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San Diego Neighborhood Guide, by LiveClassy.com is amaze-balls. Seriously, Check this out! This is a moving option for our future and I feel upon this website and thought I should share! Tootles! 

 #SanDiego

#SoCal

Moving Binder

Organizational moving binder is the key to keeping sane. I made a two moving binders one for me and one for a good friend. We both used them (hey we're type A what can I say). I got the idea of a moving binder from a different blog so I'll share it with you.

Shannon Brown "How to Move a 1000 Miles"

 Needed Items:

• 3 Ring Binder (3 in. or larger)
• 1 or 2 Pencil Cases
• Sharpie or other Permanent Marker for each room of house (include storage and garage)
• Shipping labels 
• Dot stickers (either white and color them or pick colors that match your room color markers)
• Plastic sheet covers
• Scissors
• Box cutter
• Tape
• Tape Measure
• Pocket Tab Dividers
• A few Pencils
• A few Pens
• Post-it note 

Moving Binder

Title Page

• Hard copy of PCS orders
• Moving/Packer Information
• Packing Box Inventory (Stickers, labels, list of what is in each box)
•  En Route Travel Info (Printed directions just in case, Hotel confirmation, Pet boarding information, Copy of PCS orders, misc. traveling information)
• New Home Lease and Utilities Information
• New Town Information
• Important Base phone numbers and addresses
• Map of new location and base
• Location and hours of local grocery stores, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Costco, Exchange, and Commissary
•  Base gate hours (per location)
•   Post Office hours where your P.O. Box is locate
• Food (phone numbers and locations of  local restaurants and take out joints near your new home and/or hotel and menus if possible)
• Interior Design (size of furniture pieces, lay out of new home, and other home decorating )

Moving Binder Title Page

Moving Binder Front Page

Box Inventory List 

We used our binder to keep all receipts (gas, trailer rental, hotel, food, weigh tickets). It was fabulous. It also keep all the paper work the movers gave us. Two vehicles on the road, with two drivers, two crazy dogs. It definitely keep us sane and organized.
 

Moving Entitlements

I get asked frequently on social media what am pay can we get for things. I don't have time to rewrite all the information but here are two fabulous links to moving entitlements.

About.com PCS Entitlements

Military.com Managing Relocation Costs

Moves happen all the time plan ahead save up money for them. You'll have to spend money on your new home no matter where it is. We moved into a house once with out a single light bulb that was awesome. So plan ahead so you don't have to put it on a credit card or have to take out an advancement in pay. 

Renting

Renting a home from the other side of the country via a source online is a scary thing. During our most recent move we had an idea of where we wanted to live, but we didn't find a living arrangement on our trip there. I spent hours searching online at local property management websites and craigslist.org . We eventually found a place on craigslist.org and its pretty wonderful.

I've been introduced to a national website www.zillow.com and its a fabulous place to start your research.  One thing I like about Zillow is that the property manager normally have their links at the bottom of page, thus making it easier to get in touch with them. If your move is many months in advance you can start your search 8-6 weeks out by emailing property managers your needs (bedrooms, bathrooms, pets, fenced yard, etc).

Some property managers are less than truthful or don't take care of their property. Things to look for in photos:
-Time Stamp (if the photo is more than 3 months old ask for more recent photos and or a video walk through).
-Broken items (I've seen so many photos with broken cabinets, cracked windows, or mirrors). I truly believe that if a property manager takes care of their property they will not take photos and post the property until its ready.
-Trash in the yard or on property. My current property manager has a someone come do the front lawns every week. I rarely see any trash on the drive or in the lawns.

The Neighborhood:
Take a digital walk in the neighborhood. Using Google maps you can take a digital walk through the neighborhood. Things I looked for are the cars similar or nicer than yours, if not then you'll have the nice car in the neighborhood and could be a target. Find out the rent of other similar home in the area. Check the crime rate many websites this function.

It's important to have phone numbers, fax, and a physical location for the property manager. If it sounds to good to be true it probably is. Beware of scam artists.

Bases and Places

Oh new places are filled with new faces!  Oh that was corny.  Moving on here are some of my favorite easy to use websites filled with info on new locations.

http://www.mybaseguide.com/

https://www.facebook.com/militarydutystations

https://www.facebook.com/MilitaryTownAdvisor

http://militarywom.com/

http://militarybases.com/

http://baseguide.com


The one thing all of these websites have in common is .... They are hit and miss! One my have your base the other may have no information. These are not my complete list, they just are the best ones I've found.

Why this blog?

I've decided to write this blog because I'm a moving fanatic! I have a love/hate relationship with moving.

I love sorting through all of my stuff in my home and making sure I've downsize and got rid of the clutter. I hate the waiting around of moving. Oh we're gonna move in a year, not much we can do now except to wait.  I am a list maker, I want organization, and I want to have a plan A,B, and C.

I've been the administrator on the www.navyformoms.com group PCS-ing/Moving through experience that I've gained a lot of resources. Maybe these resources will help you in your future move.

Our first DITY move.

*Note the laundry basket with cleaning supplies.
** Note the laundry basket of with clean household items like (towels, sheets, other things).