European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 12, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Planning Lor the Homecoming before they leave Europe. Relocation information is nothing new said Peter yales family services program manager for acs usar Eun but it is becoming More focused in an aim to provide More and better support services. Ingrid Osewalt Heidelberg military Community relocation specialist explained what is available or the person leaving Ein Opo. We have a fic on every installation in Tho world army air Force Navy and Marine we update the info Malion fact sheets annually so it information a person receives is no older than 12 months " and Iho work that goes Inlo a successful return to the Umed states does t end when the plane lakes Oft. People should realize that their relocation Cycle is not finished once they Arne at their new location Osei Valt said they need to actively lot for their newcomer s orientations and meet new  basically every acs and family support Center has an information packet on each installation. In addition some May offer other kinds of information depending on their available resources. Rosewall and Brousseau have brochures with tips on making the right move As Well As brochures with special advice Lor spouses and teens. Relocation specialists can offer counselling to the service member and family on How to disconnect their phone wha to do if Shew child is in to exceptional family member program that kind of thing Rosewall Sard the key to a smooth move is to plan for he move As Early As possible. Sewall said As soon As the service member receives orders he should find his Community s relocation specialist. Brousseau said representatives irom her Center arc pail of we Brucken s Quarle ily smooth move program giving out information and referrals to families leaving. Individuals can Slop by Tail we encourage spouses and family members to come by too. We can give out updated information from All  plus we give out a card that the family can Check Lor specific information Send in to the chamber of Commerce where they Are going and receive the requested information in the  individuals also May write letters themselves to the chamber of Commerce and real estate offices of the cily they will be moving to. Relocation specialists will help in writing for publications. We can help in gelling information on jobs or family members and spouses we can help in screening families during counselling of see if special medical attention is needed Tor them we can help with financial planning. The list goes on and on Osewalt said relocation specialists also can help service members Wulc to their new installation acs or family support Center Lor a Pream Val Welcome packet that will have some Basic things like a Post or cily newspaper and installation fact sheets and booklets once the service member arrives at the new location relocation specialists Are on hand there to give More specific info Malion. Clearing quarters step by step by Connie Dickey stall writer Oving Day. Staff sgt. Bruce a. Langridge watched the packers wrapping his Couch. They actually wrapped our sols which was t done when we moved Over Here said Langridge s wife. Norma Jean already behind them was the dreaded quarters inspection still to come cleaning up for the cleaning team the Prospect of Clearing quarters can Send Shivers up the spine of Iho most seasoned military mover. But to Case some of thai stress housing officials in Europe offer a Slep by step plan to Clear the Clearing hurdle. Tho first thing a person should do once they get their orders is to Contact their housing referral office said it. Col. John Wildenberg director of engineering and housing ill Frankfurt. Although each Community s requirements can differ once housing knows a person is leaving it has several appointments to make based on us a eur guidelines Wildenberg said Safe also has similar guidelines. A preterm nation inspection is scheduled up to 45 Days before departure. This inspection serves two purposes Wildenberg said. It identifies what has to be done in the quarters before another family can occupy them whether it is painting sanding the ceiling and floors or cleaning. It also lets the family know what they must do before leaving the quarters. Thero is some confusion on cleaning quarters Klaus hem Deputy chief of Frankfurt s housing said. Even though we Hove contract cleaning teams families still have to do some  according to contract Fea Nirta policies quarters have to be Broom cleaned trash and personal items must be removed and stoves and refrigerators should be free of excessive grease and dirt. Molrig creators have Lobo defrosted unplugged and the door left open. Totels have to be brushed out and free of Loreign matter. Families must take personal items out of refrigerators cupboards closets and Medicine cabinets ii additional cleaning is required the inspector tells the family during their preterm nation inspection. Another Good tip Lor people leaving quarters is that if hey have a problem area say a Hole in the Wall Don t try to hide it from the inspector. Tell the inspector so it can be repaired. Otherwise if housing finds out about it later we May have to do a statement of charges on the Servic cromber and the Money for us repair will come out of their checks Wildenberg said for example. Spec. Wade Gallighugh and his wife Amber Gallighugh found out hey had to repair one of their Walls during their preterm nation inspection. The couple had hammered nails in to hang a Plant. They were told to go to self help and Fin the holes. If a service member disagrees with the inspector he can explain to housing. They will have someone else Check out the problem after a final inspection is scheduled in is Loo Bio to bring up discrepancies. At least three weeks before departure the family needs to Check with the housing office to Settle accounts of government furniture Shaf they have had in their quarters. If the quarters had furniture when you arrived you leave the furniture Here. If you shipped furniture Here and need furniture after you ship yours then you have to request leaner furniture Wildenberg said. Alter that the individual can stay in quarters up to two Days before departure. One Day before leaving they Are cleared irom quarters turn in their keys and get a housing stamp on their clearance papers. The Only difference Lor those living in Bachelor quarters is that there Are no contract cleaning teams so they must clean quarters themselves. The process differs for those living on the Economy although they too should Contact housing As soon As they receive orders. A big problem in Clearing Economy housing is that the tenant must give a written notification for termination 90 Days before leaving. There can be problems for those who Don l receive orders that Early. Some communities May have military clauses in con acts for 30days Nolice by that too varies Community to  Wildenberg said. Termination notices should be sent to the landlord by registered mail or handed Over personally. Wildenberg cautioned thai the service member should ensure the landlord gets the notice. Don t give the notice to the Haus Meister. The Best thing to do is to Send the Nolice through registered mail to the address in the  ii the landlord refuses la accept the notice of termination housing can help. Also if the tenant suspects problems during his landlord s inspection housing office personnel May to asked id participate in the inspection. When people receive heir orders they also have to Contact transportation for movement of household goods. They also have to schedule pickup of government furnishing. You cannot to cleared until Iho government furniture is picked up or if another service member is moving in. An inventory can be done and the new service member can sign for Ihm Wildenberg said. The individual also must arrange with Utility companies especially the electric company for a meter Reading and final Bill payment. Housing referral can assist with this but the meter Reading normally is done on the last Dayrol occupancy Chin said. Heat and water is usually taken care of by the landlord with a final Billing Al the end of the lease. Tenants also have to terminate their phones and. Before Clearing prove that those Bills have been paid housing has forms that Are filled out by these companies so you movers prepare living room furniture Tot shipment need d show them the completed forms to  if there is any damage to the apartment the landlord will deduct repair costs from the Security deposits Wildenberg said. Service members should not plan on gelling deposits Back before they move. They May Only get a portion of it Back and usually they with get Iho Deposit Back Jor perhaps two months alter they leave with Iho landlord mailing in to hem Ai no time Sli Ould the service member plan on using the Deposit Lor his  Wildenberg said. According to individual con races. The tenant May have to paint or hire a professional cleaning team and pay for this. It depends on their contracts and tenants should know what they have to  Hein said. The landlord must sign a premises condition report into glory for turn in at housing before the service member can be cleared. For anyone who is leaving Wildenberg offers a Imal tip. Make reservations for guest facilities Early 30 to 60 Days in Advance is not too soon. The maximum temporary lodging allowance paid when leaving is 1d Days bul for families leaving quarters hat should t be a problem because they Are allowed to stay in their quarters up to three Days before leaving. Sunday june 12, 198b the stars and stripes Page 17