DITY move or Don’t?

 As a military spouse, you probably bear the brunt of a PCS (DITY) move. Beforehand your service member, like a hopeful gold digger of old, told you tales of all the money you could make (maybe thousands of dollars!) if you moved yourselves. But you’ve heard the do-it-yourself rumors, too. Those horrific stories of families who, like the pioneers, came to the end of road busted, broke and bedraggled.
So is a DITY (now called a Personally Procured Move or PPM) worth the hassle? It depends. On these pages you’ll find the scoop on what has changed in recent years. And you’ll hear DITY stories from milspouses who’ve done it.
Here’s the biggest news: Reimbursement rates decreased in April 2017, when the services changed to the Defense Personal Property System. The new system made moving companies bid against each other and that competition lowered prices for the military. That change was a cost-saver for the government, but it generally decreased the reimbursement for military families. They now receive about 95 percent of the amount the military would pay a moving carrier for the same work.

Military Moving Options and Choices

If you are considering moving by taking advantage of military moving programs like DITY move or PPM move, you already know that you have a lot to think about. Not only do you need to find a home to live in and probably use an agent to find a moving company, but you have all the considerations to think about when it comes to moving everything too.

Researching Your Personally Procured Move

Now that you have thought of the reason why you want to do a DITY move, the next thing you should do (before you pack) is to research. Before you turn your nose up at this suggestion, it is important to realize the importance of proper research and evaluation before taking steps for relocation. Think of it in terms of being a consumer. Say you want to buy a brand new Ferrari and you have to spend every single cent of your savings to be able to afford one. Coming to a decision of buying the Ferrari is life-changing, not because of the purchase itself, but because you will be spending all your money without any thought for future needs.
Surely, you would not just waltz into an automobile showroom and purchase the Ferrari right off the bat. You would probably be examining every single detail and every inch of the car, noticing every minute scratch or bump, checking the condition of the engine and tires, so on and so forth. It is the same and even more with relocation. You would need to know what kind of conditions you would be living in, especially if you are taking family and loved ones with you. Unlike the brand new Ferrari which has a warranty, you cannot just repack after a few days in your new abode and say you have had enough and want to go back home.

10 Important DITY Move Tips that you should know

10 IMPORTANT TIPS
If you are considering a DITY move – now called a PPM – remember these tips from your fellow military spouse