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For defence families across the globe, posting season is upon us. We are either awaiting posting orders for moves in December / January or preparing to move in June / July. Posting season is notoriously stressful for the whole family.
2020 will be different but many processes remain the same and these are my key items and tips for a Domestic Posting (Australian Focused).
One you receive the Posting Order, your mind will be consumed by the next location – schools, work, doctors, housing, hopefully this little post will help you with some trips to make the removal side a little easier.
Application for Relocation (AFR) and Removal Inventory
Complete ASAP. The AFR can be completed online or in paper format and forms the basis for your relocation. It will cover all family members, your planned travel, housing considerations, temporary accommodation considerations, pets, preferred uplift dates and special considerations. The AFT is particularly used to calculate allowances, travel times and family composition and special considerations. Once completed you will be appointed a Case Manager who will oversee your relocation and get the process started.
Inventories
Be specific! A very time-consuming exercise but after 22 years and 15 moves I can guarantee this is a must! Model numbers, serial numbers, costs, year, take photos, label boxes in sharpie (all over). Why? This is a whole other story but imagine, 2003 new baby, new city and furniture truck stolen fully loaded with your complete household goods.
Prepack Preparedness
Organise your items as much as possible. Ensure you have items that need to travel with you (important documents, uniforms if needed, medical records) clearly marked and in a separate location. This will help ensure no items are mistakenly packed. One option is an empty cupboard that you can clearly label.
Ensure your garbage is not in packing range – we have all heard stories or been on the receiving end of unpacking and finding a stinking box full of garbage.
House Cleaning & Preparedness
With standards having changed over the last 10 years, the move out process in Australia is streamlined and much easier to attain without dreading the ‘white-glove’ inspection. Some steps to make it easier:-
In the weeks leading up to removal:-
Week of removal:-
Day of Prepack
Uplift Day – my favourite day in the whole process
Final Inspection
These can be super quick and sometimes they can be painful. Noting that you will have had a pre-vacating inspection several weeks earlier, you will be aware of any charges that you main incur. These can include, oven not being cleaned sufficiently, lawn and garden care. The more prepared you have been in the weeks leading up to the removal, the easier this will be.
Lock up and enjoy the next posting.
I’d love to know any tips and tricks that you have to help:)
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Great tips, especially the rubbish in range of the removalists … I am certain we have a black bin liner full of rubbish in storage somewhere in Sydney waiting for us to return after 3 years of being overseas, we’ll find out in December!
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Thank you Becky. We returned from Hawaii in Dec 09 to find our dogs biscuits in his sealed container in our storage- not pleasant. We also helped a friends wife unpack while her husband was deployed in the 2010 – there was an awful smell coming from the kitchen boxes, they packers had inadvertently packed their potato’s 😤
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