighborhood, home, or school for your kids. Going in blindly is very risky. If you can’t visit, at least research!
Sort out your moving budget right now
You can expect the military to handle some of your moving expenses. Well, at least some of them. To be more specific, they will pay for a lot of your household goods to be transported to your new location. However, there’s still a catch – you can’t just transport everything you want, without any limits. There’s a weight limit, which is a ceiling on the number of items you can carry.
It’s important to have your moving budget sorted.
Of course, you can go over this – but the military won’t handle these additional costs. For everything over the weight limit, you’ll have to pay yourself. So, even though there are some very helpful packing secrets that can reduce the weight of your belongings, you’ll likely still have some expenses. Especially if you’re moving your whole family. That’s why it’s important for you to sort out your budget and get ready to open your wallet should the need arise. It’s always best to be prepared.
Prepare your children for the military move
When you’re moving on your own – it’s not easy, but you’ve got a lot less to worry about. In comparison, when you’re making a military move with your family, saying that you’ve got a lot on your plate would be an understatement. This is why you want to start getting ready for this relocation on time and plan everything out. But bear in mind, we’re not just talking about the logistics that a military move entails. You also have to prepare your kids for the long distance move you’re about to undertake.
First of all, you really don’t want to put off telling your children about the move. And trust us on this, we know that this will be your first instinct as a parent. It’s only natural that you’d want to protect your children from stress and harm. But the sooner you explain everything about your relocation to them, the sooner they’ll start making peace with the transition. Also, make sure that you give all the information to them throughout the process. If they’re informed about everything that’s going on, they’ll have a much easier time adjusting to the new environment.
It’s important to talk to your kids about the military move early on.
The move itself is no walk in the park either
Aside from there being numerous things to do to ensure things are in place for the move, there are also quite a few things you’ll have to handle that are directly related to moving. Sure, we’ve already mentioned planning and scheduling. However, there are many more tasks that will require your attention. Most of these tasks are, unfortunately, pretty much unavoidable and have to be completed in order for moving to move forward. These tasks include:
- Estimating the number of supplies you’ll need for packing your belongings
- Making a list of said supplies as well purchasing them
- Planning the packing process
- Potentially decluttering your belongings, as well as sorting and disposing of the stuff you don’t want to bring with you
- Packing
- Cleaning your home before you leave
- Sorting all of the necessary documents
- Taking care of your vehicle before leaving
- Looking for, as well as hiring movers
- Finding storage if you need it
- Packing your moving day bag and box
- Planning the moving day
Professionals can be of great help when it comes to the military moving
Luckily, if you hire the movers first, they’ll be able to handle some of the above-mentioned tasks. Just like if you hire professional cleaners, they’ll be able to clean your old place without you having to lift a finger. However, hiring professionals would add some cost to your moving expenses. Especially if you wish to hire one of the best long distance moving companies Arkansas has to offer, for example. Or a cleaning crew that has great reviews and is in high demand. But, paying a bit more might be worth it to you, especially if the military is paying for a decent chunk of the move. If you end up hiring professionals, moving won’t be nearly as stressful and you’ll have a lot more time for preparing, planning, and organizing than if you had to take care of these individual tasks yourself.
Military moving can be much easier with professionals by your side!
A military move may be a demanding task, but it won’t be an issue for a well-disciplined military man
Firstly, you need to remember one thing – this isn’t your run-of-the-mill relocation. It’s not like you’re hiring one of the interstate moving companies South Carolina has, to take you to a new countryside home. You’re making a military move which is oftentimes a lot more demanding. That said, no move is ever “undoable”. Sure, things might get a bit stressful, but you’ll definitely be able to pull through if you do things correctly. Simply start by creating a plan early on and take things step-by-step from there. Moving is all about dedication and consistency. And if you’re not lacking in either of these, there’s no doubt you could have a successful relocation!