Three months before your move, be sure you take care of the following items. [For the full list of PCS checklists, see this page.]
| To Do | Done? |
| If you are an active service member, make an appointment for a counseling session at your base transportation office. | |
| Decide whether you want to make a Personally Procured Move (PPM), or have the government handle everything for you. | |
| Start saving for non-reimbursable moving expenses. | |
| Discuss the moving process with your children to overcome their fear of relocation. | |
| Start planning for special moving needs if you have an infant. | |
| Notify your landlord you will be moving, but do not give him or her an exact date right now. | |
| Begin making shipping arrangements for your vehicle(s) if necessary. If you are using your base transportation office, schedule a counseling session. | |
| Start keeping track of tax-deductible moving expenses (i.e., the cost of pre-move househunting). | |
| Make an inventory of possessions and valuable items (take pictures or video tape). Get appraisals for antiques or collections. | |
| Start organizing 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. |
