12 PCS Tips to Make A Splash This Summer
The warm summer sunshine often brings leisurely days filled with fun activities. No matter if you’re splashing in the pool or at the beach, planning a picnic in the park, or taking a bicycle ride under a canopy of shade trees, a laid-back schedule offers the perfect opportunity for you and your family to enjoy yourselves. But for our military family, the summer usually brings a PCS.
This busy time of transition is full of excitement and anticipation for the new destination. Although we’d prefer to be enjoying relaxing moments in the hammock out back, we are often tasked with a long list of things to do.
The following 12 tips are what my family consider before the moving company arrives:
1. Prepare for the PCS assessment.
At the time of the moving company assessment, the representative should estimate what will be needed to efficiently pack and move your goods. They will also take into account the accessibility of your neighborhood, arrange for a city parking permit if needed, and note the potential need to shuttle your goods to/from the parked moving van. During this initial assessment, clarify any items that require special attention or are high value.
2. Track down the driver.
When your pack and move dates are set, find out from the moving company who will be the truck driver. An accurate phone number for the point of contact will be quite valuable as your moving date nears.
3. Make plans for pets and kids.
As the packing dates near, consider plans for your children to spend time with friends or family away from your home. If you have pets, plan to keep them safely out of the way or out of the home.
4. Determine your “Do Not Pack” area.
Designate an area of the house specifically for items you do not want the movers to touch. This “Do Not Pack” area may include items you’ll need while in transition, such as airbeds and bedding, foldable chairs, and suitcases, as well as items you plan to hand carry, such as important documents, valuable jewelry, and prescription medications.
5. Get rid of what won’t be going.
Find new homes for your plants that won’t travel well or can’t fit in your vehicle. Go through your pantry and consider donating any unexpired, unopened food from the shelves.
6. Notify your neighbors.
Speak to your neighbors about the plans for the moving truck (or trailer, or van, or additional vehicles) at your home. If space is tight, politely ask them to move their parked vehicles from the street on your loading day.
7. Group items together.
Group similar items together, such as decorative glass vases gathered with other glassware, office supplies returned to the home office, etc. Doing this task now may make it easier when unpacking. If you prefer, place miscellaneous loose drawer items into plastic zip bags for ease of unpacking.
8. Clean out the fridge.
At least a day or two ahead of the loading day, plan a smorgasbord and empty your fridge and freezer. Then, unplug, defrost, and wipe it down.
9. Remove lightbulbs and batteries.
Usually, your packing crew will remove any lightbulbs they find, but you can work ahead. Batteries are also a good thing to remove before packing, as extreme heat or cold can make them leak and ruin whatever they’re in.
10. Manage the outdoor equipment.
Make sure your lawn mower and any other equipment have been properly drained of fuel. Remove the propane tank from your backyard grill. Make sure to clean up the grill, ridding the grease and grime, before it is loaded into close quarters with your household goods.
11. Straighten up.
Ensure there are safe and clear pathways that lead in and out of your house. Pick up any floor rugs, plants, or décor that may obstruct the path of the moving crew.
12. Do a quick clean.
Dust those bookshelves and knick-knacks, run the vacuum and empty it, and do a clean sweep of the floors. Soon your house may become a sea of cardboard boxes and packing paper! You may feel better about the mess if you start with a clean abode before the whirlwind of the move begins.
Each time we move seems like a new adventure. If you’re preparing for a PCS this summer, make the most of your unique adventure!
By Mary Ann Eckberg, MilitaryByOwner staff writer
