The ultimate military relocation checklist
Keep your sanity before, during, and after you pack up
Moving is an adventure. It can also be a stressful time filled with endless to-do lists, time constraints, boxes, and packing paper. But, it doesn’t have to be a complete hassle.
Whether this is your first, your tenth, or your twentieth posting, there are plenty of ways to keep your sanity intact.
This military relocation checklist will keep you organized and it includes a lot of things to help make your move a smooth one.
20 ways to make your military posting a smooth transition
- Get busy and start working on your move as soon as possible. It’s much more manageable to tackle one thing at a time, than everything at the last minute.
- Book your House Hunting Trip (HHT) and look into housing options at your new location. Contacting a Realtor who has experience with military postings—like me—is a good idea.
- Declutter. It’s important to get rid of as much junk as possible before you start the packing process.
- Start a moving binder. This is a great place to include a calendar of important events (like utility hook-ups and inspections) and sections that organize your posting papers, moving receipts, property documents, family certificates (birth, marriage, etc.), legal documents, and utility info for the current and new location.
- If you have kids, take advantage of any benefits for them such as hotel upgrades during travel and childcare reimbursement.
- Confirm your weight allowance for household goods.
- Schedule a meeting with the moving company. During your consultation, let them know which items will need special packaging, ask for a weight measurement, and check what can and can’t be packed.
- Create a spreadsheet listing an inventory of everything that will be packed in boxes.
- Take photos of your big ticket items like the television, antique dining room table, and piano. Make note of any existing damage.
- Consider scheduling dental, eye, and physical exams before you go, and see if your current professionals can recommend anyone in your new location.
- Gather medical and dental records for each family member.
- Pack your valuables yourself. Things like passports, banking info, family photos, irreplaceable jewelry, charger cords, computers, and hard drives should travel with you. Make sure that you clearly label that these boxes are not to be moved and place them in a room designated as a “do not pack” room.
- Give away anything in bottles. Yes, even the alcohol. It’s not worth marrying all those bits of shampoo into one bottle or saving those few last sips of wine when they might not be able to be moved in the end, or take up precious cargo space in the car.
- Eat your way through the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer.
- Pack one box of items to take in the car that includes toilet paper, lightbulbs, batteries, a shower curtain, and a bathmat. Don’t forget pillows!
- Pack one small suitcase for each family member, including toiletries.
- Label each box with your name and contact info should any boxes go missing. Creating labels to simply stick on boxes will save you some time. It’s also a good idea to label each box with the contents or where it belongs.
- If you have them, find a place to stash your pet(s) and your kid(s) on moving day to help alleviate some of the chaos (for them and for you). If that’s not an option, ensure that you have some of their favourite items on hand.
- If you’re moving to an unfamiliar location, takes note of local eateries and their phone numbers during your house hunting trip (or through Google later on). This will be a big help when your new fridge is empty and you still need to unpack the pots and pans.
- Make sure that all items are accounted for when you unpack.
Another important thing to consider is when to share the news of your move with friends and family members. It’s also key to not try and tackle everything on the list all at once.
Why work with me?
As a military wife, I have a strong understanding and compassion for the military lifestyle and military postings. I’m intimate with the needs and stresses of military clients during relocation and I will be there for you from start to finish.
As a Brookfield relocation specialist, I’m here to help make your move easy and efficient. I’ve worked closely with numerous military families in the Comox Valley, and look forward to working with you.
Let’s get you packed up and settled! Call me directly at 250.792.0464 with questions or concerns about your move.