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You've just received PCS orders, effective in two months. Your mind races with questions like where to start and who to contact. Don't panic. Below is a step-by-step checklist of what needs to be done before you make your move to make it smooth and affordable.

8 Weeks
5 Weeks
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Moving Day

Countdown: 8 Weeks

Visit your Relocation Office and obtain information on your next duty station. Schedule a meeting with a relocation specialist at your station to plan for the move. Ask them what benefits you are entitled to (this differs depending on marital status).

Consider whether you will make a DITY move or use a commercial carrier. Ask your Transportation Office (TO) about your options. Discuss these with the rest of the family. Acquire three estimates from rental companies for comparison and if applicable, select a mover. Make sure the moving vehicle is large enough to hold all your household items.

If you plan to use a commercial moving company, provide your current TO with your estimated shipping weight and whether you will be shipping any vehicles.

Discuss specifics of your move with the TO office, including unaccompanied baggage, privately owned vehicles and pet shipment. If flying, don't schedule to fly the same day as moving.

Make TLE/billeting arrangements. Call the guest house for reservations. Call your Finance Office for details on temporary lodging expenses (TLE) entitlements.

Call billeting at your next duty station to reserve up to 30 days "arriving PCS." Check whether pets are allowed.

If you are planning to live on post at the new location, contact your housing office for an advance application if it is permitted by your new duty station.

Notify your Housing Office, rental agent or landlord of your PCS orders and when you plan to vacate. If the lease contains a military clause, this notification must be made in writing.

Begin making all necessary travel plans, including hotels and destination spots. Obtain specific directions on how to get to your next duty station. Mapquest, www.mapquest.com, will give you specific directions from your home to your next duty station if you are driving. Make contingency plans in case of an emergency.

Research your new home. Obtain information on religious institutions, driver's licenses and car registration, local utilities and schools and enrollment. Visit the SITES website at www.dmdc.osd.mil/sites for additional information on your new duty station.

If a dependent has special education or medical needs, they have to be enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP).

Examine your homeowner's insurance policy to see if your household items are insured during the move. Consider supplemental insurance to cover the move. If you plan to rent out your house, check if your policy will cover this.

Create a Relocation Budget. A relocation budget sheet can be found at Military Assistance Program's (MAPsite) website at dticaw.dtic.mil/mapsite. Consider utility deposits, home closing costs, travel expenditures, servicing your vehicle. Consult your base pay and financial office for more information.

If you're selling your current home, arrange with a local real estate agent to put it on the market. If you plan to purchase another home at your next duty station, ask your agent for referrals or find more information on renting, buying or applying for a mortgage on the Internet. Budget and arrange financing for the new home.

If you decide to rent your house instead of putting it on the market, contact your Housing Office to list your house for rent.

Request a sponsor at the new station and give them a call when one is assigned to you.

Schedule a househunting trip (HHT). Permissive TDY may be granted for up to 10 days. It must be signed by a O-5 or above. If you go house shopping without the children, bring back pictures and mementos of the new location and discuss them with the rest of the family.

Countdown: 8 Weeks, 5 Weeks, 3 Weeks, 2 Weeks, Moving Day, Top of Page

Inventory all your household items by room, garage, closet, etc. Estimate the value of your household items for insurance purposes. A videotape of the contents of each room can be particularly useful in creating an indisputable visual record. Record all serial numbers. Decide what will be moved and what should be sold at a garage or yard sale. All unsold items can be donated to charity.

If you have a new mailing address, complete a change of address form at the post office and send them to friends, family and anyone else that sends you mail regularly. If you don't, acquire a post office box at the new duty station and use that as your new mailing address.

Begin notifying people and companies about your move, including friends, relatives, banks, lawyers, accountants, religious organizations, dentists, doctors, insurance companies, Department of Motor Vehicles, subscriptions and creditors.

If moving out of state, complete the necessary driver's license and registration change forms and mail them. Change voter registration to reflect your new mailing address.

Organize your family records in a Travel Records Kit (a sample of a kit can be found on the Mapsite website at dticaw.dtic.mil/mapsite. Your kit should contain: birth certificates; social security numbers; naturalization papers (if applicable); military and insurance ID cards; a copy of your children's medical, dental and optical records; school transcripts and referral letters; marriage and divorce papers (if applicable); pet immunization records; expense log book; PCS orders (30 copies); copy of wills; serial numbers; financial records, including a list of stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other financial investments; bank account and credit card information; car registration and title; adoption papers (if applicable); letters of credit from previous utility companies to waive utility deposits; passports (if applicable); servicemember's Last leave and Earnings Statement (LES), and spouses résumés, certificates, professional licenses and transcripts.

Complete all scheduled dental and optical work and exams. Arrange to get any necessary immunizations and obtain a copy of your medical, dental and optical records and put them in your Travel Records Kit or have them forwarded.

Give all employers termination notice and obtain references from supervisors. Update résumés and begin sending them out to prospective companies.

Establish new bank accounts and safe deposit boxes at the next duty station.

Arrange for homeowner's, auto or renter's insurance coverage for the new duty station. Bear in mind that many insurance companies are no longer issuing homeowner's or renter's policies in Florida due to the devastation caused by hurricanes Andrew, Erin and Opal. Before canceling your coverage in your present duty station, check whether your insurance carrier can transfer coverage to Florida.

Schedule to have your current utilities canceled the day after you move. Forward the final bills to your new address. Arrange for the utilities to be turned on the day before you arrive.

Begin packing household goods. Label the boxes according to each room of the house with different colored pens. Mark each box with a different number. Consider taking very fragile or irreplaceable items with you in your personal vehicle for safe keeping. After each box has been packed and marked, leave it open so the moving company can repack the contents if necessary and assume responsibility for the safety of the items. If you are moving your plants, plan on taking them in your car.

Create a written record of every box and the contents of each. On your record highlight the numbers of the boxes you want to come off the truck first so you can have the movers place these in an accessible place in the moving van. These boxes should contain items necessary for immediate housekeeping, such as tableware, bedding and dishes. Also, mark "storable" boxes for infrequently used items.

Contact your finance and base pay office to verify that your Basic Allowance for Quarters will be continued at the next duty station. Check with Travel Pay for benefits or entitlements. Consider your mode of travel when discussing Advance Travel pay.

Countdown: 8 Weeks, 5 Weeks, 3 Weeks, 2 Weeks, Moving Day, Top of Page

When flying to your next duty station, check with the Transportation Office 10 days prior to out-processing to find out when to pick up your tickets.

Obtain veterinary records and licenses. If necessary, arrange for pet transportation.

Countdown: 8 Weeks, 5 Weeks, 3 Weeks, 2 Weeks, Moving Day, Top of Page

Confirm all moving arrangements.

If necessary, arrange for someone to care for your pets or children on moving day.

Pack suitcases and other necessary items for the trip. Set out any toys for the trip and prepare a first aid kit for the road.

Set aside items that will be necessary once you get there (just in case you arrive before the movers do), such as essential dishes, pots and pans, toiletries, light bulbs, cleaning supplies and toilet paper.

If you are moving yourself, reserve a moving truck. Don't forget to reserve dollies, hand trucks and furniture pads.

If you are using a commercial mover, finalized the moving schedule with the TO at your current and future base. Confirm arrangements with the moving company.

Settle any outstanding bills. Cancel newspapers. Return any outstanding library books or borrowed goods.

Pack final boxes and thoroughly clean the house for final inspection by landlord or the Housing Office.

If traveling by car, have your personal vehicle serviced or tuned up for the trip.

Empty, defrost, clean and dry the refrigerator. While defrosting, secure the door with a strap to prevent it from closing on pets or children. For freshness, put a handful of coffee grounds or baking soda in a sock and place it in the refrigerator.

Empty safe deposit boxes of valuables.

Obtain cash and travelers checks for the trip. Have extra cash on hand in case deposits are required at the next duty station. Movers typically require payment upon delivery of the goods unless other arrangements are made. Personal checks are often not accepted as payment.

Countdown: 8 Weeks, 5 Weeks, 3 Weeks, 2 Weeks, Moving Day, Top of Page

Fill the gas tank in the car for the trip.

Lock your Travel Records Kit and valuables in your car.

Take the children to childcare and take the pets to a safe location.

Plan to be present when the movers arrive. Supervise their work carefully as they inventory and tag your furniture and record its condition. Review your contract with the moving company before signing. Obtain a clear copy of the inventory list.

Give the van foreman a phone number where you can be reached at your next duty station.