These tips are brought to you courtesy of Sparefoot.com’s specialty blog just for military members and their families blog.militarystorage.com
Being in the military and moving go hand in hand — and not just for service members.
Military spouses are 10 times more likely to have moved across state lines in the past year compared with their civilian counterparts, according to a 2012report from the U.S. Treasury Department and U.S. Defense Department.
Shifting a household to a new place involves both time and effort. “It may take many days or even a few weeks to get completely unpacked and settled,” saidEllie Kay, who bills herself as America’s Military Family Expert.
If you’re a military spouse with a relocation on the horizon, follow these five tips to help make the transition a successful one.
1. Document your household.
Before moving, create an accurate, complete home inventory, said Kristen Smith, blog manager for AHRN.com, a housing referral resource for the military community, and the wife of an active-duty Army major.
A home inventory that lists what you own will make it easier to track belongings during the move. It also will be helpful if you need to file claims for any damaged goods.
To record your belongings, consider taking pictures of what you own, including the serial number of items. You might also take a video of your goods. The Insurance Information Institute offers free online software to help you create and keep a home inventory at KnowYourStuff.org.
2. Prepare for storage.
If some of your household will be in a self-storage unit at the new destination, take this into consideration as you pack. Be careful about what you store, Kay said. Make sure you won’t need the items on a weekly basis.
Check whether the storage unit is climate-controlled. If it’s not, consider whether the belongings stored there can sustain both hot and cold weather. For instance, if you have photo albums with plastic pages, they could get damaged from the heat in storage units that aren’t climate-controlled.
Just as an inventory can help you track items in your home, it can aid in locating — and remembering — what you have in storage. If you have a detailed list, “it will save money in the long run,” Kay said. You’ll avoid mistakes such as buying another ironing board when you already have one in storage.
Nothing says you have to get unpacked in three days.
— Military family expert Ellie Kay
3. Keep work in mind.
If you’ve established yourself in a professional career and need to relocate, consider reaching out to networking and mentoring groups.
“Within these groups, you can find spouses who have already blazed the trail, so to speak, within your new community,” said Brooke Goldberg, deputy director of government relations at the National Military Family Association.
A few to try: In Gear Career, the Military Spouse eMentor Program and Military Spouse JD Network.
If you think your current position could be carried out remotely, put together a proposal to show how the setup could work and present it to your boss, suggested Jennifer Dombrowski, a social media and communications strategist who is the wife of an active-duty member of the Air Force.
In the proposal, include a trial period, such as six months. “Set goals across the six months and plan for regular meetings to check in,” Dombrowski said.
4. Get a handle on opportunities for education.
If you’re pursuing a college education, it’s important to do your research, said Allie Jones, scholarship program manager at the National Military Family Association.
Look into options, such as online programs, that can be accessed from any location. Also consider Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges. These schools enable service members and their families complete their college degrees.
The National Military Family Association provides scholarships to military spouses pursuing any kind of degree. For more information, visitMilitaryFamily.org or download MyMilitaryLife, a free mobile app.
5. Factor in an adjustment period.
Take time to get settled in your new home, Kay said. “Nothing says you have to get unpacked in three days,” she said.
Build in breaks from emptying boxes to recharge and become familiar with your new area. If you have children, “take a healthy, brisk walk with your kids and meet the neighbors,” Kay said. Also, consider heading out for ice cream, going bowling or visiting a park.
Mission ABLE was designed to enlist American citizens, communities and corporations to help ensure our paralyzed heroes are provided the physical care needed to live a healthy life: receive the benefits they’ve earned through military service and obtain job training and opportunities for new and fulfilling careers. For more the 67 years, Paralyzed Veterans of America has been on a mission to change lives and build brighter futures for seriously injured heroes. To empower these brave men and women with what they need to achieve the things they fought for ; freedom and independence. Paralyzed Veterans national officers and our 34 chapters represent thousands of veterans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Penske is once again asking its one-way truck rental customers to donate $1.00 to the PVA’s Mission: ABLE program . For every $1.00 donation , Penske will also donate a $1.00. Penske would like to show their sincere appreciation to these outstanding men and women for all they have done and the incredible sacrifices they have made serving our country.
Storeright Self Storage in Vero Beach is a Penske rental Agent, please call or stop by our office or Visit PVA.org to learn more.
Self Storage Employees make the difference between a great Storage Facility and any other Storage Facility. Most Storage Facilities have ” specials” and other drawing factors, some more than others, but not all Facilities have the right Employees. All Storage Facilities have units to rent, whether non climate or climate control. Some offer outside parking, but not all Facilities have the right Employees. Most Self Storage Facilities are kept neat and clean and have some type of curb appeal. Most Facilities have a form of security, but not all Facilities have the right Employees. Most Self Storage Facilities sell boxes and other moving and packing supplies and even truck rentals or movers to help tenants, but not all Self Storage Facilities have the right Employees. Most Self Storage Facilities are in good locations or at least close to someone for convenience due to the fact that there are a lot of Self Storage Facilities in some areas, but not all Self Storage Facilities have the right Employees. I guess by now you realize there are some differences in Self Storage Facilities, but basically all Self Storage Facilities do pretty much offer the same amenities—-except for the Employees. By Employees, I mean the Mamager, Assistant manager, Maintenance Personell and anyone else employed at any given Facility. These are the people who make or break the success of each Self Storage Facility. Without Personell that are neat, clean, caring, knowledgeable, helpful and understanding to name a few, you simply do not have a Self Storage Facility that is the best it can be. So, why, you ask, do the owners of Self Storage Facilities not pay closer attention to the personalities of the Staff they hire? several reasons will help answer that question-1) Most Self Storage Owners believe anyone can be management at a Facility, so they really do not learn to know their Employees. 2) Some owners also run their own Facilities, so, of course, they feel all is well. 3) Most Facility owners are too busy making sure the bottom line is where they want it to be, they forget it was Management that got them to that point and instead pat themselves on the back for a job well done. These are the owners that have the right Employees, but run the risk of losing those right Employees due to lack of appreciation towards the Personell that makes the owners look good. How does a perspective tenant know if a Self Storage Facility has the right Employees? Management will be able to answer all of your questions usually before even ask. They are courtious, helpful, knowledgeable,understanding, caring and sincere in placing tenants in the appropriate unit to suit each tenants needs. Management that truely cares about their Storage Facility are neat and clean personally and that same neatness is reflected in the office and throughout the Storage Facility. Where can you find the perfect combination of Facility and Management? We recommend StoreRight Self Storage at 6400 State Road 544 in Winter Haven, Fl. 33881. Call TODAY- (863) 421-5772.
Cayla’s Coats Inc. is a local nonprofit organization that provides coats and blankets for local Citrus County children. Cayla’s Coats was started in the memory of Cayla Barnes, who drowned at the age of 1 year, in Homosassa. The mission of Cayla’s Coats is to help educate parents on drowning prevention. Cayla’s Coats provides scholarships for swimming lessons, in their efforts to prevent childhood drownings.
This year’s Coat Collection Drive will run from September 15th through October 18th, and StoreRight Self Storage in Lecanto is proud to be a part of it! All coats that are collected are tagged and delivered to elementary, middle and high schools within Citrus County. Last year more than 1000 coats were donated to local students. This year, Cayla’s Coats is partnering with Nature Coast EMS to collect blankets, to donate to Citrus County’s elderly population.
Coats and blankets may be dropped off at StoreRight Self Storage, 1227 South Lecanto Highway, Lecanto, FL 34461 during business hours. Other drop off locations throughout Citrus County include: all the Winn-Dixie stores, Crystal Dodge in Inverness, Crystal Nissan in Crystal River, LKQ in Crystal River, the Old Mill Tavern in Homosassa, and Bookaneers Used Bookstore in Beverly Hills.
Please check out Cayla’s Coats on Facebook for more information, or call StoreRight Self Storage at 352-527-9777.
