What to do 30 days before your move

The countdown is on. You received your orders a few months before, you’ve done your research of your new home, and now you are one month out. This is what I like to call the in between time. You’ve started the goodbye train and are probably itching to get things going. So, what do you do 30 days before your big move?

The first thing to know is don’t wait until the last minute to organize your PCS. Typically, around 450,000 military families transfer during the summertime. This means it is a very busy season. You’ll want everything squared away at least 30 days before you are scheduled to PCS. Here are the tips for your big move, 30 days out:

Schedule the pack out

One month before your PCS, you should call and schedule your movers to come pick up your HHG. Get this on the books as soon as possible, you are one of hundreds of thousands of families moving. You should also be able to schedule your delivery date around the same time. Even though everything gets put on the calendar, things can still change. Have a back-up plan in the event that your dates get shifted.

• Call your new landlord or housing officer to schedule your move in date if you are renting on the economy or living on base
• If you are purchasing a home, follow up with your real estate agent for your closing or key pick up date
• If you haven’t yet found housing, set up temporary living arrangements when you arrive

Lighten the load

PCS time is the perfect time to go through all of your things and determine what you don’t want to bring with you. Sell off the things that you are able to for extra money in your pocket during your road trip. If it’s something you haven’t used in a year and have no tie to, consider leaving it behind.

Update all the things

Call your insurance companies and notify them of your upcoming move. Many of them will be able to modify your policy for the date of your choosing, getting this done ahead of time makes things much easier. If you are a military spouse, ensure your previous employer has your new address for tax paperwork. If you have children, get copies of all the school records. Ask if they can send another copy to the new school as well. Set up mail forwarding for the day you leave if you have your address. If you don’t, you can set up a P.O. Box at your new location or have your mail held until you arrive.

• Have your service member check the Travel and Transportation Allowances to see if your family is able to receive certain benefits during your PCS

Schedule the cleaning

To make things easier during your PCS, find a cleaning company to do your final cleaning before you leave. This is one thing that will make your entire process that much smoother, especially if you have children and pets. Once your movers are done, have the company come in to take care of this last part while you relax. There are many companies who cater to military families. If you are living on base, most of these local companies are aware of what needs to be done in order for you to pass the check out. Let them handle this part!

Once you plan out your important move items, think about making a fun list. This is where you can play tourist when you get to your new destination. Enjoy one of the best parts of being a military family – getting to travel! The 30 day mark is an exciting time. You are that much closer to your new adventure.