Relocation is consistently ranked as one of life’s most stressful events—it even ranks up there with divorce, job loss, and major illnesses. But unlike other big life moments, the average American will move nearly a dozen times over the course of their life. Thus, it comes as no surprise that PCS moves are a top concern and stressor for military families.
From the perspective of a seasoned mover and military spouse, I can say with certainty: moving never gets easier. But the one thing we CAN do is be more prepared and ready for whatever curveballs are thrown at us! In this article, I hope to share some creative tips and insight on how to best prepare for your next relocation. And while I share from a military perspective, this information is still very relevant for civilian moves, too!
1. Purge, purge, and purge again
Decluttering will create more available transport space, which is important if you’re capped to one truck or container. If you have items you intend to donate or throw out, now is the time! Consider things like unimportant documents, furniture, old clothes, household items/décor, toys, expired medications, cleaning supplies, old cables/cords, and old bedding. Be sure to properly dispose of hazardous materials such as old paints, oil, tires, medications, etc.
Pro Tip
To stay organized as you purge, keep some empty bins nearby for donations or yard sales.
2. Clean, make checklists, and narrow down a timeline
If you don’t plan to hire a move-out cleaner, you can start small with tasks here and there in the weeks and months prior (fridge cleaning, wiping walls & baseboards, patching holes, wiping down drawers & cabinets). Create checklists to stay on task with cleaning, change of address notifications, important dates/contacts, potential moving expenses, and so on. Identify a timeline with important dates such as move-out/move-in, starting/stopping utilities, travel days, and so on.
3. Start collecting moving supplies early
Unless you’re using government movers or hiring a full-service team, you’ll likely need to fund the expense of moving supplies. Start collecting them months ahead to spread out the expense. If you’re fine with used boxes, check marketplaces or ask around your neighborhood for free boxes. Grab some organization tools like color-coded box labels to reduce stress and make unloading/unpacking a breeze.
4. Pick a moving method
Determine the best relocation method based on budget constraints, travel preferences, moving timelines, etc. If you’re opting to hire your own movers, thoroughly vet them by checking reviews, researching them in the FMCSA mover database, and getting at least 3-5 different quotes to avoid any shady lowball offers. If you’re being assigned movers (e.g. by the military), you can still vet them by asking around in PCS groups for prior experiences. If you’ll be using a rental truck, research best practices to avoid truck/equipment theft.
5. Prep the home
Remove hanging artwork and décor from walls, organize items how you want them packed (e.g. bagging up items that belong together, such as toy sets, bedding, or silverware), and make a “DO NOT PACK” section of your home to include luggage or other items that you may not want loaded on the truck. Try to secure a dog sitter or secure your pets to avoid any escape issues or cats hiding inside boxes/dressers and accidentally being loaded onto the truck without notice. Create a “FIRST NIGHT BOX” filled with essentials: toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, simple toiletries, hand soap, a box cutter, etc. Keep this box with you during your move, rather than sending it on the moving truck!
6. Ask for help/have a moving day plan
Don’t be afraid to hire a sitter or ask a friend/neighbor to help with kids or pets during the moving madness. Packing & loading days can be overwhelming, and so not having your hands full with kids or pets can help you stay focused on last minute checklist/household tasks and communicating with movers. Plus, as mentioned earlier, having a pet sitter can prevent issues with escapes or mistakes. It is not unheard of for cats to hide inside furniture, which can really complicate things after loading is done or the truck has pulled away. Lastly, gather some simple grab-and-go snacks & drinks to set out and keep meals simple, like ordering pizza.
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7. Take photos & videos for insurance purposes
One of my biggest personal lessons during a cross-country move was how critical it is to have photo and video evidence of my possessions (applies to both DIY and professional moves). For example, if items go missing in transit, are lost in a catastrophic event like a natural disaster or wreck, or your rental truck is stolen, those photos can help tremendously when filing an insurance claim for proof of ownership. Videos of electronics like TVs and washers are also recommended to prove they worked beforehand. Take it from someone whose moving company lost entire crates of furniture and random boxes—having pictures of each room and drawer is the reason I was able to recall items that I owned and file a thorough claim. Which leads me to my next topic…
8. Inventory
Inventory is one of the most important aspects of a move. But a moving company can only spend so much time on it, and companies will often use broad terminology on their inventory sheets without specifying important details. For example, they may write “kitchen appliances” or “stroller” or “outdoor grill” – which doesn’t give us many clues if we need to identify and prove what’s missing (what if it was a pricey KitchenAid Mixer or a high-end grill?). On top of lacking details, you may feel pressured or run out of time to make proper adjustments when reviewing these sheets at the end.
For these reasons, it is ideal to create a spreadsheet ahead of time with anything of higher or sentimental value that you would like to see replaced in the event of loss or damage. Your list should include as many important details as possible, including item name, brand, make/model, original price, quantity, color/fabric/material/design, etc. Having a prepared list will help you ensure possessions of your choosing are itemized more thoroughly, maximizing your odds of a successful insurance claim. Keep this spreadsheet uploaded to your cloud or device so you can quickly access it when your movers (hopefully) ask you to review everything for accuracy. Pay attention to how they mark the conditions of each item as well. Make notes on the inventory sheets of anything you disagree with. After you’ve signed all documents, they are required to give you a copy.
9. High-Value (“HV”) Inventory
Your movers may keep two different types of inventory: the general inventory and a high-value list. But the same tip as above applies here: having a prepared list of “high or extreme value” possessions can help movers properly itemize them (and ideally, have them in a separate area/communicate with the crew PRIOR to packing so they can inspect each item as they go). Do not feel like you need to designate *every* expensive item as HV; in fact, movers usually have a policy reserving it for qualifying items (e.g. that could be anything over $100/lb. – such as crystal glassware, fine China, fine art, luxury handbags, or lightweight pricey electronics).
Let’s say you have an expensive $700 BOB jogging stroller. Due to the stroller’s heavy weight, it won’t meet their HV standard; HOWEVER, if the stroller is listed properly on the general inventory (with brand/model name & other details), they are responsible for it. Again, have your spreadsheet accessible to compare with their HV sheets and request revisions or additions as needed.
10. Insurance/Valuation
If you’re a military family and planning to use military-contracted movers, they are responsible for FRV (full replacement value) of your inventoried items based on the annual regulations set for that year. Be sure to check the regulations if you want to know more about coverage levels in the event of loss or damage. If you’re a civilian and planning to hire a moving company, be sure to ask your movers what levels of valuation they offer (valuation is their version of coverage)—there’s a chance your move will initially come with a basic valuation with less coverage, and you may need to inquire about a full coverage option.
Regardless of whether it’s a DIY or professional move, it’s always recommended to contact your trusted insurance agent and confirm the type of backup coverage you might need in transit. But this is especially critical if you’ll be doing a Do-It-Yourself move (for military members, you know this as a DITY or PPM move). Be sure to ask your agent about the specific things covered—theft, damage, accidents, mold, disasters, etc. If using DIY rental equipment, also be sure to ask your rental company about the types of coverage they can offer. If storing your items in a storage facility, ask about their insurance policy or coverage.
11. Make a travel plan
Each individual move is different and might include different modes of transportation. Find creative ways to stay organized, like making a moving binder to store documents and information for flights, travel routes, rest stops, hotels, tolls roads or parking fees, places to eat, etc. When possible, research your stops ahead of time to identify safe hotels in low-crime areas (or on military bases if applicable).
Pro Tip
f driving separately from a spouse or family but following one another, use walkie-talkies to communicate throughout your drive; it’s safer, easier & faster than using phones to call or text – especially in areas with little cell service.
12. Other miscellaneous tips
Determine the type of mattress you have and make a plan for it to be stored or transported correctly, since certain types of mattress should not be stored for long periods on their sides. For a smoother transition, use categorizing box labels to identify Unpack First boxes, Parts Boxes, and items marked Fragile so you can immediately check for damage to valuables. Involve your kids in the moving process to help with the transition—let them help pack, pick out new paint colors or a bedroom theme, say goodbye to friends, FaceTime family with a new house tour, etc..
This article was written by Shea Sines, an active-duty military spouse, seasoned mover, and owner of BoxOps LLC. BoxOps, which serves customers nationwide & overseas, is a small business specializing in creative tools for a seamless relocation. Best known for designing the original wrap-around moving label, they now offer a wide array of organizational tools to help reduce stress, enhance communication, and streamline unloading/unpacking for all types of DIY and professional moves. BoxOps also offers bulk sets for business professionals like realtors in need of practical items for client gifting or pre-listing kits.