6 Military Moving Tips

In military life, regular relocations are as common as standardized clothing and acronyms. Every household move (or PCS—permanent change of station) carries its share of uncertainty and stress, but you can make your change a more positive experience with these six military moving tips. 

  1. Learn from others 
  2. Organize your important paperwork 
  3. Start an essentials box 
  4. Eliminate clutter 
  5. Take household inventory 
  6. Make lists and track receipts 

Learn from others  

As you know, you are not the first family to face a disruptive move, but it is easy to forget that and think you have to do it all on your own. You can eliminate a lot of the unknowns by attending a pre-move briefing offered at most military installations. You can also find a great collection of moving information and resources at the Department of Defense site Military OneSource

Organize your important paperwork for a move 

Be sure to pack sensitive information in a place where you can keep an eye on it. Do not forget things like: 

  • Credit union account info 
  • Tax paperwork 
  • Medical information such as outstanding bills 
  • Insurance paperwork 
  • Account information for loans and investments 
  • Personal identification documents 
  • School records  
  • Housing information 
  • Legal paperwork 

If you are moving away from your financial institution’s home base, make sure you know how to access your account information online. It is also a good idea to enter your institution’s contact info in your phone so you will have it on hand. 

Start an essentials box 

In addition to your financial paperwork, keep key travel documents (passports, IDs, etc.) and important personal items such as jewelry and photos in a box that is always close by and readily accessible. Many parents also pack one box with the things that keep kids happy in transit, such as favorite books or toys. 

Eliminate clutter 

Moves present the perfect motivation to cut back on the clutter. Military families probably accumulate less junk than many people due to their regular moves, but a new address is still a great time to eliminate things you have not even thought about for months. It makes life less cluttered and has the benefit of cutting down the weight of your household goods, which is often a limiting factor in military moves. 

If you have time, get a financial boost from the downsize by selling good-quality items in a garage sale or an online buy-sell-trade group. Alternately, you can donate your usable items to charity. Remember to keep track of the receipt for tax time. 

Note: If you downsize your paperwork, be sure to shred any sensitive documents to protect against identity theft. 

Take a household inventory  

Make note of all your possessions (taking photos makes it easier) to assist with claims of damage or items lost during the move. While you are snapping photos, shoot one of the back of your TV and computer to help reconnect all the wires at the new location. 

Make lists and track receipts  

The details involved in a move can add up to the kind of overwhelming to-do list that leaves you staring at the ceiling at night. Compartmentalize it into doable chunks by creating categorical lists of things you need to accomplish and then keep it all in a neat, easy-to-reference notebook or digital list. Keep copies of expense receipts, communication with utility companies, and other important documents. For more on reimbursable expenses, see this guide from military.com.

We hope these military moving tips are a great starting point for you. Ultimately, keep your final goal in mind and try not to worry too much. It is easy to stress out about things like potential damage to your furniture or the endless list of moving tasks. Keep your focus on family and the new adventure you are undertaking together, and a scratched table will not seem like such a disaster.  

Is homebuying part of your moving plan? See our homebuyer checklist for help with the process.