11 Tips On Packing For A Military Move

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These top tips on packing for a Military move will save you so much frustration, trust me! By using these tips you will ensure that your stuff is not only packed securely but also can be easily found! One of the hardest tasks to tackle is trying to locate where you packed certain items. Use the following tips to ensure you’ll have a lot less stress and headaches!  

TIP #1 – What should you use to pack? 

I HIGHLY SUGGEST USING STACKABLE HARD CONTAINERS!

This tip had to be number one because I absolutely swear by it! Our items have now been moved twice from one side of the United States to the other, and we have not had any casualties when using them. The best part is when it’s time for another PCS (Permanent Change in Station), you don’t waste your money going and buying a million new boxes. 

You also benefit to since it takes a lot less effort to ensure your items are secured. Plus, once they are empty you can just stack them all together, or even use them for other storage purposes. Check out these bins on Amazon for reference. 

TIP #2 – Make your life easier… Keep a Log 

Tip number two is another great one! By keeping a log, it will help mitigate any possible issues as to what you had, what you packed, and where your items are. I suggest noting details such as what the item was, quantity (if applicable), where it was packed, and the condition it was in before moving. 

Noting the condition of the item is strongly suggested if you’re doing it with actual movers. By noting this, you can ensure that you have proof of what the item looked like beforehand if any damage occurs during the move. You can also make a note of the condition if you are doing a “DIY” move, but that’s based on your personal preference.

Just remember, the more documentation, the better when it comes to moving with the military. Save all of your receipts too! Here is an example of a logging system on Amazon! 

Tip #3 – Label, Label, Label!

Number three on this packing tips list ties into tip number two… YOU NEED TO LABEL EVERYTHING! You can use tricks like numbering the boxes and logging those box numbers into your packing log. Some other ways to label include taping a list of exactly what’s in that box to the top of the lid, or using any other method that allows you to understand what is packed where.

The most important thing is that your system makes sense to you! Here are some helpful moving labels I found on Amazon! 

Tip #4 – You don’t have to be a photographer but… TAKE PHOTOS!

Make sure you take photos of EVERY ITEM AND BOX! Trust me this will save you a lot of headaches in the end. Having photos of all of your items before the move helps to mitigate any possible arguments in the future if you have movers. It’s also suggested that your photos are dated and timestamped. This is to provide proof that they were taken right before the actual move. 

As I stated before, THE MORE DOCUMENTATION THE BETTER!

Tip #5 – Pack your valuables in your personal vehicle or bags!

I strongly suggest that you pack any highly valuable things, or things that you want to be handled with special care, with you while you travel. Especially if you are using movers or if things are being shipped.

With that said, all important documents or things that have any personally identifying information should also be packed with you and not with the movers or shipped. You don’t want to take the chance of them getting lost or damaged. 

Tip #6 – Give yourself a backup plan… Make Copies!

Speaking of personally identifying information and other important documents… Another tip for packing is to make sure you have copies or PDFs saved of your personally identifying documents such as birth certificates, Social Security cards, marriage licenses, etc. 

This step is obviously precautionary, however, it can really give you a piece of mind. BUT REMEMBER, no matter what, always keep that type of information secure and don’t share it without understanding who and why you are disclosing any type of identifying information. 

Tip #7 – Under the sink messes?? 

You know those dreaded messes that tend to overwhelm you when you open up your cabinet doors under any sink in your house… Do yourself a favor and use this tip. I started using nice storage bins to help organize underneath my sinks. This tip worked out better than I imagined. When we were moving, all I had to do was pick up the bin and set it in the hard storage bin (See Tip #1 for reference) I was using to pack. 

Simple hacks such as storage bins, often have multiple purposes and help to make the entire packing process easier and less stressful. Not to mention, it keeps your house organized before, during, and after the move. I’ve linked some plastic storage bins on Amazon here. 

Tip #8 – Don’t skimp, get the Hanger Boxes…

Do yourself a favor and go to places like U-Haul or UPS and get the standing hanger boxes. These boxes are great for dress uniforms and any clothes that really shouldn’t be folded. Yes, they can cost a little bit more, but trust me they’re worth it! Plus, you can ensure that none of your service member’s dress uniforms are damaged or creased. 

Note, you can also pack some shoes at the bottom of these boxes in addition to using the hanging space. I also suggest saving these boxes if you have the space to save you time and money in the future!  

Tip #9 – Pack by room!

In addition to having the packing log and numbering system, you can also choose to pack your items by room. This method is especially helpful when it comes to unpacking. By organizing yourself in this way, along with the other suggested tips on packing, you will be able to maintain more control over how things go during the move.  

By labeling the boxes and ensuring you designate which labels go to which rooms, it will make the unloading process much smoother and hopefully seamless. This is also especially helpful if you are packing for movers to come. If they know where each box belongs, it will help cut down on the time they have to spend sorting. 

Please note, if you are using military movers the process of packing is slightly different where they must see every item they are packing and transporting. 

Tip #10 – Pack Seasonally…

Not only do I suggest having the boxes and bins labeled for each room, but if you’re anything like me, you will also have seasonal decor that needs to be packed as well. I strongly suggest designating specific bins or boxes for each season. This makes locating the correct seasonal decor much easier. This is helpful not only for the move but also for decorating purposes as well. 

Tip #11 – Do your future self a favor… WASH YOUR BEDSHEETS! 

After a long process of moving bins and boxes all day, all you want to do is get in your bed and sleep. Do yourself a favor and before packing, wash all of your bedsheets. This will eliminate the annoying task of having to wash them once you get to your destination. By doing this, it allows you to crawl into your bed for some much needed rest! Plus who doesn’t love sleeping on freshly washed sheets!

Final thoughts…

Moving is never perfect, but these tips are listed here to help make the process more bearable. As a military spouse myself, I know the thought of packing an entire house, unpacking, and then repeating the process a short time later can be draining and overwhelming. Know that it’s going to be okay. Know that there are going to be a lot of new adventures made, and new opportunities waiting for you at your next station. My advice to you is to embrace the turbulence because the destination at the end could be beautiful. As always feel free to comment or reach out, I’d love to hear from you. 

If you liked this post check out some of my others… 

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