Founded in 1890, Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage the parent company of Portabox has successfully weathered many history-changing events including the Great Seattle Fire, WWI, the Spanish Flu of 1918, the Great Depression, WWII, the 2008 recession, and 9/11 among many other public crises. We are taking the current COVID-19 threat very seriously and will promptly adhere to any and all directives from local, state and federal government officials. Hansen Bros. and Portabox have been categorized as an essential industry business (moving & relocation) within the current mandate established by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee.

As essential services, we will maintain normal operations until such time as either company management determines we must close our offices or we are directed to do so by a governmental authority. We are taking extensive precautionary measures including the adoption of all CDC guidelines and the establishment of our own policies intended to minimize health risks for all customers, employees, contractors, vendors, and community stakeholders. We are proud to be able to support the needs of our customers during this crucial time but are prepared to quickly change course as required.

Stay safe together with Hansen Bros. and Portabox

The COVID-19 crisis is fluid and there are many uncertainties and factors outside of our control that may, with little or no advance notice, impact our delivery of moving & storage services. Please be aware the current crisis could potentially result in small inconveniences such as a delayed project start time or significant inconveniences such as the complete rescheduling of services.

Although there are many unknowns to be navigated, you can be certain that Hansen Bros. and Portabox will be timely and transparent in our communications regarding servicing your moving & storage needs, and our professional relocation consultants will work diligently to offer creative solutions in the event your project is impacted by the current health crisis.

Steps We're Taking:

  • Company-wide Implementation of all precautionary measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
  • Office staff and crews are being monitored daily for symptoms and/or known exposure by management and asked to go home, contact their healthcare provider, and self-quarantine as directed. Staff that experience symptoms and/or aware of exposure when not at work have been directed to stay home and notify their supervisor.
  • Office staff and crews are receiving daily briefings on precautionary measures and have been directed to follow them on and off the job.
  • Office staff and crews are being instructed to maintain appropriate “social distance” of 6 feet minimum between one another, customers, and all other people.
  • Office staff and crews are being provided with appropriate hand sanitizer and surface disinfecting supplies. They have been directed to disinfect truck cabs and moving equipment between each move to the best of their ability. These supplies will continue to be replenished as we are able, based on availability from retailers.
  • We are limiting visitation to our branch offices. If you wish to purchase moving boxes or supplies, please simply call in your order and we will happily deliver to your vehicle outside.

We are all in this together.  The team at Hansen Bros. and Portabox is proud to continue offering our services in accordance with the necessary precautions outlined above. We are here to make the process of storing belongings seamless & safe for you.

10 most common things that people store away

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If your home is like most American households, there is a big chance you have tons of stuff sitting around. Whether these are the things that are still being used or not, one thing is for certain – they can pile up quickly and create unnecessary clutter. Fortunately, the solution to this problem lies in using convenient self-storage units, such as the ones PortaBox Storage offers. Storage facilities allow users to declutter their space but also keep all of the items they want. It is a win-win situation! Does this sounds like something you want to do, but you are not sure what items can be put inside the storage unit? If that’s the case, make sure to keep reading. We have created a list of the most common things that people store away that might serve as an inspiration to you.

The list of the most common things that people store away

So, you are thinking about storing away some of your goods but don’t know where to start? No problem! To give you an idea, we have listed some of the most common things people place inside storage units Lynnwood WA. We have divided them into 5 groups: seasonal items, old household items, children’s items, valuable items, and important papers. Let’s take a closer look at each group.

Seasonal items people store away

Woman sitting in a pile of clothes
Make more room in your closet by storing clothes you won’t need in the months ahead

Seasonal items are items we use only during certain periods of the year. Because we aren’t using them all year round, there is really no point in keeping them at our homes. This is exactly why seasonal items are among the most common things that people store away. Although this group is quite big, we have mentioned two types of items that can be found in almost every storage unit:

  • Holiday decorations – We celebrate many holidays and for all of them, we use different decorations. Those who live in big houses probably have enough storage space for all decorative pieces. But, those who live in small apartments are struggling.
  • Clothing – By storing seasonal clothes, you will get much more space in your closets and wardrobes. There is really no point in keeping all of your heavy coats and high ankle boots at your home during hot months.

Old household items

The great thing about storage units is that you can get as many as you need. Thus, even if you want to store bigger and bulkier pieces, you will still be able to do it. A lot of our clients are already aware of this fact and use their mobile storage containers Seattle for storing old household items. In most cases, they choose to store:

  • Old furniture pieces, and
  • Old appliances

It seems like every household eventually ends up with furniture pieces and big appliances they don’t need. Whether these items are from your college days, or you have inherited them, store them away. Keep these bulky pieces away from your home until you figure out what you are going to do with them.

Children’s items

Baby Groot toy
No matter how cute your kid’s toys are, you shouldn’t let them overrun your home

Most people decide to keep their children’s old items even though their kids are all grown up. Although this is an understandable thing, we have to say that storing childhood toys and memorabilia away is a much better option than keeping them at home. This can be a bit overwhelming but you will soon realize that storing kid’s belongings isn’t a bad thing. You will get more space and your home will be clutter-free. 

When it comes to kid’s items, families in most cases decide to store away:

  • Toys, and
  • Baby items

These items can really take a lot of space but that doesn’t mean you need to get rid of them. Simply store them away and keep them in a secure place for the next generation.

Valuable items

When it comes to storing valuables, those that can be most commonly found in storage units are:

  • Antiques, and
  • Family photo albums 

Not all valuables have to be expensive. They can mean a lot to us even though they aren’t pricey. This is exactly why we have included family photo albums in this group. The important thing we need to point out is that valuables need to be carefully packed before you store them. This is how you will ensure their safety. If you are not sure whether you will be able to do this, you can always hire professional packers when storing and let them handle this task for you.

Important papers

Woman packing books since they are one of the most commong things people store away
Records and books should be stored in places with a fairly consistent temperature and relative humidity

This might come as surprise, but, among the most common items people store are also important papers. For example:

  • Book collections, and
  • Business records

However, documents, books, and records can be a bit tricky to store. In case you are planning to store them away for a longer period of time, you need to get a temperature or climate-controlled facility. These facilities keep the temperature and humidity at optimal levels to avoid damaging sensitive goods. So, get one of these and you won’t have to worry about the safety of your important papers.

Simple tips for people who plan to store away some of their items

So, these were the most common things that people store away. Are you thinking about storing some of the items we have listed? If that’s the case, make sure to learn how to do it the right way. Keep in mind that quality storage units can’t keep your belongings safe if you don’t know how to store properly. All of your items need to be clean and dry before you pack them and store them away. And, in case you have items you don’t need anymore, don’t waste your money by storing them. Instead, take your belongings to one of the donation drop off locations in Boise or Seattle and give them to someone who needs them. Trust us, there is nothing better than knowing you have made someone happy.

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