Moving and relocating is something all military personnel have to deal with at some point. The Do-It-Yourself (DITY) move program offered by the military offers reimbursement for service members who pack, crate, and move personal items themselves. It takes solid organization skills and careful planning, but it is often worth it to have more control over how your property is moved and stored.

Before deciding on the DITY program, be sure to talk to the appropriate office for all rules and regulations. There are some specific rules that have to be followed very carefully, and not all items may be authorized for move with the program. Once you've ironed out the details, it's time to find the right self-storage facility to meet your needs. Here's a checklist of things to consider when making the choice:

• Use the detailed list of items for the DITY program to help you estimate the amount of space you'll need for storage. Pay special attention to anything that might require a temperature-controlled unit.
• Communicate your time schedule clearly with the self-storage facility and moving company. More than anything, you want to avoid any complications during the moving process or when attempting to access your belongings.
• Do thorough research on insurance policies for covering your property in storage.
• Always check with the self-storage company to see if they offer any military discounts. Often these discounts are available but not advertised.

Throughout the entire moving and storage process, you need to stay on top of your record keeping. The DITY program offers reimbursement for the move, and you can be sure that absolutely every detail will be required and looked at carefully. It's a great idea to organize all receipts, weight tickets, vehicle registration information, and literature about rules and regulations in one easily accessible place. Moving is complicated in and of itself, and you don't want to apply for reimbursement without the proper documentation and information.