Advice for Military Spouses Planning the Family’s PCS Relocation

31. October 2018 Spouse PCS Moving 0
Advice for Military Spouses Planning the Family’s PCS Relocation

If you’re planning a permanent change of station (PCS) and moving with a family, preparing for the relocation can become frustrating and stressful. You and your spouse will likely have to continue working, as you make plans, and that can limit your free time. Fortunately, there are tips offered by the government, cheap movers DFW, and by military personnel experienced in these types of moves to help guide you.

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It’s Never Too Early to Start

As soon as you become aware that you’re taking a PCS, you can start updating your information at the Move.mil website. While personnel sometimes wait until their orders are confirmed, this isn’t necessary. You can start changing information early and, if plans change, the information can always be edited later. This helps to ensure you can be reached anytime through the contact information you provide. Once your orders are confirmed, and you’ve properly updated the data you’ve provided, you can begin the booking process.

Familiarize Yourself with Your New Location

Another helpful website to visit is MilitaryINSTALLATIONS. This is something of a portal site that allows you to become acquainted with your new community. It allows you to request a sponsor, network with other personnel in the area and provides important relocation advice specific to your destination. Learn about such things as check-in processes, temporary housing options, and advice on shipping pets.

Connect with Your Transportation Office

Remaining in contact with your Transportation Office is important because this is essentially the customer service department for your relocation. Among other things, they can help you select options for your move date. Most personnel move in the summer months, so it may not be possible to schedule your move before July. Don’t assume your dates are confirmed, until you receive word from your Transportation Service Provider.

Make a Visual Record

As you pack, or before you get started, take photos or video recordings of your possessions. Maintaining a visual inventory in this way will help you ensure everything gets packed and, more importantly, will protect you. If something gets lost, stolen, or damaged en route, you’ll have photographic evidence to support a claim.

Invest in a Large Supply of Ziploc Bags

From hair ties to small toys to office supplies, Ziploc baggies will be ideal to assist in your packing process. Anything small can be stuffed into a bag, and this will allow you to keep similar items together. Additionally, you may want to disassemble some furniture to make the move easier. Use one bag per item and mark the bag with the name of the piece of furniture to which the contents belong. You can also tape the bag to the furniture or pack the bags together in a small box.

Maintain a Relocation File

The best method may be to buy a large manila envelope and use it to keep your documents, relating to your PCS move. This will be a good place to keep a written inventory of your belongings, receipts for movers and other services, copies of insurance, and any other documents you’ll need. This will ensure papers you’ll need will be easily accessible and won’t mistakenly get packed.

By following these tips and planning, you can alleviate much of the stress of moving. Don’t be shy about making use of resources available through your Transportation Office. They’re there to help you plan an easier PCS relocation. By the time you get on the road, your planning will pay off, and you can concentrate on getting your family to their new community.

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Tips for Getting Unpacked and Settled at Your New Base ASAP

06. October 2018 New Base Move 0
Tips for Getting Unpacked and Settled at Your New Base ASAP

Military personnel and their family members move frequently, and this transition can be stressful for the whole family. You understandably want to feel comfortable in your new space as soon as possible so that you can fall into a regular routine in a comfortable environment. These tips will help you to get settled into a new home more easily.

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1. Pack Strategically

A critical factor that impacts how quickly and easily you can get settled into a new home is your packing strategy at your old home. Some people will toss everything they own into boxes and bags in a haphazard fashion. This results in a chaotic mess that takes seemingly forever to sort through once you get to your new home.

To pack more strategically, eliminate unwanted items from the move. Pack similar items together, and try to keep items that belong in the same room together. It is even more convenient to pack items together that belong in the same dresser, closet or other location. Be sure to label all of your boxes so that you can find things more easily once you get settled into your space.

2. Recruit Extra Help

Some people prefer to relocate and unpack on their own. After all, it can seem invasive for other people to handle and go through all of your belongings. Regardless of your personal feelings on the matter, it makes sense to get all of the help that you can muster from friends and family members.

Otherwise, consider paying a few hundred extra dollars to get professional assistance from movers. By having even a few extra hands helping out, you may get settled into the new space in a fraction of the time.

3.Keep All Receipts and Invoices

Many of your moving expenses may be reimbursed, but you will need to keep proper documentation to take advantage of available reimbursements. In addition, any expenses that are not reimbursed may be deductible on your personal tax return.

Moving can be expensive, so it makes sense to maximize reimbursements and deductions as much as possible.

4. Take Advantage of Self-Storage Units

One challenge associated with moving into a new home relates to trying to find the perfect space for all of your belongings. Even when your new home is roughly the same size as your previous home, the room layouts, storage spaces, and other factors may mean that some of your items no longer have an ideal space in your new home. While you could sell or donate some of your belongings, another idea is to use a self-storage unit. After all, you may want some of those same belongings when you relocate to your next home.

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Some people may easily get settled into a new home within a few days or less, and others may drag the process on for several weeks or even months. You will feel more relaxed and comfortable in your new home once you are settled in, and you can use these smart tips to complete your relocation faster and with minimal stress.

To DITY or Not – Reasons to Trust Your Move to Long Distance Professionals

30. September 2018 Moving Professionals 0
To DITY or Not – Reasons to Trust Your Move to Long Distance Professionals

Gearing up for a PCS relocation takes a lot of preparation. From putting together a moving budget and getting your belongings ready and finally making the move miles away, a long distance relocation is certainly one of the more challenging times in any homeowner’s and renter’s life.

The Benefit of Moving Companies

As you get ready for the move, you must ask yourself– is it worth adding on the stress by choosing to do PPM move? While you may want to save a bit of money and not hire professional movers, you’ll find that in the long run, having a professional moving company assist with the move is worth it.

1. Movers Help You with Organization and Packing

Hiring a moving company to help you is akin to getting the assistance of professional packers. As they have several years of moving experience, you can guarantee that they will be able to make quick work of the packing process.

2. Hiring a Moving Company is More Cost-Effective

With a government-contracted moving company, the money spent on movers is well worth it. Moving companies bring in their own boxes and containers, as well as offer insurance for your items in the event that any of them are damaged. Similarly, you’ll be able to have your house packed up while you are focused on getting work done or tackling other aspects of your move.

3. Moving Companies are the Safer Option

In addition to the moving insurance, moving companies provide homeowners and renters with a safer way to move heavy appliances and boxes. Too often, people, that try to DIY they’re long-distance move end up straining and injuring themselves as they try to move.

4. Relax with Peace of Mind

As you prepare for your relocation, it’s best to find ways to make the process as stress-free as possible. By trusting professionals with the exhaustive task of packing up your belongings, you’ll be able to reduce some of the moving-related anxiety.

If you attempt to do everything yourself, you’ll have to worry about issues like who will drive the moving truck, if everything is properly packaged, as well as all the other challenges that go along with moving. With a moving company, you can be sure that your needs will be properly met.

5. Save Time with a Moving Company

Time is one of the most precious commodities during a long distance move. Most people that try to do the move themselves have to take time off of work, as well as enlist their friends and family to help out in their spare time. Instead of spending days and weeks to take care of preparing your belongings, hire a moving company to handle this in the most efficient way possible.

Start your PCS relocation in the best way by contacting a moving company for a consultation. Relocating miles away is a challenge in itself, don’t let the packing process add to the stress.

Moving Mistakes to Avoid During Your PCS Relocation

24. September 2018 PCS Moving Mistakes 0
Moving Mistakes to Avoid During Your PCS Relocation

If you are an active-duty military staff and you have to make a permanent change of station for your first time, it’s hard to know what to expect. Considering the short notice that one gets; from six days to six months, you may not have enough time to prepare for your last minute move. That is why PCS relocations are full of I-wish-I-had-known moments. Thankfully, you can pick up lessons from the mistakes others make and have a smooth transition.

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1. Not knowing your limits

During PCS relocation, the military usually pays for household goods to be transported to a new station up to a specific weight. The move is typically performed by a third-party long distance mover contracted by the government. In case the shipment is more than the allocated weight, you have to pay to carry the extra pounds. There are two sides to this; first, try your best not to exceed the permitted weight and secondly, make sure you fill up the allowed weight. Carry as many items as you can within your limit because you can decide to keep some and sell others. Additionally, as The Misis Chronicles mentions, now is a good time to declutter, so you can move with less stuff!

2. Failing to keep proper records

Save all your paperwork and receipts if you want to get reimbursed for what you are owed. Remember that some expenses that are due to be refunded are tax deductible, so this will save you a lot of cash. It’s good to have a backup for all your hardcopy records to ensure you don’t have to recreate history from scratch.

3. Not making housing plans

Your housing choices in your next location include renting a house, living on base or buying a home. You may have to start by searching online, but make sure you visit the place where you are moving. If you do not manage to get a house before relocating, you can consider renting a self-storage unit to keep your goods before settling for a house. While at it, avoid buying a house too fast. If you do not like the idea of staying on a military base, consider renting a place for at least six months. That way, you will have adequate time to learn the area well and settle for an appropriate house.

4. Disregarding streamlined packing

Start packing your things the moment you receive the notice for the permanent change of station. Group your items depending on their delicacy and urgency of use when you arrive. You can label a few boxes “open first” so that you identify the things you have to use immediately after you arrive. They include breakfast-related items like spoons, napkins, utensils, plates, and cooking utensils. Organize small items like toys in zipped bags. When you pack your things correctly, you will have an easy time settling into your new place.

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5. Forgetting to get a power of attorney

If you have been deployed and you want your spouse to help you move, you will require a power of attorney. It is a legal document that is written to grant permission for an individual to act on behalf of another. Getting a power of attorney will enable your spouse to plan the move, open a bank account, ship, and receive the items while you are away.

7 Things to Know When Moving to North Carolina’s Fort Bragg

28. August 2018 Moving to Fort Bragg 0
7 Things to Know When Moving to North Carolina’s Fort Bragg

The military can take its soldiers and their families to many amazing places, and one of those places is Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This military base is home to plenty of military families from all over the country. If you and your family were called to duty in the area, here are seven things to know before moving there. ‘

1. Direct line to the president

If you haven’t heard this yet, you will hear it when you get there: when the President of the United States dials 9-1-1, the phone rings in Fort Bragg, NC. If this is who the president calls in an emergency, you can imagine that it’s a very safe place for you and your family.

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2. Lower cost of living

One of the best things about living on the base is that the cost of living is significantly cheaper than the country’s average by 7%. Spend that extra money on something you couldn’t afford in your last home!

3. It can get noisy

This may not come as a huge shock considering you’re in a military base, but be prepared for some noise when people are in training. The Marines are especially noisy when they come to town, so you might want to invest in some earplugs.

4. Don’t ask people where they work

As a military base, there are several of divisions in this location that should remain classified. You may ask someone in the Special Forces, and the conversation can get very weird very quickly. It’s best not to ask unless you’re told.

5.Great for Nature Lovers

Fort Bragg and North Carolina, in general, are great for people who love to go for hikes and experience nature. There are hiking trails and even mountains and ocean only short trips away. Be sure to bring your camera! You can always find fresh fruits and vegetables in the area, too.

6. All four seasons

While the winters aren’t quite as harsh as the Midwest and other places in the country, North Carolina does get all four seasons, so pack your winter coat as well as your bathing suit! You will need them both.

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7. You’re not stuck in Fort Bragg!

You aren’t forced to live on the base. There are plenty of other communities in the area for you and your family to live while still living near Fort Bragg. Some of the most popular communities in the area are:

If you and your family are moving to Fort Bragg, you may as well enjoy everything that the base and the nearby area has to offer! Travel the area and enjoy the beautiful nature and delicious crops in the area. It’s a great place to visit, and it’s an even better place to live. If you need help with your move, use a Cheap Movers Charlotte to find a North Carolina moving company for less!

Tips for Packing When Facing an OCONUS Relocation

28. August 2018 ONCUS Move 0
Tips for Packing When Facing an OCONUS Relocation

Whether it’s an emergency, family, or career has prompted an OCONUS move, preparing for an overseas journey can be exciting. Proper packing is critical to a successful trip when one is preparing for a move to a foreign country. You should always have a notebook, and take as much time as possible to plan for …