A PCS move timeline is the difference between a relocation that feels controlled and one that feels like a scramble. Hampton Roads holds one of the largest concentrations of military families in the country, with Naval Station Norfolk, JEB Little Creek, NAS Oceana, Langley Air Force Base, and the Coast Guard presence all within a short drive of one another. That means a steady stream of families arriving and departing, and a peak season between May and August when everything books up at once.
The schedule below works for a CONUS move. Adjust earlier if you are heading overseas.
As soon as orders are in hand
Read the orders carefully and note the report date, not just the month. Then contact your installation’s transportation office or personal property office. They are the authority on your entitlements, and everything downstream depends on what they tell you.
At this stage you are deciding between a government-arranged shipment and a personally procured move where you handle the logistics yourself and submit for reimbursement. Each has tradeoffs around timing, control, and paperwork. Military OneSource’s PCS section covers both paths and is worth reading before you commit to either.
Register for Plan My Move, which builds a checklist against your actual dates rather than a generic one.
60 to 90 days out
This is when the real decisions get made.
- Lock your dates. Peak season fills fast. If you want a specific week in June or July, you are already close to late.
- Start housing. Decide between on-base housing, the local rental market, or buying. Waitlists for base housing in Hampton Roads vary widely by installation and bedroom count.
- Request school records. If children are changing districts, start the transcript request now. The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children smooths several transfer issues, and your school liaison officer can explain how it applies.
- Book pet transport or boarding. Airlines and kennels fill up in summer.
- Take inventory. Photograph every room, including inside closets and drawers. Date-stamped photos settle disputes later.
If you are arranging your own move, get quotes now. Our crews handle long distance relocations across the 48 continental states through our freight partner, and we serve the full Hampton Roads footprint including Norfolk and the neighborhoods around Naval Station Norfolk and the Oceanfront.
45 to 60 days out
Confirm the shipment. Whether the government arranged it or you did, get written confirmation of pack dates, load dates, and a delivery window.
Sort your household into what ships, what travels with you, and what goes. Weight matters more in a military move than in a civilian one, because exceeding your authorized allowance comes out of your pocket. This is the moment to be honest about the treadmill nobody uses.
If you are handling a personally procured move, confirm with your transportation office exactly what documentation you will need to file for reimbursement, including any weight certification requirements and who is authorized to provide it. Get that answer in writing before you book anything, because the requirements are specific and vary by service branch.
30 days out
- Submit a change of address for mail forwarding
- Notify your landlord in writing, or coordinate closing dates
- Schedule utility disconnect at the old address and connect at the new one
- Update your address with the Virginia DMV if you are staying in state, which is required within 30 days of a move
- Transfer or arrange medical and dental records, and update your TRICARE region if you are changing coverage areas
- Confirm childcare at the new duty station
Set aside a folder, physical not digital, holding orders, the inventory, insurance policies, medical records, and school paperwork. That folder travels in your vehicle.
Two weeks out
Use up the freezer and pantry. Dispose of anything a crew cannot legally carry, which includes propane, fuel, aerosols, paint, and pool chemicals. Our guide on items movers will not move covers the full list.
Set aside a first-night box for each person: two changes of clothes, toiletries, medication, phone charger, bedding, and something familiar for the kids. Mark it clearly and keep it out of the truck if you can.
Disassemble anything you plan to handle yourself. If you would rather not, our crews handle furniture assembly and disassembly as part of the job.
Move week
Be present for the pack and the load, or have someone you trust there. Walk each room with the crew before they start and again after they finish. Check closets, the attic hatch, the shed, and behind doors.
Sign nothing you have not read. If an item is already damaged, say so while the crew is still there rather than after.
Take a final meter reading, photograph the empty rooms, and leave forwarding details with the landlord or the new owners.
Arriving in Hampton Roads
Check in with your unit first, then handle the household. Base access for a spouse or family member takes paperwork, so start that early rather than assuming you can drive on.
Expect traffic patterns to shape your commute more than distance does. The tunnels between the Southside and the Peninsula can turn a fifteen mile drive into an hour at the wrong time of day. Ask people at your command which route they use before you sign a lease.
For a working overview of how the whole process fits together, Military OneSource’s breakdown of PCS basics is a solid reference to keep bookmarked.
Where a local crew fits
Not every part of a military relocation runs through the government. Families frequently need help with a partial load, an apartment move between duty stations, a temporary housing shuffle, or unloading a container that arrived while the service member was underway.
Tidal Town Moving is licensed by the Virginia DMV and the State Corporation Commission, carries cargo, motor vehicle, and general liability insurance, and has held an A+ BBB rating since 2022. We work with our own crew rather than subcontractors, charge by the hour with a two-hour minimum, and add no travel fees inside Hampton Roads.
Get a free quote with your dates and we will tell you honestly what we can and cannot cover.