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.
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.
