Question about military storage

Proud mom 2016

5-Year Member
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Mar 24, 2012
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We're packing out to move overseas next week. About half our belongings will go into longterm storage for 2 years. I know military does not use climate controlled storage. What do I do with my photos? Last overseas move was 15 years ago and I stored them at my inlaws. This time I've got 15+ years more of photos.

I know there are a lot of other military members on this board, have you had issues letting them store your photos? Did you do anything special to prep them? I may give them to my parents to take home with them but then I'll have the problem of getting them back when we return if we do not end up assigned near them again.

Decisions, decisions!
 
Maybe you could scan a number of your less important photos and store them online (Dropbox or some other storage site for example). Then you could have them printed out again when you have more room.
 
We just returned from our third overseas tourn in November; this one totaled 3 and a half years. What I can tell you is that every time our household goods were kept in a climate-controlled storage facility. Our car was also kept in a climate controlled storage facility during this last overseas tour. I'm not sure where you got your information from; can you double check that?

Quite by accident, during this last tour we did have a large box of photos, albums and scrapbooks go into storage that wasn't intended for storage. We got all of the photos, albums, etc. back in fine shape.

We did have some broken dishes/cookware and unfortunately a brand new dining room table that needs repair. From what we have learned regarding the full-replacement value program, here is what I do recommend:

- Get a digital camera and take photos of all of your furniture (you can use this as a reference to determine if something was damaged)
- Keep all of your receipts for large furniture items (if you do submit a request for FRV, you're going to need that receipt).
- Scan, or take those receipts with you. They're not going to do you any good if they get lost later on.


Feel free to P.M. me if you want lots more details.
 
We just returned from our third overseas tourn in November; this one totaled 3 and a half years. What I can tell you is that every time our household goods were kept in a climate-controlled storage facility. Our car was also kept in a climate controlled storage facility during this last overseas tour. I'm not sure where you got your information from; can you double check that?

Quite by accident, during this last tour we did have a large box of photos, albums and scrapbooks go into storage that wasn't intended for storage. We got all of the photos, albums, etc. back in fine shape.

We did have some broken dishes/cookware and unfortunately a brand new dining room table that needs repair. From what we have learned regarding the full-replacement value program, here is what I do recommend:

- Get a digital camera and take photos of all of your furniture (you can use this as a reference to determine if something was damaged)
- Keep all of your receipts for large furniture items (if you do submit a request for FRV, you're going to need that receipt).
- Scan, or take those receipts with you. They're not going to do you any good if they get lost later on.


Feel free to P.M. me if you want lots more details.

Thanks for the reminder about taking pics. Its on my mental to do list but haven't gotten it on the paper one.

DH will call TMO and confirm whether ours will be in climate controlled. Regs say they will put it wherever is cheapest for government. We've been told in this area its not climate controlled but we learned today that b/c of where our house is located we are being managed by a totally different base/area than where his duty station is so I guess it could be different.

When you say keep the receipts for furniture items etc do you mean currently or when we replace them? i do not have receipts for most of our furniture anymore. If I had more time, it would probably be a good idea to get my things appraised, lots of antiques, but alas, I didn't get to it and now I'm very short timed.
 
No offense to any of the military spouses out there, but the person with the most experience in moving is my wife, so I'm deferring to her for the answers. In 30 years of military service, we moved 15 times; and most of those times I wasn't around to help pack or unpack.

She says that in the future make sure you keep the receipts for any large purchases. She had kept the receipt for the dining room table (probably only because it was new), but it has come in handy while working the claim for damages. We were able to show that the table cost several thousand dollars and that the offer of $500 was not adequate. For your antiques, make sure you have lots of photos.

She says the key is to have pictures of everything. Make sure your camera is set so that the date is visible in the photo. This way you can show what the item looked like prior to being boxed up. And take pictures while the movers are packing your house. That way the movers know you are watching them closely and they will treat your property better.
 
No offense to any of the military spouses out there, but the person with the most experience in moving is my wife, so I'm deferring to her for the answers. In 30 years of military service, we moved 15 times; and most of those times I wasn't around to help pack or unpack.

She says that in the future make sure you keep the receipts for any large purchases. She had kept the receipt for the dining room table (probably only because it was new), but it has come in handy while working the claim for damages. We were able to show that the table cost several thousand dollars and that the offer of $500 was not adequate. For your antiques, make sure you have lots of photos.

She says the key is to have pictures of everything. Make sure your camera is set so that the date is visible in the photo. This way you can show what the item looked like prior to being boxed up. And take pictures while the movers are packing your house. That way the movers know you are watching them closely and they will treat your property better.

I called an appraiser tonight and they are going to try to come appraise my things before the packers come next week. I told them I don't need the report that fast, just for them to come out.

My 9yo dd has a digital camera and loves to take pictures. I might have to give her a photographer position for the day. :thumb:
 
I also would recommend the taking of pictures of the high end items as proof not only for the AF, but insurance purposes. I did that for every move starting on our 2nd move.

There is also another reason why to do this when you get older. You will have a bingo sheet of 300-400 items, and boxes up your ying yang, by the time you unpack your mind will be worthless, and sometimes things do go missing, but you don't realize it until after the claim has been made.

Yrs ago when beanies were the craze, I had purchased Glory and Tabasco the Bull. I didn't take pics of them, because they were just chachka. The packers walked off with them, and my only proof that we had them was in the background of the picture for another claim.

I also took pics of my crystal. Some of it was heirloom, thus no receipt, and no way to re-purchase it. I learned that lesson because we moved and a Tiffany Ice Tea set (packed in the blue box) went MIA. AF JAG fought us for proof (receipt). Told them it was a wedding gift 8 yrs earlier. They told me to ask the people to write a letter stating they purchased it and the price. :eek: Replied, I would love to, but my Father is dead and if I could talk to him it wouldn't be for a receipt. They apologized and accepted the claim.

The only inventory I ever did was the kids video games/DVD's, and I had the packer sign off on my inventory with their name as proof that they packed it. Learned that lesson after games/DVDs disappeared.

In the 20+ yrs, 11 moves, Bullet served in the AF, the only negative about this life was the moves. Remember movers are contracted out to the lowest bidder. That says it all!

One last thing to remember is since you are being crated to go overseas, ask for them to ban the crates at the house. Also ask them to crate bed frames with each of the mattresses/box springs. One friend needed 2 trucks, delivery was on a Friday, but because the 1st truck didn't empty early enough they had to wait until Monday for the second truck. They had 5 beds, but not one complete set. Box spring for the twin, no mattress, mattress for the full, no frame, etc.

Good luck...happy PCSing!
 
scanner, scanner, scanner!

That is what I remember from our last claim. As they try to make the claims process more electronic, I found it took more time scanning all the inventories, receipts, travel orders, etc. I don't know how many electronics you were going to take with you, but I would highly recommend a printer that has a scanner/copier.
 
My pet peeve was if the electronic items broke during transit they required us to prove that it happened in transit, as if we shipped it for 60% depreciation!

That was the other thing I started to do in the end. Wrote the serial number on the unit, turned it on and had the packer sign my little document stating it was working when packed.

For posters/lurkers one thing that has not been discussed is how the depreciation system works.

Under 6 mos. it is 100%, but by 2 yrs old it is 60% of the cost. If you cannot prove that it worked before you moved, they will fight you on it.

Contact your insurance company and make sure you are covered for claims regarding loss/damage in transit. USAA has this down pat. The question you need to ask the company is if you have 100% replacement value. If you don't , get it before moving. It is pennies on the dollar.
 
My pet peeve was if the electronic items broke during transit they required us to prove that it happened in transit, as if we shipped it for 60% depreciation!

That was the other thing I started to do in the end. Wrote the serial number on the unit, turned it on and had the packer sign my little document stating it was working when packed.

For posters/lurkers one thing that has not been discussed is how the depreciation system works.

Under 6 mos. it is 100%, but by 2 yrs old it is 60% of the cost. If you cannot prove that it worked before you moved, they will fight you on it.

Contact your insurance company and make sure you are covered for claims regarding loss/damage in transit. USAA has this down pat. The question you need to ask the company is if you have 100% replacement value. If you don't , get it before moving. It is pennies on the dollar.

I thought they weren't depreciating anything anymore. Our last move was full replacement value but I ended up not even bothering and just chalked up the losses. I'm sure they love people like me.

an appraiser is coming to appraise my heirlooms/antiques either Saturday or Monday. I'll feel a lot better having that done.
 
Going a little off topic here so I hope Bruno doesn't give me a warning. :eek:

I'm not military so all the logistics of moving so much is new to me.
One question that popped in my mind as I was reading this thread-
Can and do military families have pets? I'm an animal lover and could not imagine not being able to have pets in my life. I would think moving pets, especially overseas, would be particularly hard on the animal(s).
 
Going a little off topic here so I hope Bruno doesn't give me a warning. :eek:

I'm not military so all the logistics of moving so much is new to me.
One question that popped in my mind as I was reading this thread-
Can and do military families have pets? I'm an animal lover and could not imagine not being able to have pets in my life. I would think moving pets, especially overseas, would be particularly hard on the animal(s).


Military families do have pets. In fact, because of this assigment, we are having to find a home for our pets. We had outdoor cats so while we were sad to see them go, it was okay. They are now fat, happy hunters in a friends barn with tons of animals and kids to love them.

Our dog however, is 11 and we are trying to find a new home for her. I did NOT want a dog, am not a dog person but after 8 years with this sweet girl, am heartbroken. We just feel an overseas move at this point in her life would just be too grueling for her so we are letting her go. Finding a home for an 11 year old dog is much more difficult than finding one for a 3 year old which is how old she was when we adopted her and we were interview family #10 the day we met her and "she chose us."
 
Bullet and I only have rescue dogs now. You'd be surprised how many people foster dogs. There are breed associations that will foster your dog.

I know this is hard for your family to leave them behind. Our rescues are larger breeds(boxer and lab), but my sister's rescues range from dachs to Burnese Mt dog. She is a foster.

If you need assistance in finding a home, pm me.
 
Bullet and I only have rescue dogs now. You'd be surprised how many people foster dogs. There are breed associations that will foster your dog.

I know this is hard for your family to leave them behind. Our rescues are larger breeds(boxer and lab), but my sister's rescues range from dachs to Burnese Mt dog. She is a foster.

If you need assistance in finding a home, pm me.

Odd, I thought I'd responded to this and now its gone!

thanks for the offer. We have someone willing to take her if we don't find someone else. Another family is seriously considering her but haven't let me know for sure yet. I hope they take her. I know my friend willing to take her will love her and take good care of her, but I'd love her to go to a family who is actively seeking a dog to love and bring into their family. KWIM?

My neighbor is "on the fence" according to his wife and has currently said no, but he could change his mind. He loves her but is concerned about her age. In my perfect world, he would jump on the yes side of the fence. They are awesome people and she knows them well already.:cool:
 
Oh Pima! Myrtle is a boxer?? We thought so! DS and I have been dying to ask you if she was. She looks just like my DS's boxer Ty - short for Typhlosion (named during my younger son's Pokemon phase ;-). What gorgeous dogs!
 
Bullet and I only have rescue dogs now. You'd be surprised how many people foster dogs. There are breed associations that will foster your dog.

I know this is hard for your family to leave them behind. Our rescues are larger breeds(boxer and lab), but my sister's rescues range from dachs to Burnese Mt dog. She is a foster.

If you need assistance in finding a home, pm me.

Hi Pima, I wanted to let you know we found a family for our dog. she will have a new child to love her. :smile:

And in the typical its a small world isn't it military experience we keep running across, this family has lived near where we are moving to in England (and they are not military) and attended the church we plan to visit when we arrive. We've never met them but have every confidence in the referring parties who led us to them, so having this one little *personal* connection to them, was a special touch for me. :thumb:
 
I agree the world is incredibly small, and gets smaller the longer you live. I assume since you are going to the UK it is either Mildenhall or Lakenheath aka Little America.

Bullet and I were stationed in England during the 90s (Heyford). 10 yrs later at Disney World in line we hear a British accent behind us, I asked where they were from, and it turned out to be Heyford. The homes that were military housing were sold to the Brits when the base closed, and they were now living in the homes we lived in a decade earlier!

I know it is hard to leave a dog behind, because they are your family, but remember little girls are great nurturers.

Good luck on the move. Enjoy the carrot and Milk trucks. I can still hear them in my mind when I close my eyes. Very distinctive sound!
 
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