In preparing for a move, it’s easy to get bogged down with all the things to do. Stay on top of all that with our checklists. Be sure to take care of all the items. If you’re one month away from your move and use these checklists for the first time, make sure you’ve already taken care of the items in the “Three Months Before Moving” and “Two Months Before Moving” checklists.
More Checklists: Military PCS Guide
1 Week Before Your Military PCS Move:
- Close out your safety deposit box if you have one.
- Buy a bunch of Ziplock bags. These will come in handy when packing large sets of small items, such as silverware, or for components of furniture that need to be broken down (screws, bolts).
- Make copies of any important documents before mailing or hand-carrying them to your new address.
- Remove wall accessories such as drapery rods, small appliances, and food and utensil racks.
- Pull out all items from beneath stairways, attics or any other area that does not allow full standing room.
- Drain garden hoses.
- Drain oil and gas from lawn mowers and other gas-operated tools.
- Disconnect spark plugs.
- Dispose of flammables such as fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, acids, chemistry sets, aerosol cans, ammunition, oil, paint and thinners. Refillable tanks must be purged and sealed by a local propane gas dealer. Discard non-refillable tanks. Some carriers and the military do not permit shipment of any propane tanks.
- Disassemble electronic components.
- 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.
- If you are using your vehicle, make sure that it is in good running condition and that all required maintenance has been completed.
- Give a close friend or relative your travel route and schedule so you may be reached if needed.
- Set aside cleaning materials to be used after packing and loading.
- Ensure personal property items are free of soil/pest infestation (gypsy moths, brown tree snakes). Complying with requirements of the USDA and state laws is your responsibility.
More Checklists: Military PCS Guide
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