Let’s face it; nobody enjoys the process of moving from one home to another.  And when dealing with a move to, from, or within Mammoth Lakes, there can often be additional factors like weather, ice, stairwells, and more.  But this doesn’t have to be a stressful process.  Here are five easy tips to help make your Mammoth move a more enjoyable one:

• Start Early! Once you are within a month of your move date, start sorting through all your personal belongings.  This is the best time to get rid of all those things (clothes, sporting goods, closet clutter, and kitchen items) that you very rarely need or use.  I have a personal rule that if I don’t use or wear something within a 12-month period, then it’s off to the trash or Goodwill.  Here in Mammoth we have two locations that you can donate unused items: Second Chance Thrift Store and Cast Off.  Why bother moving unnecessary items from one house to another if they are just going to take up space at your new place and still not be used?  Once you have sorted through everything, you can start boxing up all the items that you won’t need between now and the move.
•  Create a System! Putting a little thought into your move never hurts.  As you following Step 1 above, don’t just start boxing and bagging items with no rhyme or reason.  Using a simple labeling system with save you the frustration later on of digging through random boxes in search of that one item youcan’t find.  A simple method to organize your move is to just group items together and label boxes accordingly.  For example: office supplies / kitchen glassware / tax documents / kids clothes / jewelry.  Other options are to color code boxes by room or number boxes with a master list that correlates each number to the contents within.
• Pack a Suitcase! We have all lived comfortably for a week or more before before out of a simple suitcase.  Why not do so upon your move?  Instead of feeling overwhelmed with the need to unpack everything those first few days in your new home, just relax knowing you have a few changes of clothes and all your toiletries and other necessities right there in your suitcase.  This strategy will greatly reduce the urgency involved in unpacking each and every box.
• Don’t Neglect your Health! So this is always where I fail greatly.  My “MO” is to stay up for three days straight until every drawer is organized, the kitchen is perfect, and every picture and decoration is hung in its place.  But don’t let my OCD lead by example; get your proper 7-8 hours of sleep, eat three full meals, and get outdoors for some exercise, even if that’s just a nice 30-minutyee walk with the dog.  Doing what I do could easily lead to your first week in your new home being one of exhaustion and sickness.  If you packed your suitcase right, there’s no rush to get everything put away; right?!?!

For help moving, keep in mind there is no U-Haul center in Mammoth, but there is one in Bishop.  They typically have a decent stock of truck, trailers, vans, dolly’s and more.  For boxes, I always hate paying for moving boxes.  I always recommend talking with your local grocery store prod8ce person and seeing when they get their fruit shipments and if you could come take the boxes off their hands.  Apple boxes make amazing moving boxes that are sturdy, durable, and the perfect size to hold plenty of contents, but still be liftable by one person.

If you need any assistance seeking a home to purchase in theMammoth Lakes area, please contact me at 800-921-6520 or visit my website for all the current listings in Mammoth: http://listings.EricLeach.net/.

If you are seeking rentals options, contact Maggie Larson at 855-GO-MAGGIE or visit her website at http://www.sierraresortrealestate.com/rent/.

Written by Eric Leach of Resort Property Realty, Inc.