The Little Empire

• Facebook
• Pinterest
• X

This post may contain affiliate links or partnerships. If you choose to book or purchase through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Packing for a PCS move soon? This checklist helps you pack with clarity—without overthinking.

Real talk for big moves (especially overseas)

Every PCS comes with the same deceptively simple question:

Do we ship it, store it, or sell it?

Sounds like a checklist item.
Feels more like a personality test.

Because this isn’t really about furniture.
It’s about uncertainty, logistics, and how much of your life you’re willing to carry across an ocean.

The Reality Check Most People Skip

When we left North Carolina, we were coming from a 2,600-square-foot home and moving to Italy.
Not a house in Italy.
An unknown house in Italy.

We were briefed early that:

• Homes are typically smaller
• Storage is limited
• Some overseas duty stations have weight limits on shipments

Translation:
You cannot take everything. Even if you want to.
That single fact should guide every decision you make next.

Option 1: Selling (a.k.a. the Emotional but Necessary Purge)

We sold a lot of our furniture.

Not because we were minimalist.
Not because it was trendy.

Because shipping multiple sectional sofas (yes, we had four couches + office futon) into a “smaller” European living room is how regrets are born.

We held a yard sale and let things go that:

• Were bulky
• Were replaceable
• Would not make sense in a smaller footprint

Here’s the real talk part:
Selling hurts less than storing things you’ll never use again.

If you’re on the fence, ask:

“Would I rebuy this for the new place?”

If the answer is no—sell it.

Option 2: Storage (The Safety Net You’ll Be Grateful For)

The military can store your items in an American storage facility if you don’t ship everything.

This is ideal for:

• Sentimental items
• Furniture you truly love
• Things that don’t make sense to ship overseas yet

Storage gives you flexibility without forcing rushed decisions.

But remember:
Stored items still cost mental space. Be intentional.

Pro tip: Heavy duty storage totes helped us protect keepsakes, documents, and household items from moisture and dust while living abroad.

Option 3: Shipping (Know the Two-Shipment Rule)

Overseas moves usually involve two shipments:

🧳 Unaccompanied Baggage (comes first)

This is your starter kit for survival.

Typically includes:

• Kitchen basics
• Bedding
• Some clothes and shoes
• A couple TVs
• Essentials for daily life

No large furniture allowed.
This shipment usually arrives before household goods—and thank goodness for that.

📦 Household Goods (the big one)

This is everything else:

• Furniture
• Decor
• The bulk of your life

It arrives later. Sometimes much later.
Plan emotionally and practically for that gap.

Pro tip: We relied heavily on vacuum storage bags and clearly labeled bins to keep seasonal items protected during shipping.

Save

The Stuff You Must Fly With (No Exceptions)

Anything you need immediately goes with you on the plane.

For us? Somewhere between 10–12 suitcases.

Yes.
With children.
Yes, again.

Pack:

• Important documents like Passports, birth certificates, Social Security cards
• Financial and legal documents
• Medications
• Seasonal clothes; check the weather before you pack
• School items; make sure you pack school transferral documents (this is huge!)
• Comfort items you don’t want delayed by bureaucracy

Pro tip: We keep passports, orders, medical records, and important paperwork together in a portable file organizer that moves with us.

If you think, “Surely this can go in a shipment”—assume it can’t.

At this point, airport staff recognize us as that family.

Save

So… What Should You Do?

Here’s the clean decision framework:

🛑 Things That Will Not Go in Your Household Goods Shipment

1) Hazardous Materials

Anything flammable, explosive, corrosive, pressurized, or poisonous gets a hard “no” from movers — and for good reason. Think:

• Propane tanks, gas cans, lighter fluid
• Paint, wood stains, varnish
• Aerosol sprays (hairspray, spray paint)
• Pool/spa chemicals and automotive fluids
• Batteries (especially lithium, vehicle, or tool batteries)
  Movers will refuse to pack these — and you can’t claim reimbursement if they sneak into your government move either.

Pro tip: Use up, donate, or dispose responsibly before packing day.

2) Perishables & Open/Fragile Food Items

Things that spoil or leak are a no-go:

• Fresh produce and meats
• Unsealed foods or glass jars
• Opened spice containers
  Canned goods sometimes make it by luck, but overseas moves are long and hot — don’t bet on it.

Pro tip: Start a “eat first” shelf in your kitchen weeks ahead of moving day.

3) Live Animals & Plants

No matter how beloved:

• Pets of all kinds
• Live plants and cuttings
• Soil or yard debris
  These are excluded from HHG movers for safety and transit reasons.

4) Ammunition, Fireworks & Explosives

Movers will never transport live ammo, fireworks, gunpowder, or explosive materials.

Even if you own the items legally, they’re not going on the truck.

5) Vehicles (Unless Separately Arranged)

Personal cars, trucks, motorcycles, campers, boats, ATVs — if it rolls or floats and has fuel in it, movers won’t handle it. You’ll need:

• A separate vehicle shipping service
• Or plan to drive it yourself
  for most PCS scenarios.

6) Household Goods for Resale or Commercial Use

If you have inventory for a side hustle — inventory must stay out of your HHG shipment. Movers won’t handle goods meant for resale or commercial activity.

7) Personal & High-Value Items You Should Carry

Not strictly prohibited — but you absolutely should keep these with you:

• Passports, birth certificates, Social Security cards
• Financial and legal documents
• Medications and prescriptions
• Jewelry, heirlooms, and small high-value electronics
  Movers handle big boxes — not your life paperwork.

Bonus: Things That Mover Companies Often Refuse (Even if Not Officially Prohibited)

(This is based on common mover policies, not just military rules.)

• Candles and wax items that might melt or leak
• Cleaning supplies and sprays
• Old light bulbs
• Tool batteries
• Liquids in anything but original factory sealed containers
  Always double-check with your specific moving company — their insurer often dictates these rules.
  

💡 Quick Reality Check

You can theoretically label “just about anything” and toss it in a box — but movers refuse, regulators prohibit, and customs inspect. The result? Delays, refusals, or items left behind at the last minute.

So use this as a filter:
If it’s flammable, live, edible, explosive, liquid, or priceless, it probably doesn’t ride with HHG — unless you carry it yourself or make other arrangements.

Final Word

Moving—especially overseas—isn’t about bringing your old life with you intact.
It’s about choosing what supports the next chapter.

Less stuff.
More clarity.
Fewer regrets when the shipment finally arrives and you realize…

You didn’t need half of it anyway.

If you’re preparing for an overseas move and want a simple way to keep packing, timelines, and travel plans organized in one place, the Family Travel Planner Bundle we use is available.