Although much of your planning, and many of your actions hinge on written orders, you cannot start planning the move too early. All too frequently, PCS orders and move planning occur when the military member is deployed, leaving the spouse with the challenge of planning the move while attending to that “small matter” of managing the household. Since our military training drilled us in organizational skills and methodical problem solving, and since many military specialties live and die by the “checklist,” we offer the following checklist as a point of departure for the “ideal military move.” It is worth stating again that you cannot start planning your move too early, and I recommend a house hunting trip (if feasible) of no later than 60 days prior to your desired move in date. 1. Get Pre-Approved We know it’s tempting to jump right into the fun part of shopping around and dreaming about your future home and neighborhood. Trust us, there will be a time and place for that. But first, we highly recommend you speak to a home loan professional and get pre-approved. This way you will know how much home you can afford and also examine your financial situation. If there are any financial wrinkles to iron out, you’ll find out during this process. Getting a pre-approval will also help you compete in the real estate market. People will know you’re ready to conduct business.