10 Military Moving Tips

If your family is preparing for a permanent change of station (PCS), it’s normal to have questions about how the moving process works and what options are available to you.

While military moves can involve additional steps and paperwork, many parts of the process are similar to a civilian move. Proper planning, organization, and research are key to making the move smoother.

What is a Military Move?

This is where a government-contracted military moving company packs and moves your belongings. This service is completely paid for, but it could potentially have you waiting for your belongings in popular PCS seasons like the summer.

What is a Personal Procured Move/Do-it-Yourself Move?

A personally procured move (PPM), also sometimes called a DITY (Do-It-Yourself), is where you are responsible for the packing and moving of your belongings, whether you do that through a full-service mover, portable storage units, or a moving truck rental.

Below are 10 military moving tips to help you plan ahead and feel more prepared for your PCS.

1. Consult with the Transportation Office

Military moving often comes on short notice, but before you go out and buy a bunch of moving supplies, contact your local transportation office first to review your options.

Find out what your transportation allowance is, benefits you’re entitled to, and try to iron out specifics of your move, like whether you’ll be on base or off. Use resources like the Defense Department’s Military Installations page and PCSgrades to learn more about your new duty station ahead of time.

2. Military Move vs. Do-it-Yourself Move

You’ll want to inform your transportation office of your decision as soon as possible. There are several pros and cons to both a military move and a PPM/DITY.

PPM/DITY

Pros:

• The moving reimbursement is what the military would pay a full-service moving company to move your belongings
• In some situations, a PPM may cost less than the government reimbursement, depending on factors like distance, weight, and how you move your belongings.
• Moving is done on your time and schedule, allowing more flexibility

Cons:

• Packing and lifting is more work; can alleviate this stress at a fraction of the cost of a full-service move

Military Move

Pros:

• All moving expenses are paid for

Cons:

• Service providers and timelines can vary without your approval; it’s important to document your belongings and communicate clearly throughout the process

To get an idea of your reimbursement amount, talk with someone who recently completed their own PPM/DITY at the same rank and with a similar moving distance and weight

Need help with planning your military move?

Use our moving checklist to stay on schedule throughout the planning phase.

3. Create a PCS Moving Binder

A typical PCS order comes with plenty of paperwork, especially if you’re doing a PPM/DITY. Keep all receipts related to moving expenses and weight tickets to get fully reimbursed for your moving expenses. Store all important documents such as PCS orders, birth certificates, passports, vaccination records for your household (both people and pets), and your household goods inventory in a dedicated binder. This will help you stay organized throughout the moving process.

4. Consider Purging Beforehand

Depending on your orders, you may need to travel a long distance and may not have much time to get organized. One way to ease the packing burden is to declutter beforehand. Find items around the house that are broken or no longer in use and either discard them or find a new home (either at a yard sale or a donation center). Start this process before packing for the best results.

Check out our guide on decluttering your home if you need some extra help!

5. Explore Your Moving Options

Before moving day, start zeroing in on how you’re going to move (especially if you’re doing it yourself). A popular choice is renting a portable moving and storage container, such as U-Box® containers by U-Haul. These containers can be delivered to your current location, allowing you to pack at your own pace. They’re then picked up and shipped to your new location when needed, or they can be stored for as long as you need.

You can keep the containers at your location or have them stored at a secure U-Haul storage facility until you’re ready for delivery. You can also access your containers in storage if needed, even same-day!

You also have the choice of hiring movers. If you’re going through the DoD, you may be assigned a Transportation Service Provider to help with packing and moving. You can also hire your own movers through a provider like as part of your PPM.

6. Pack Strategically

Start packing about six weeks from moving day. Naturally, you’ll want to start with things you don’t use as often. Work your way toward the heavy traffic areas, packing things that are used more often, with the goal being to finish about two weeks before moving.

As you go, take a detailed inventory of your belongings. Label boxes clearly with the contents and the room they belong to make unpacking at your new location easier. Take photos and videos of your valuables so it’s clear that the items are in working order prior to the move. Photos and videos are crucial for the claims process, should anything happen during the move.

7.Must-Dos on the Big Day

When moving day finally arrives, it’s best to have a plan. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Plan for pets and kids

If you can, try to find sitters for smaller children and a while you move things out of your home. Trust us, it’ll help reduce stress in a big way.

Pack a “first day” box

Before you begin moving out, take some time to pack a suitcase or box with essentials you’ll need for your first night in your new home. Include a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, phone charger, change of clothes, toilet paper, towels, paper towels, and anything else you can think of. If you’re getting some help from movers, be sure they know not to pack this box until the end.

Appoint a “do not pack” area

Find an area in your home that’s out of the way and make this your “do not pack” zone. This will be where you keep your “first day” box, as well as anything else that you don’t want loaded up, cleaning supplies, the day’s food and water, and other essentials.

If you’re going the PPM/DITY route, you’ll want to make sure you’ve packed your portable storage container or moving truck for success. This involves distributing weight evenly, packing in tiers, and keeping your heaviest items at the bottom. Learn more about packing a moving truck or portable storage container.

8. Stay Connected with Your Moving Company

Confirm delivery dates, current and new addresses, and any specific instructions to avoid complications. On the day of the move, be sure to give clear instructions to your movers to keep things running smoothly. If you’ve chosen a government-contracted moving company, it’s still recommended that you communicate often with the service provider throughout the process and contact your move coordinator with any issues.

9. Keep All Your Receipts

For PPM movers, you must hold on to all your receipts, whether it’s for moving supplies, lodging, food, or any other travel expenses. These will be key to receiving your full reimbursement for your moving expenses. You will also need to provide weight tickets. If you are moving with U-Box containers, be sure to inform U-Haul that you need weight tickets at the origin location.

If moving with a U-Haul moving truck rental, you can get your empty weight ticket before packing your items or after unloading everything.

10. Take Care of Yourself and Your Family

Moving can be stressful, especially for military families. Take breaks, stay hydrated, and make time for self-care. Consider involving the whole family in the packing process to make it a team effort.

Remember that each military move is unique, and flexibility is key. Be prepared for unexpected challenges and approach the process with a positive mindset. As soon as you’re ready to start planning your PPM, get an instant U-Box container quote to kick-start the process. Plus, you can get a full-service move for a fraction of the cost by pairing U-Box containers with Moving Help®!

Learn more about how to Get a Full Service Move For Half the Cost and How Moving Help Works.

 

Image source: Adobe Stock,  Adobe Stock