Relocation & Moving

Planning your move

• Make an appointment at your local Personal Property Shipping Office(PPSO)
• Start saving for non-reimbursable moving expense.
• Notify your landlord you will be moving, but do not have an exact date right now.
• Begin scouting housing options at your destination.
• Start to keep track of tax deductible moving expenses.
• Make an inventory of possessions and valuable items (take pictures or video tape). Get appraisals for antiques or collections.
• Organize personal records like birth certificates, insurance papers, or warranties.
• Make a list of whom to notify concerning your move and forwarding address.
• Let clubs/organizations that you belong to know you are leaving. Transfer your membership if possible.
• Take care of necessary medical, optical or dental appointments. Obtain your records or find out how to forward them later.
• Have Power of Attorney or Letter of Authorization drawn up for unforeseen circumstances.
• Go through closets and drawers to sort through clothes and other items to give away or sell.
• Make sure all stickers from previous moves have been removed from furniture.
• Do not place any more mail order purchases.

• Start using up canned foods, spray paints and other consumables.
• Employed spouse should give required notice of termination and obtain letter of referral. Spouse should also prepare and update resume.
• If planning to vacation enroute, make all your reservations.
• Take care of all auto maintenance and repairs.
• Contact insurance company concerning auto(s), home and household storage at destination, also concerning high value items.
• Have pets checked by vet and update vaccinations/inoculations. Obtain copy of records.
• Close out any local charge accounts.
• Check expiration dates on major credit cards you plan to use during travel.

• Obtain change of address cards from the post office. If new address is not yet known, you can still address cards now to save time later.
• Meet with military finance center for financial counseling.
• Haul unwanted items (furniture, clothes, etc.) to local thrift shop or Navy Thrift Store on base. Keep any receipts from your donations for tax purposes. Have a garage sale.
• Notify schools, arrange to pick up records or get the proper procedures for sending records to new schools.
• Arrange for letter of transfer form local church and clubs, including Scouts or other national organizations.
• Spouse and children with part time jobs should give notice.
• Ensure all you family members are properly listed on DEERS.

• Check expiration date on military ID cards and update if necessary.
• Retrieve all items you have loaned out.
• Retrieve any developed film, dry cleaning or other items.
• Plan menus from what you have remaining in the freezer and cabinets.
• Reconfirm moving dates with Personal Property Shipping Office (PPSO).
• Have drapes and carpets cleaned; DO NOT leave in plastic wrappers.
• Renew and pick up any necessary prescriptions.
• Separate the member's professional books, papers and equipment (PBP&E). These items will be weighed and listed separately on your shipping inventory. Make sure the packers know that these are your professional items. The weight of PBP&E is not counted into your weight allowance.

• Close out safety deposit box.
• Pull out all items from beneath stairways, attics or any other area that does not allow full standing room.
• Remove wall accessories such as drapery rods, small appliances, food and utensil racks.
• Drain garden hoses.
• Drain oil and gas from lawn mowers and other gas operated tools. Disconnect spark plugs.
• Disassemble outdoor play equipment and structures such as utility sheds.
• Disassemble electronic components such as stereos and VCRs. Place original packing boxes (if they are in good condition and you want the movers to use them) by the equipment. If you decide to pack the item in the original carton yourself, leave the boxes opened so items can be inventoried.
• "Park" hard disk drive units, then disconnect computer systems. Place floppy disks in protective cases before packing into carton.
• Set aside cleaning materials to be used after packing and loading.

• Separate items NOT TO BE PACKED, including suitcases. If more than one shipment, separate items per each shipment into groups.
• Keep household inventory list on hand to carry with your personal luggage.
• Confirm child care and pet arrangements.
• Clean and dry refrigerator and freezer. Allow to dry one or two days with doors propped open.
• !!CAUTION!! Families with children or pets present should block the doors from accidentally closing.
• To avoid a musty odor you can place several charcoal briquettes in a stocking or sock in both the freezer and refrigerator compartment.
• Remove outside TV and radio antennas.
• Remove air conditioners from windows.
• Remove pictures and mirrors from walls. If you don't they may be left behind.
• Remove pendulum from clocks. You may need a 3rd party authorization to do this, so call your local PPSO and advise if you feel you require this type of service.
• Disconnect gas and electrical appliances. Moving companies are NOT required to perform the disconnects or to reconnect at the destination address.
• Remove all light bulbs from lamps.

• Get up early and be ready for movers to arrive. DO NOT have dirty dishes in kitchen or dirty clothes in hampers or lying around the house. Take all trash out of the residence.
• Members or their designated representatives are required to be at the scheduled pickup and delivery addresses from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.on the days household goods are packed, loaded, or unpacked.
• Get pets under control before movers arrive. If necessary, ask a neighbor to keep them for you if you haven't made boarding arrangements.
• Make sure cash, jewelry, important documents, checkbook and other valuable items are secure(put them in the trunk of your car along with your suitcases and what ever else you take with you). DO NOT SHIP JEWELRY!
• Have a marker to make extra notes on boxes. Have coffee, cold drinks and snacks for yourself (and packers if you wish). This is going to be a very long day...
• Verify that mover's inventory is detailed, complete and accurate. DO NOT ACCEPT any "miscellaneous" labels or entries (especially on high value items).
• Make sure the condition of belongings is accurately noted. If anything is marked "scratched, dented, or soiled" also note the location of such entries.
• Be sure to obtain a copy of the GBL, the DD-619 (if CONUS), and the Household Goods Inventory from the packers before they leave the residence. Insure the inventory reflects the true condition of the property, and be certain everything is listed on the inventory. Review it carefully and keep a copy with other important moving papers.
• Check the entire house BEFORE releasing the packers, to make sure that nothing is left behind which needs to be moved. THE PACKERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO RETURN TO THE RESIDENCE AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN RELEASED.

• Members will be given the telephone number of the Transportation Office at their new duty station. They should contact the office as soon as possible upon arrival even though they may not know the delivery address for their household goods. The office should be provided with a phone number where the member or designated representative may be reached.
• Contact the destination Household Goods Office to arrange for delivery of personal property.
• Arrange for phone, gas, and electricity to be connected.
• Before the moving van arrives, clean the hard to reach places in the new residence.
• Know in advance where to place each piece of furniture. The mover is required to place each piece only one time.

Note: The carrier is not required to return to the residence to pick-up packing material after the member has released the carrier from the unpacking requirement. All damages and missing items discovered at this time MUST be listed on the DD Form1840, and the member should ensure three legible copies of the DD-1840 are received. This is NOT A CLAIM, only a record of loss or damage. Any additional loss or damage discovered after the carrier has completed delivery should be noted on reverse side of document DD Form 1840R.