Moving brings on a whole set of expectations, frustrations, and stress. I have yet to meet someone who looks forward to the PCS process. However, I’d like to challenge you to take a fresh perspective into your next PCS season through a new series, The Ultimate PCS Handbook: Take Command of Your Move. This series explores tips from seasoned spouses and veterans who have been there, done that. 

Pre-Move Planning

You may not have control over your spouse’s next duty assignment, but you do have some control over how your move goes.

Get back to the basics! It’s time to prepare your family and your home before a packer ever steps into your home.

First, get familiar with the move.mil website. Get set up online, start an inventory (there are some great inventory apps!), and get your PCS binder started (what should you put in your PCS binder?). You’ll also have access to ETA/DTS system from move.mil, but if your spouse is anything like mine, thankfully, he has all the log-in info on that deal!

It’s Getting Real Now

“We got orders…”

Whether you got the top duty station on your dream list or not, your to-do list is about to be a mile long. If you don’t know where to start, check out these comprehensive checklists —you’ll at least get an idea of where to start.

First things first, get rid of the stuff. I don’t care if you KonMari-Spark-Joy-it or heft it into a hefty trash bag—you don’t want to pay for being overweight. I view this as a gift.

Hang with me here. There are people who move into a home and stay there forever! They have stuff. You have the gift of moving and experiencing a whole house declutter-fest.

Be ruthless. My husband would not agree with me, as evidenced by his 10 (or more) boxes that he never opens. We were lucky at our last house to have some serious basement flooding. Some of his boxes of “treasures” (AKA his old, used track shoes from high school) were mercifully tossed. 

If you have trouble getting rid of items, then schedule short periods of time and consider inviting a friend over to help. Break up your rooms, closets, and storage areas into manageable tasks. Crank up some music and get to work.

As you clear your space, decide whether you will sell, give away, or toss items that you no longer use. It helps me to think that someone else might get some new life out of that sweater that I loved, but that never fit quite right, or the train table my son outgrew last year, but I’m hanging onto because he has played with it twice in the last six months.

Get Packed…Before Getting Packed

About one week before your move is scheduled, pack the items that will be transported by you. This should include: multiple copies of orders, other important documents you might need (lease, insurance, school and medical paperwork, etc.), chargers for electronics, clothing, shoes, prescription medications, over-the-counter meds (because someone will get sick), travel activities for your children, and non-perishable travel snacks.

For CONUS moves, I also pack a kit of basic kitchen items: a cookie sheet, pot, pan, a few knives and cutting boards, a spatula and spoon for cooking, a dishcloth and towel, salt, pepper, and garlic. I pack these at about the same time that I start using paper plates.

Don’t forget about your pets! Prep their luggage, too!

It’s also helpful to have a kit of other household necessities when moving to a CONUS location: a roll or two of toilet paper, hand and bath towels, a roll of paper towels, and multipurpose cleaning spray. I also double-check our travel hygiene bags for fresh toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap, and other toiletry items. 

For sleeping arrangements, we have air mattresses and linens. These are also easy to pack even weeks in advance so I don’t have to worry about them as the stress levels rise!

I spend more time planning the “road-trip” portion of our move, because I don’t want my son’s favorite stuffed animal accidentally getting packed and disappearing for weeks. I keep a running master list on a Post-It Note of “last minute” items for the day of the pack (stuffed animal, pillows, phone chargers, computer chargers, etc.).

A few days before the packers show up, consider swapping over to paper plates. I know it’s awful for the environment, but the movers will not pack anything that’s wet (for fear of growing mold). You don’t want to be stuck trying to dry your dishes right from the dishwasher while they’re packing your kitchen. Swap to disposable items.

The Moving Crew is Scheduled

Along the same lines, scrub out your garbage cans and have them ready! They’re a great option for packing odd equipment (have you been in your garage lately?!). Plus it will save room on the truck and you won’t have to worry about opening an old bag of trash when your HHGs arrive in a few weeks.

This is also the time to clean out your refrigerator and pantry of everything you aren’t packing (perishables, liquids such as oils and vinegar, dish soap, hand soap, laundry detergent, etc.). At the same time, pop into your bathrooms and get rid of any liquids, which the movers won’t pack. Wipe out your refrigerator, wipe down the bathroom, wipe down counters, and so on as you go along.

Now you’re almost ready for the movers! Check back for part two of this series to handle that PCS like a pro!