Jeff, I wish you all the best in moving back to Cincinnati!! We have moved 7 times in our 36 years of marriage; 9 years in this house has been the longest. I built modules and made two moves with them before abandoning the modules. As for models, engines, cars, and buildings, I packed them myself for all moves and it worked out fine for us. Since moving to this house in 2011, I switched to O gauge from HO and have accumulated a lot more. IF all goes as planned, we will move once more into a house without stairs. I will definitely pack and move all the trains and buildings myself. That is the reason I have kept all the boxes for engines and cars.
It sounds like a good plan to work on a layout with your dad at his house until you are well settled in.
