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.

At-home packing materials you can use for storage

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People today are looking for ways to minimize their storage expenses. Even though storage is a necessity, it is often not among our priorities. That is why many people try to avoid the costs that go along with it as much as they can. Some people go with cheaper facilities or rent storage space somewhere on the outskirts of the city. However, these are not the best solutions as they only seemingly lower the cost and could cost much more in the end. Our suggestion is to always make sure that your items are stored in the best storage units North Seattle can provide. And that you try to save by using at-home packing materials that you already have.

Not every storage is good for your items

Even though storage facilities are made to keep people’s items safe, too often are they the cause of their destruction. Moisture, mold, pests, dirt, inadequate temperature are just some of the issues that you can find in traditional storage facilities and units these days. That is why packaging became one of the most important parts when it comes to storing your items. The use of quality packing materials can keep your items safe from all the above-mentioned issues.

Renting moving trucks vs renting storage containers
First, you need to make sure that your items will be in the proper environment.

However, no one can guarantee that your items will survive in inadequate conditions regardless of the packing materials you applied. Therefore, the only proper solution is to make an effort and rent modern portable Newcastle self storage provides a perfect environment for preserving items long term. But even in these cases, how you choose to pack your belongings plays a significant role in preserving your belongings.

Advantages of standard packing materials

Of course, nothing is preventing you from buying standard cardboard boxes even once you find and rent the best on demand storage Seattle. Standard moving boxes are easy to use, sturdy, provide good protection, and they are good at saving space as they can be easily stacked and arranged around your storage unit. Moreover, if you use cardboard boxes, you can label them simply by writing on them with a permanent marker. That is how you will have an easier time finding your items.

Another advantage of cardboard boxes is that they come in various shapes and sizes. Therefore, you can find small, medium, and large boxes, as well as specialized boxes for mirrors, dishes, clothes, mattresses, etc. Of course, it all depends on your needs and willingness to invest. No one is forcing you to buy packing materials Seattle, especially if you have good storage. They are important only when you are storing your items in an inadequate space.

With at-home packing materials, you need to find a good storage facility

Two people frustrated with having to search for self storage solutions for all their boxes.
Finding good storage is rarely easy.

By now, you’ve probably realized that renting the cheapest storage is not the way to keep your items safe. And that investing even in the best packing materials is not a bulletproof solution. In fact, finding a reliable storage facility is mandatory if you want to keep your belongings intact for longer periods of time. So let’s take a look at how to find the perfect storage solution for your needs:

How to locate a good storage company

When you look at storage companies, you need to find ones that offer not only competitive rates but also good conditions with great reviews. In the past, people would limit themselves to storage facilities in their vicinity so that they could save time and effort on driving up to the storage and inspecting it. However, PortaBox Storage has a more modern approach, with portable self storage containers that come to you, no matter where you are. That way, you don’t have to go through the trouble of visiting storage facilities or driving up there and laboring with your boxes and belongings.

Instead, you get your own portable storage container that you can inspect and load on the spot, which we then deliver to one of our storage facilities and keep safe under controlled and secure conditions. This is a very straightforward and practical approach that caters to the remote needs of the fast-paced lifestyle of people today.

At-home packing materials that you can use

stack of suitcases
Suitcases are great for storing your items

Once you pick a good storage facility that offers good conditions for your items, the type of packing materials you will use will not be that important. And now we come to the subject of our article – at-home packing materials you can use for storage. If you have never done this before you will be surprised how many items in your home can serve as packaging. Here are some ideas:

  • Suitcases, travel bags, plastic trash bins, plastic storage containers instead of boxes
  • Trash bags for clothes
  • Towels, bed linens, clothing, socks for padding and wrapping

These items can serve as packaging very well. Sometimes they can even be better than traditional cartons. If you are storing wardrobes, closets, desks with drawers, and similar furniture they can also be used as a kind of protection for your items. Transport them into storage empty and load them with your smaller items once you are inside a storage unit.

Use this packaging only if you are storing your items in proper conditions

As you can see, there are many ways to avoid paying for packaging when storing your items. However, you need to make sure that your items will be in proper conditions in order to use at-home packing materials as a replacement for cardboard boxes.

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Locations Served

LYNNWOOD PORTABOX

2902B Lincoln Way Lynnwood, WA, 98087

SEATTLE PORTABOX

10750 Aurora Ave N Suite B Seattle, WA 98133

NEWCASTLE PORTABOX

6868 Coal Creek Pkwy SE Newcastle, WA 98059

BOISE PORTABOX

103 N Curtis Road Boise, ID, 83706