How To PCS: Tips from over 100 Military Spouses

Moving is one of the most stressful life events a human can experience. Military families move every 2–3 years over a 20-year career. We’re here to teach you how we do it.

In military culture, a PCS is a permanent change of station, a long way of saying a relocation or move.

Many military families face PCS every 2–3 years, where there is a total relocation of the family’s household goods and living situation. It’s common for military families to live on base or rent out in the local town, but it’s not as easy as it sounds (especially in densely populated areas).

The prime PCS time is during the summer months from June-August. This year, COVID has profoundly affected this prime PCS time, and many families are anxiously waiting to move to their new location. Our crew started a discussion on what we would share as our top moving advice; this is carried from military families to anyone using a moving company.

Step 1: Pre-Move Prep

Our tips on preparing for the incoming movers.

#1 — Hide your candles and nail polish from movers so they won’t ban shipping them (this is not advice, it’s a tip to take if you’d like).

#2 — Hand carry your favorite paring knife (if you are driving to your new location, do not try this on airlines!)

#3 — Take your trash out BEFORE the movers come. Or at least keep an eye on it, so it doesn’t end up shipped to your new place — and diaper pails. Keep an eye on your trashcan. Otherwise, it’ll be packed… with its contents (we say this because it’s happened to us).

#4 — Purge, donate & organize in advance! The more you can organize your things; the more accessible everything is on the other side. More on the organization piece of moving below!

The Day Before Movers Arrive

#1 — Anti tarnish jewelry organizers are great for keeping your jewelry safe and clean. Our team finds them on Amazon or at your local craft store.

#2 — If you’re a coffee lover like we are, hide your coffee maker, so it doesn’t get packed. Please make sure the coffee maker is clean before it’s packed! One of our teammates forgot a filter was in theirs before moving to Hawaii, and it arrived moldy. They had to toss it and get a new coffee maker.

#3 — Put all of your clothes in clear totes/bins, so if there is something you need early on after moving, you know exactly where to find it easily.

#4 — If you don’t want it packed, put it in a single room. Block this door off and place multiple “do not enter signs” on the door. If you can, leave these things at a neighbor’s home or put them in your car (more information below about packing your car first). Once movers get into their groove, they will keep working until the job is done (it’s not personal, they’re trying to do their job, and if there’s stuff to pack, they’ll pack it!)

#5 — Take pictures of everything in case damages or loss occurs. Do this before the moving starts. Have these photos backed-up in case you lose your phone.

#6 — Take a video walkthrough of the home or apartment you’re currently living in. The video helps with any concerns about damage after you have left. Be honest with your future tenants or property manager if there’s an issue or loss.

#7 — Save all of your expensive item receipts and put your email receipts in a Google Drive folder.

#8 — Remember, your household goods may not arrive for a few months.

Pack Your Car First!

#1 — We pack our cars (stateside moves) FIRST — before the movers even get there with all of our valuables and everything we are taking with us, there’s less risk of potential issues.

#2 — Pack a bag for each family member as your go-to while you travel. Include easy on/off shoes for kiddos. Anticipate about 2 weeks’ worth of clothing and personal items.

• In this bag you should include: an extra pair of shoes, relevant documents, laptops, tablets, chargers, my makeup & hair stuff, each kid gets a backpack with activities (toys/book/coloring supplies) and a cooler bag for snacks/drinks for the road trip.
• Then pack a small box with a pan, toilet paper, paper towels, a spatula, Clorox wipes, sponge & dish soap, the Instant Pot, kitchen basics, a roll of paper towels, two rolls of toilet paper, dish soap/laundry pods.
• From there, we’ll pack a bag with the basics for each person that includes clothing for a few days.

Have Backup Cash/Gift Cards

#1 — Pack a Visa gift card in case you lose your credit/debit card(s). Better to be safe than sorry and always have access to money.

Color Coding (Organization) System

#1 — Use colored circle stickers for every room.

• Each box gets 1 with a number, and they note how many for each room.
• We also note which boxes have fragile items and make the movers wait to pack them until we’re in the room.

#2 — Create a tracking sheet

• We create a sheet with the rooms (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc.), assign a color code for the room, then note on our sheet which box has the item.

#3 — Bring your hardware

• We also have a Ziploc bag for all hardware (bolts, etc.) for each room taped to the door — my movers get full instructions that all items go in there. Then the hardware bag comes with us.

Moving Day!

Military families have CONUS (Continental United States), or OCONUS (Outside of the Continental United States) moves.

#1 — Double-check the mover’s inventory list! The movers use a legend (key) that we had no idea what they were.

#2 — A lot of the items may be marked as “damaged before the move,” which means you cannot claim them when damaged during the move.

An example of the legend (key) movers use.

Treat Your Movers Well

#1 — Most bases have a lending locker. This is a storage facility with home goods that can be borrowed to fill your home until your furniture and home goods arrive.

#2 — Treat your movers well. We recommend providing them with snacks, lunch, and drinks (not pizza; they commonly receive that). We recommend subs, sandwiches, or any local food options; food from a local place is always a better option than homemade (you have enough to worry about!)
Some families choose to tip their movers (with money). Food and monetary contributions to clients are great but never expected.

Perspective: Get Ready for a New Adventure!

If you think it’s going to be the worst experience of your life, then it likely will. If you’re ready to go zip-lining or hike a new mountain at your new home, focus on those positives when the move gets stressful. When all else fails, there’s always margaritas.

Moving is stressful; according to University Hospital, moving is one of the five most stressful events that any human experiences, alongside death, divorce, a significant illness or injury, and job loss. While there is an excessive amount of stress surrounding moving, there are new beginnings in friendships, new areas to explore, and new parts of the country or world to become fully immersed.

Every new location won’t be the best one, but there will be at least one great thing about every place you live in. I challenge you to find it and explore it fully.

If you’re ready to get Squared Away, visit us at GoSquaredAway.com or grab some time for a call.