This is a guest post written by Robert Barrett
When a main member of the family joins the military, it can affect everyone involved. While it’s a great honor to serve in the military, it can mean relocation for the family on a regular basis. With assignments and deployments regularly creeping up without much notice, it may require those in the military to formulate a moving plan to help move their family from one location to the next.
Generally, military deployment can last from 6 months to a few years. In cases such as this, military families need to be prepared well in advance and have a plan of action of what to do when relocation is imminent.
This expert guide will give you the top moving tips and storage recommendations for military families to make lives easier.
Moving Tips for Military Families
Generally, seasoned military families are experts about frequent moving. However, if you’ve just begun your journey with the military, here are some tips you can follow to make the transition from one place to the next much easier and faster.
- Declutter – One major stress trigger for a big move is having too many things to pack. Decluttering your clutter before the move, and throwing away anything that isn’t needed, can help to make your move less stressful and much easier. You can sort your items into three boxes: donate, sell and throw away. This will make it easier for you to stay organized.
- First Day Boxes/Bags – It’s always wise for you to pack a few boxes which have clothing and other important items for the first day in your new home. This will help you to get through the first day without having to rummage through a mountain of boxes to find different items you’ll need. Some things to place in these boxes include clothing, soap, drinks, snacks, etc.
- Create an Inventory List – It’s always a good idea to create an inventory list of all your items and boxes that will be moved. Documenting your items and the number of boxes will allow you to have some evidence if you’re suddenly missing boxes between the journey.
- Hire a Moving Company – Unless you’re really keen on moving all your items yourself, hiring a moving company can be the best option. When hiring a moving company, ask whether they prepack everything or whether you have to. Moving companies are great choices to take additional pressure off when the move commences.
- Label Everything – When packing your boxes, label everything! It saves so much time when you’re in your new home. Labeling everything enables easy unpacking, and also tells the movers which items are fragile, and those that should be handled with more care.
- Keep Important Documents with You – Any important documents need to be kept with you at all times. These items may include, but aren’t limited to, passports, wills, medical papers, insurance papers, bank details, etc.
- Keep a List of Contact Details – When someone else is doing the move for you, it’s important to have a list of their contact details to make sure you can get in touch with them in case something unexpected occurs on the end route. It’s also a good idea to give them your contact details, and the details of a close family member or friend who can get in touch with you if the movers can’t. This will help to keep everyone up-to-date and in the loop if you or the moving truck is late.
- Keep Calm and Relaxed – While any move can be stressful, it won’t help things if you’re stressing the whole day. Try to relax, unwind, and have as much fun as you can. Remember you have a chance at a new life and to meet new people. It’s an adventure – something to be excited about.
Storage Recommendation Tips for Military Families
In some instances, your items may need to be stored for longer periods of time, especially if the family needs to move overseas for a while. In cases such as this, you need to store your all your items in a much more secure way.
Generally, self-storage units are great options for military families to use to keep their valuables safe until they return to collect them. When using a storage unit for your storage needs, there’s a few things you can do to not only protect your items but to make sure they last for the length of time they’re in storage for. These include:
- Plastic Containers – Items which are more susceptible to rodents and other pests need to be kept in something stronger than cardboard boxes. In cases such as this, it’s a good idea to pack these items in plastic containers with sealable lids. These types of containers will generally last a very long time and will also keep pest damage at bay.
- Larger Furniture – For any larger furniture pieces that you need to store in close proximity to one another, use old large blankets and slide them in between the furniture. This will help to keep each piece from damaging one another due to rubbing or movement, especially if the storage unit is in earthquake prone areas.
- Space Saver Bags – Space saver bags are a great choice for storing clothing and other flexible items. These types of bags, as the name suggests, save space when used. Once all non-essential clothing has been successfully stored within the space saver bag, you can then place them inside the plastic containers for additional protection overall. These bags help to free up space within your storage unit so you can fit more items within it for added convenience.
Being a moving military family doesn’t mean it needs to be a hard process when an unexpected and short notice move is issued. By taking these moving tips and storage recommendations into place you have a better chance of really being prepared for your next relocation and move. So are you preparing for your next move? Did these tips help you?
For more than 20 years, Robert Barrett has been recognized as a leader in the real estate industry. Under the tutelage of his father, Roy Barrett, he learned to specialize in finding undervalued assets, and his negotiating skills have led to many successful real estate acquisitions and developments. Barrett Properties currently owns over 100 properties including shopping centers, warehouses, apartments, condominiums, and storage facilities
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