6 Super Smart PCS Move Tips You'll Actually Use

The idea of your next PCS move is probably already making you cringe. It is a high stress situation filled with uncertainty. You do everything you can to have a smooth move, but every one of us has had one of those PCS moves that we’re only just finally ready to talk about. The best advice I can give is to learn from your past moves and learn from your friends’ past moves. If you are new to the process, don’t be afraid to ask others for their PCS Move lessons learned. After each PCS move, write down what worked out well for you and what you would change for next time. These are the essential tips that I have learned along the way: 1. Make a PCS Binder A fantastic way to stay sane during your PCS move is to create a PCS binder. This binder will be your lifeline for the next few months (and maybe even longer)! You can find templates for PCS binders online, or you can simply make your own. (get all the stuff for it here on Amazon .) I decided to use a 3-inch zipper binder to make sure that everything would stay inside. For our overseas move, 3 inches was really the minimum sized binder I could have used. Here are some must-haves for your PCS binder: page dividers, inventory list, calculator, pocket for receipts, pens, clear sleeves for documents, color coded reference sheet (see #3), travel documents and itineraries, budget, list of moving contacts, and calendar. It takes a little bit of discipline to remember to keep everything in the binder and keep it organized, but it will make the moving process so much easier. 2. Save MORE Than You Think You Need Moving is expensive. Even if the military will reimburse you for many moving related costs, you will still be paying out of pocket for a number of things. To avoid letting a PCS move drag you into debt, make a PCS Move budget . Once you think you have your budget figured out, add in a 10% cushion to help account for the unexpected PCS Move surprises . 3. Color Code Your Boxes For our most recent PCS move , I was pregnant and wanted to make the process as smooth as possible. I knew I would be requesting a full unpack from our receiving movers, so to make it easier on everybody I decided to color-code the boxes. I made a reference sheet with a separate colored sticker for each room: kitchen, dining room, living room, bedroom, etc. As they packed up our home, I ran around like a crazy lady putting stickers on every box I could. Those movers were fast, but I was so grateful that I color-coded the boxes, because the movers wrote the contents on each box in JAPANESE. Our belongings finally arrived at our new duty station two weeks before I delivered and it was so nice to be able to hang my reference guide on the wall and let the movers place the boxes into the correct rooms. 4. Take an Inventory of Your Items You’ve probably had people recommend that you inventory all of your items, serial numbers and all, for various reasons. It sounds like a long, slow, and very boring process, but it doesn’t have to be! Nowadays we all have smartphones and that means that you have a very easy inventory tool at your disposal. Go around and take a picture of all of your valuables on your smartphone. If the item has a serial number, take a picture of the item followed immediately by a photo of the serial number. If it is an item with an on/off switch, make sure you take a picture of the item actually working. As soon as you are unpacked at your new duty station, go through this photo inventory and make sure that you have everything listed and that nothing is broken or missing. You only have a small window to file a claim with the moving company, so make sure you locate your items as soon as possible. 5. Label Your Chargers You and your movers probably have slightly different goals. Your goal: have a low-stress move. Their goal: pack as quickly as possible, in as few boxes as possible. The end result: STRESS. We discovered that most of our electronics have black, unmarked chargers during our first move when they were each packed separately into any random box that had space. We are still, to this day, trying to figure out what some of those chargers belong to. Lesson learned: take a label maker and label every single charger. It was time consuming, but it has been well worth it even years later. 6. Learn to Let Go As a planner, I like to make backup plans for my backup plans. My husband, on the other hand, is more of a free spirit and likes to roll with the punches. During moves, I am usually filled with PCS Move emotions , while my husband stays levelheaded. One thing that I learned early on is that you can’t plan everything that is going to happen during your move. I like to plan as much as I can up until the move and then embrace my husband’s attitude. Don’t forget that a move doesn’t have to be all work; be sure to plan for a little fun while you PCS ! When you are in the thick of your move and you don’t know how you’re going to make it to the end, remember that this is only a temporary state of being. Reach out to friends and especially your military family. We’ve all been there; you are definitely not alone. Connect with us on Facebook! [related_post themes="flat”] For more tips from Alex, check out Military Planners. photo This article has some links from our awesome partners: we may from time to time be compensated, in order to keep super content coming your way...and keep our lights on.

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