Trying To PCS On A Tight Schedule? 3 Things To Do To Make The Process Easier
Posted on: 23 December 2017
When you're in the military, you don't always have a lot of time to prepare for a military relocation. When time is of the essence, you've got to make the most of the time you have available to you. That means you'll need to do everything from finding a place to live, familiarizing yourself with the community, and signing the paperwork while following a very tight schedule. To help you get through the chaos, it's a good idea to schedule a trip to your new town, even if you can only squeeze in a couple of days. Here are three steps you should take when you're planning your PCS visit.
Schedule Some Home Tours
When it comes to planning a transfer of duty station, it's important that you schedule a PCS visit to the community where you'll be moving. This visit should include scheduled tours of homes that you've put on your short-list. For maximum benefit, you should have contacted a real estate agent in the area who can arrange as many tours as possible while you're in town. Having a real estate agent working for you will eliminate some of the stress.
Bring Your Paperwork With You
When you head out for your PCS visit, be sure to prepare for the possibility that you'll need to sign papers, especially if you find a home that you're interested in. With that in mind, it's important that you bring your paperwork with you. Your file should include previous tax returns, bank statements, LES paperwork, and any PCS paperwork that you've already received. You'll need this documentation before you can begin the paperwork for your new home – whether you're going to rent, lease, or buy. If you have children, you should also bring their paperwork so you can begin the registration process for their new schools.
Spend Some Time Touring the Town
If time allows during your visit, you should try to spend some time touring the town. The last thing you want to do is spend your first few weeks in your new town trying to find places like the post office, the library, and the hospital. Scheduling a few hours to drive around town finding those locations will help alleviate the stress while you're acclimating to your new home. If you have school-aged children, you should also locate the schools while you're in town.
Facing a rapid-fire PCS move? Use the tips provided here to make the most out of your visit.
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