With Permanent Change of Station (PCS) season in full swing for military families, now is the time to start planning for that move in your future. Whether this is your first time moving or have done so many times in the past, there are probably some tips that can help you out.
You are going to need tons of paperwork while moving and it can be stressful to try to track it all down. If you use a folder you can put important documents such as your moving checklist in sleeve protectors and you’ll always know where they are. Birth certificates, social security cards, rental agreements, and mortgage paperwork are a good place to start with this.
This doesn’t have to be some major undertaking with a pen and paper or an Excel spreadsheet. You can instead take photos of all your belongings to make it a lot easier. Plus, if something is damaged while moving, you have proof that you owned it right there in color.
This is a good time to downsize, as houses always end up filled with extra items after move in. Toss out things that are broken or won’t be used. Think about a yard sale. Donate. Sell stuff on Craigslist. Less stuff means an easier moving experience; there is no doubt about that.
Nobody wants to move into a house with a bunch of dirty laundry. Take advantage of the time before the move to start doing all the laundry, from clothes to bedsheets. You can do the last of it just before the move and you’ll feel fresh going into your new home.
Yes, it will cost money to get the place cleaned up to the standards needed, but it can be worth it. These cleaners know all the requirements and can get things done faster and easier than you can, especially if you have children.
You don’t want little things getting away from you or being tossed in a box never to be found again. So, put all those little things in Ziploc bags. You can also use them for hardware for appliances, beds, and similar things. Use a marker to note what is inside and where they need to go.
As liquids and chemicals cannot be moved, you don’t want to leave behind boxes and bottles of them. Use whatever you can on the days leading up to the move and don’t buy any expensive shampoo or washing detergent before leaving.
Do you have boxes from your last move that have never been touched? If it’s been a couple of years and you haven’t used these things, chances are pretty good that you never will. Sell or donate these things and make it easier for you on moving day.
When you arrive at your new home, take photos of it in every room. Document any damage that is already there so you cannot be blamed for it later. If you have an older child or teenager, they might enjoy this kind of job.
When you open your moving boxes to unpack something, make sure you put away everything else that is in it. It’s going to make getting everything unpacked easier on you and the family. Making progress a box at a time leaves you with fewer half-packed boxes and more sanity.
While the previous tenants are supposed to clean up everything before leaving, it’s unlikely to have happened. At the very least, do a pass over the kitchen and bathrooms to ensure they are clean and safe to use.
