Is a DITY move right for me? This is a question many military families find themselves asking as a PCS (permanent change of station or move) approaches. “DITY” is the military acronym for a Do-It-Yourself move and is the same thing as the Personally Procured Move (PPM). This means you choose to do everything yourself during a PCS instead of using military transportation services through the contracting office. For some, a DITY is a choice. But sometimes it’s the only option due to availability and/or your timeline. In the case of a forced DITY, unfortunately you don’t have an option (if this is you, you’ve got this!) but for those of you who are trying to decide, this post is for you!
Keep in mind, every family is different and no matter how many times you’ve done it, every move is different. There are several things that should be taken into consideration before you decide to either DITY or to let the government contractors move your family.
Here are some questions to help you decide if a DITY is right for your family:
Will you be able to cover your moving costs with the estimated reimbursement?
This is the most important one! If the DITY move will cost more money than what will get reimbursed, then a full DITY may not be for you (unless you’re willing to pay out of pocket). Your estimated reimbursement is based off the weight of your HHG (household goods) and shipping rates for your location. Take into account you have to use this estimate to pay for a moving truck/s, packing supplies, possibly movers, etc. A spin off question to this question is, do you have enough weight? Since part of your estimate is based on weight, if you don’t have adequate weight, you may not receive enough to cover your move. Also, if one of your goals is to make a profit and it looks like you won’t profit much, would it still be worth it to you? That is also something to take into consideration. Most of the time when people pay out of pocket for a DITY it’s because of overspending and improper budgeting. BUT, there are some cases where it doesn’t make sense financially because of the cost vs. your estimate. Find out your estimate, gather quotes, budget, and see if a DITY is worth it for your family!
Will you need storage? If so, how long will you need it?
The door to door method is ideal for a DITY move. If that isn’t possible, the military will reimburse up to 90 days of storage at the government rate. That being said, there is still a chance you may have to pay out of pocket. The government rate may be less than the storage company is costing you. Discuss if it’s worth it to you to 1. possibly pay for storage (again, depending on how many days, the company using, and government rates) or 2. the tedious (and expensive) task of unloading it into a storage unit, renting another truck, loading, and then unloading it again. It’s a lot of work, but doable if it’s an option for you. Bottom line, if you need storage, especially for more than 90 days, discuss your options and decide if a full DITY is right for you.
Are you willing to do the work?
Doing a full DITY is hard work and there are many benefits. But ultimately it takes a lot of time and energy because you are responsible for preparing, planning, organizing, and packing! There are a lot of moving pieces that go into it. A profit isn’t the only benefit of a DITY move but identify if making a profit is one of your DITY goals. If so, then decide if the amount of work you put in is worth what you are estimated to make. Keep in mind that having control over your move, a shorter transition period between homes, and the organizational benefits can be worth the hard work too!
Are you and your spouse/significant other in agreement?
Both of you have to be on board otherwise it could lead to resentment, higher levels of stress, and conflict. Don’t get me wrong, there is still a lot of arguing mid-move at my house, but overall we know we came to the decision together and we support each other as best we can in order to reach our goals. My theory is that there are two big reasons why people who have done a full DITY hate it. First is because they were forced to do it. The second reason is because their spouse wasn’t into it and the conflict made the stress even more overwhelming. You should be high-fiving your spouse at the end, not saying I can’t believe you made me do that! Also, if you do not have a spouse you should ask yourself if you have the support you need?
Does it make sense for your season of life?
Keep in mind, this will look different for every person and every family. Hard is subjective. Some may say doing a full DITY super pregnant is doable but others may find it incredibly difficult. So, think about your season of life and if it is the right decision for your family at this time. Do you have other priorities a DITY would interfere with? Are you 40 weeks pregnant? Do you have a newborn? Are you working full time and already over extended? Are you or a family member dealing with serious medical issues? Remember, just because it may not be the season for you to do it this move, you can reevaluate and tackle a DITY move the next time!
Is a partial DITY a better option?
First off, everyone using government movers should still claim a partial DITY. A partial DITY is where you move part of your HHG and the government contractors move the rest. If you don’t want to move and pack it all, a partial is the way to go! Even if the government contractors move 99% of your belongings you can claim the 1% of items inside your vehicles/trailer as a partial DITY. Provide full and empty weight tickets for your personal vehicles and/or trailers (each military branch has different requirements) and turn in your weight tickets to the transportation office. It is still possible to profit off of a partial. Still can’t decide? Let’s go over some pros and cons of a full DITY move!
PROS OF DITY MOVE:
- Full control over you move and timeline.
- You personally interview and decide which company to hire.
- You’re able to start planning and reserving before orders arrive.
- You’re responsible for packing your own items. This may not sound like a pro to you but most of the time you will take better care of your items compared to someone else. Which brings us to the next one…
- There is a lower risk of HHG (household goods) being lost or damaged.
- Shorter transition times (especially if it’s a door to door move)! You load up your moving truck and when you arrive at your new home your items are there with you or they are not far behind! You’re able to unpack and settle quickly. This is especially helpful if you have children. No waiting and being stuck in transition.
- You will become more organized than when you started! The organizing that comes with a DITY move allows you touch and see everything you own. You’re less likely to keep dragging items across the country that are unnecessary or you don’t want. You’re more intentional with what you own.
- Profit! This is probably the biggest incentive of a DITY move. You have the opportunity to profit off of the move if you budget accordingly.
CONS OF A DITY MOVE
- The move.mil estimator is (currently) down! You need orders to get an estimate through DPS. You want to know your estimate before committing to DITY (unless you already have a good idea of what you will make) and orders (or lack thereof) can make that hard!
- You may have to pay out of pocket- that’s why it’s so important to decide early on if its financially doable and keep a budget!
- It’s hard work! You are responsible for planning, packing, and moving. There are a lot of moving pieces that go into it!
- You do not get to claim damages or broken house hold goods. This is a good reminder to check your insurance policy before moving.
- You are responsible for finding storage if needed and paying for the overages if it costs more than the government rate.
- You are responsible for paying upfront for moving costs. The good news is there are ways to prepare and manage upfront moving costs!
Again, there are many benefits to doing a full DITY. There are also circumstances where a DITY isn’t the best option. Either way, I hope you feel more informed and encouraged with moving forward in whatever way your family chooses to move. There is no right or wrong answer! It comes down to what is best and most doable for your family! If your hesitation is because you don’t know where to start, or you have young kids, or you feel like it’s too overwhelming – you can do this! It is possible and I’ve got the DITY tools to help you be successful. You’ve got this. One box at a time.
Meet Mallory
I am an active duty Army wife of 13 years, married to my high school sweetheart, and we have 3 precious kids. I have a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy but I am now embracing my role as a stay at home mama. We are originally from Texas and are currently stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. This summer we completed our 11th PCS and moved into our 13th home in 13 years…and we have done a full DITY every single time! Helping military families navigate DITY moves and all that comes with it has become a passion of mine. When I’m not packing up my house, I also love working out, exploring new places, and spending time with my family and friends.
You can follow Mallory on IG: @mamas_onthe_move
