First move and many more

[Spekkio]

Thanks for the reply. My wife and I do not wan't to have a big place while I'm going through school. Yes, It is very nice to rent a big 4 bedroom plus basement home for $1000 in Delaware.

I put an approximate cost estimate and came out to about $1700 in total expense for the move, includes one night's stay at a hotel. I used this site: http://ditymovecalculator.net/ to estimate what I would get back. And the full DITY move leaves me with money in pocket. Of course, I don't know how accurate the information is, but that's why I am here to ask questions.

Check out this thread: https://www.airwarriors.com/community/index.php?threads/paid-my-stupid-tax-on-dity-moves.40195/

Even if you make money, I second Pags that it's not really worth it. You'll get $300-600 (depending on distance) by just filling your car up with as many suitcases of stuff you can possibly fit in it. Doing a pack-out yourself (or just your wife) will already take 3x as long, since you won't have a team of 3 guys showing up to get it done in 6 hours. You're talking about spreading what can be a 3-day event with movers to a week of packing, hauling, and unpacking.

Yes, movers will dent your stuff, but you'd probably do the same thing without knowing how to properly load a truck. Luckily you can file to get some reimbursement for that if the movers do it.

 

[speedroller]

Check out this thread: https://www.airwarriors.com/community/index.php?threads/paid-my-stupid-tax-on-dity-moves.40195/

Even if you make money, I second Pags that it's not really worth it. You'll get $300-600 (depending on distance) by just filling your car up with as many suitcases of stuff you can possibly fit in it. Doing a pack-out yourself (or just your wife) will already take 3x as long, since you won't have a team of 3 guys showing up to get it done in 6 hours. You're talking about spreading what can be a 3-day event with movers to a week of packing, hauling, and unpacking.

Yes, movers will dent your stuff, but you'd probably do the same thing without knowing how to properly load a truck. Luckily you can file to get some reimbursement for that if the movers do it.

I looked through the attached thread, really crappy situation. We usually get friends and family yo help us move things. Since my wife and I been together ( 5 Years) we've moved 6 times. About once every year. I think we can manage the packing, if we start early.

But none the less, I appreciate all feedback I can get.

 

[villanelle]

I looked through the attached thread, really crappy situation. We usually get friends and family yo help us move things. Since my wife and I been together ( 5 Years) we've moved 6 times. About once every year. I think we can manage the packing, if we start early.

But none the less, I appreciate all feedback I can get.

Have those 6 moves been local? Whole different ball of wax. What friends and family are going to help you unload in PCola?

How are you going to start early, when you are at OCS? Your wife will be doing this, or most of this, on her own, so make sure you discuss it with her and she knows what she's in for (including driving the truck and towing a car, if necessary) before you make these decisions based on a couple hundred bucks.

Also, remember that you will be doing this at a time where things are emotional and stressful. "Sorry, local friends, but I can't join you for one more taco tuesday because I've got to stay home and pack." Also, many people fail to account for what happens on the other end. When you show up in PCola without a place to live (which is likely), where do you park the U-haul? And of course, you have to keep paying for it while it sits, filled with your crap, as you house hunt. When the military moves you, you just don't arrange delivery until you find a home, so there is no rush, and no extra cost. (You have either 60 or 90 days from the day it arrives, in general.) So finding a place (and one that is available ASAP) becomes much, much more stressful.

Don't do it.

 

[speedroller]

Have those 6 moves been local? Whole different ball of wax. What friends and family are going to help you unload in PCola?

How are you going to start early, when you are at OCS? Your wife will be doing this, or most of this, on her own, so make sure you discuss it with her and she knows what she's in for (including driving the truck and towing a car, if necessary) before you make these decisions based on a couple hundred bucks.

Also, remember that you will be doing this at a time where things are emotional and stressful. "Sorry, local friends, but I can't join you for one more taco tuesday because I've got to stay home and pack." Also, many people fail to account for what happens on the other end. When you show up in PCola without a place to live (which is likely), where do you park the U-haul? And of course, you have to keep paying for it while it sits, filled with your crap, as you house hunt. When the military moves you, you just don't arrange delivery until you find a home, so there is no rush, and no extra cost. (You have either 60 or 90 days from the day it arrives, in general.) So finding a place (and one that is available ASAP) becomes much, much more stressful.

Don't do it.

Fairly local, yes, within 35 mile radius. That's a very good point about not having help in FL once we arrive. My wife and I have discussed this, when I mentioned planning and packing ahead, I intended to say that we would pack as much as we could before I head out to OCS. She is very independent and I trust she can pack house items if needed. But no, she would not be able to drive a uhaul and tow a vehicle behind it.

I'm not decided 100% on this self move just yet, I appreciate all the feedback here. Is there a recourse that I can speak to before I graduate OCS, someone who can answer questions?

 

[Spekkio]

You've got probably 10-15 people between this thread and the linked thread telling you to do a partial DITY and forget the U-Haul DITY move.

What more do you want to know?

 

[speedroller]

You've got probably 10-15 people between this thread and the linked thread telling you to do a partial DITY and forget the U-Haul DITY move.

What more do you want to know?

No, absolutely great recourse right here. Maybe more on who do I speak to in terms of how does the arrangement process works etc.

 

[Spekkio]

When you get your PCS orders in hand, you pay a visit to the personal property office. They will assist you from there.

 

[Gatordev]

Fairly local, yes, within 35 mile radius. That's a very good point about not having help in FL once we arrive. My wife and I have discussed this, when I mentioned planning and packing ahead, I intended to say that we would pack as much as we could before I head out to OCS. She is very independent and I trust she can pack house items if needed. But no, she would not be able to drive a uhaul and tow a vehicle behind it.

Something else to keep in mind is that if something does break during the move, and it's something you packed, the moving company has the right to deny a claim for you. So if you (ie, your wife) is going to pack up stuff ahead of time and do a GOV move, there's a potential to get burned.

My solution to this: I don't trust the movers to pack anything electronic, so I put everything into their boxes (yes, I keep my boxes for computers, monitors, etc...so goes it with PCS'ing every. single. tour.) but leave them untaped*. That way the movers can actually see into the box, see that it's what it says it is, and then tape it up. This also goes with your first move where they'll want serial numbers of electronics and then write them on the box. After the first move, it goes much faster since the serials are already on there.

*Caveat: When trying to smuggle ammo on an OCONUS move, it was easier to throw a few boxes of ammo into electronics boxes and either tape them up or put them at the bottom, underneath the electronic device. Helpful when only trying to move a 100-200 rounds.

When you get your PCS orders in hand, you pay a visit to the personal property office. They will assist you from there.

...if you live in 2001. Nowadays you have to use the move.mil program, which requires a password. This then redirects you to another site that requires a DIFFERENT password. This password, and/or the move.mil password, will expire every 1.3 days, regardless if you've actually moved or not. PCS'ed over the course of a 30 day period and now need to log in and make a claim? Time to reset passwords! Also, move.mil may or may not actually be compatible with your web browser. No, it doesn't care if you have 3 different web browsers, it still won't be compatible.

 

[Spekkio]

...if you live in 2001. Nowadays you have to use the move.mil program, which requires a password. This then redirects you to another site that requires a DIFFERENT password. This password, and/or the move.mil password, will expire every 1.3 days, regardless if you've actually moved or not. PCS'ed over the course of a 30 day period and now need to log in and make a claim? Time to reset passwords! Also, move.mil may or may not actually be compatible with your web browser. No, it doesn't care if you have 3 different web browsers, it still won't be compatible.

Haha...yes, move.mil is annoying. But there still is a PPO and people will still assist you in person if you can't get move.mil to work. Or some bases are so screwed up that they require the 2001-era paperwork AND your move to be filed on move.mil.

As for the revolving passwords: Invest in a USB CAC reader. They cost under $10 on Amazon.com.

 

[villanelle]

Something else to keep in mind is that if something does break during the move, and it's something you packed, the moving company has the right to deny a claim for you. So if you (ie, your wife) is going to pack up stuff ahead of time and do a GOV move, there's a potential to get burned.

My solution to this: I don't trust the movers to pack anything electronic, so I put everything into their boxes (yes, I keep my boxes for computers, monitors, etc...so goes it with PCS'ing every. single. tour.) but leave them untaped*. That way the movers can actually see into the box, see that it's what it says it is, and then tape it up. This also goes with your first move where they'll want serial numbers of electronics and then write them on the box. After the first move, it goes much faster since the serials are already on there.

*Caveat: When trying to smuggle ammo on an OCONUS move, it was easier to throw a few boxes of ammo into electronics boxes and either tape them up or put them at the bottom, underneath the electronic device. Helpful when only trying to move a 100-200 rounds.



...if you live in 2001. Nowadays you have to use the move.mil program, which requires a password. This then redirects you to another site that requires a DIFFERENT password. This password, and/or the move.mil password, will expire every 1.3 days, regardless if you've actually moved or not. PCS'ed over the course of a 30 day period and now need to log in and make a claim? Time to reset passwords! Also, move.mil may or may not actually be compatible with your web browser. No, it doesn't care if you have 3 different web browsers, it still won't be compatible.

Several people (but this is just rumor) have told me this recently changed and is no longer the case. It used to be that they could note "CP" (customer packed) on the inventory sheet, and that limited their responsibility/liability for damage. My solution was to tell them they were welcome to repack anything they wanted, but that I would not be signing for anything marked "CP" on the inventory. (And I'd scan the inventory before signing, just in case, but I never caught them trying to slip one by.) According to the rumors, now they can't let themselves off the hook, but they are allowed to repack anything they want to. (But let's be realistic: the guy at your house doesn't give a fraction of a fuck about any of this. He just wants to finish and get paid, so the chance of repacking is slim at best.) But regardless of their choice, they are responsible for damage. Confirm before belief, but I've heard it from several sources.

 

[Pags]

Yeah. If you're in the Navy keep your boxes for big electronics and anything else valuable (wooden airplane models). It takes up a bit of room but it helps. Since I'm no longer in the business it was so nice to be able to throw out all those boxes like a normal person would.

The real trick is to get Japanese movers for everything*. I've never seen faster, better, more efficient movers than the guys who moved us into and out of Japan. I think our furniture came out of that move in better shape because of their magic.

Other pro tip: ask them to crate it on site. Saves a step in big movers warehouse where a lot of damage can occur.

*probably impossible outside of Japan, but a man can dream.

 

[villanelle]

And not that you seem interested, OP, but another downside to a PPM move (aka doing it yourself) is that if you screw up the paperwork, you are SOL. Have an friend of a friend right now who wasn't told she needed to weigh empty before departure, so she's likely screwed. All because she followed the directions she was given, which happened to be wrong.

Yeah. If you're in the Navy keep your boxes for big electronics and anything else valuable (wooden airplane models). It takes up a bit of room but it helps. Since I'm no longer in the business it was so nice to be able to throw out all those boxes like a normal person would.

The real trick is to get Japanese movers for everything*. I've never seen faster, better, more efficient movers than the guys who moved us into and out of Japan. I think our furniture came out of that move in better shape because of their magic.

Other pro tip: ask them to crate it on site. Saves a step in big movers warehouse where a lot of damage can occur.

*probably impossible outside of Japan, but a man can dream.

Yes. And no awkwardness about tipping. Of course, the Turkish guys who folded our mattress in half like a taco meant we still had a lot of damage from our Japan move, but everything was packed so well. And while managing to take their shoes on and off every time they came in and out of the house! There are definitely some things I am looking forward to with being back in Japan, and the level of professionalism and service is near the top of the list!

 

[Gatordev]

As for the revolving passwords: Invest in a USB CAC reader. They cost under $10 on Amazon.com.

Please tell me more about CAC readers. This is a foreign concept, especially to a Reservist.

FYSA: move.mil wasn't always CAC enabled and/or didn't work with a CAC (ie, all of the times I've used it).

 

[Spekkio]

Well, you see, it's this little plastic contraption where you can insert your mil ID and log into government websites with a 6-digit PIN. It's really handy, particularly if you want to do things like access your records or change your PCM without going to the base... and of course, to set up your move on move.mil.

In all seriousness, the line about the CAC reader was more intended for the OP.

 

[Gatordev]

In all seriousness, the line about the CAC reader was more intended for the OP.

Gotcha. In additional all seriousness, I take it move.mil works with a CAC now? It wasn't really FMC the last PCS I did, be it at work or at home.