5 Tips for Military Families to Avoid Packout Stress on Moving Day
by Julie Provost - July 6th, 2022
Moving day has come. Soon, the movers will be heading to your house or apartment. Military moving means everything you own will be packed up and sent on its way to your new duty station. This is one big step in the PCS process, but one that can cause a lot of anxiety and stress. It's difficult to watch strangers pack up everything you own and load it onto a truck, and military families can only hope their belongings will all arrive safely at the next destination. Want to avoid the pack-out stress of moving day?
5 Tips to avoid stress on moving day
Here are some ways to avoid pack out stress and have a better experience.
Find a place for your kids on moving day
If you have children, try to find a place for them to go before the packers and movers come. This isn’t something you have to do. Kids are allowed to be there while the movers are packing, but it will be easier for you if they are not. Some children will have a very hard time seeing all of their belongings being packed up. They might not understand that they will see their favorite toys again. You also don’t want your kids to get in the mover’s way. If you do have to have your kids with you, find a room that the movers can pack out first and have the kids hang out in there. Bring some toys and snacks to keep them entertained.
Click here for more advice about military kids on moving day.
Make yourself comfortable on moving day
If you don’t have to worry about watching your kids, you are going to want to bring a book or something else to keep you busy. While you want to be there to keep an eye on the movers and make sure they do not pack your trash, packing everything up can take a while. You can find a place to sit and watch while they get everything done. Get up occasionally and watch the movers in each room. Ask questions, add extra info to the box labels if they allow it, and make sure that fragile items are being treated with care. You'll want to note the pre-existing condition of all furniture, and discuss it with the movers so everything isn't marked as "stained, dented, torn, and scratched."
But when you aren't doing that, give the movers space and let them work!
Take photos before moving day
Before the movers come, take pictures of all of your belongings. Make sure you have proof that you not only own them but what condition they were in before the movers came. You want to be able to cover yourselves if anything goes missing or gets broken. It is always best to have a photo backup in case this happens to you. Store your photos in a separate folder on your phone or computer, so you can access them easily after everything is delivered.
Should I provide lunch for my movers?
Although it is not required, buying your movers snacks and lunch would be a good idea. Plan to provide water and another type of drink. Also, bring cookies and crackers for them to munch on. Then around lunch time ask if they would like anything and if they say yes, run and get a few pizzas or subs. Some movers want to do their own lunch, but others would love to have something provided for them. Feeding and tipping your movers is never required, but a little kindness is always a good idea.
Here are some simple meal ideas for moving day.
Protect your valuables on moving day
If there is something you treasure and could not easily replace, plan to hand-carry it throughout your move if you can. Don’t leave it for the movers to take or misplace. If you are driving to your next duty station, put it in your car before the movers come. That way they can’t accidentally pack the items with everything else. If you are going overseas, you will be a bit more limited to what you can take versus what they will have to pack. If this is the case and you don’t think you need the item while you are overseas, see if you can leave it with someone in the states while you are gone.
A little bit of planning will make your pack out experience easier, and you can make your way on to the next step of your PCS. And don’t forget to leave a moving company review on PCSgrades.com. Each review helps other military families through the relocation process.
Pay it forward. Leave a review of your moving company here, to help other military families!
Julie Provost is the freelance blogger behind Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life. She enjoys life in Tennessee with her husband, a National Guard soldier, and their three boys. Julie enjoys blogging, reading, photography and a good cup of coffee. You can follow her on Twitter @SoldiersWifeCL.
