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.

The benefits of downsizing after your retirement

Step 1 of 2

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Most of us dream of large homes, with all the “bells and whistles” associated with them. But as life proceeds forward, we tend to realize that these homes are not what we think they are. Large homes are a lot of work, to be honest, and you may find that downsizing after your retirement comes with a lot of benefits. You don’t even need to part with most of your items, either. Simply store them in one of the Mill Creek self storage units, for example. Living in a smaller home can be exactly what you need in your retirement. In this article, we will explore some of the most important benefits that downsizing brings.

Upsides of downsizing after your retirement

elderly person riding a bicycle
By downsizing, you will be able to enjoy your life to the fullest!

Choosing to live in a smaller home is inevitably less costly than living in a large one. Even if you factor in the cost of Woodinville self storage, for example, chances are that you will be spending a lot less than if you were living in a larger residence. Aside from the financial gain, there are a lot more benefits that come with downsizing, such as:

  • Easier relocations
  • You will be able to easily organize your home
  • Less stress
  • More accessibility
  • More time for yourself

Therefore, even if you are downsizing against your own choices, you can always look at the positives. Let’s dive a bit further and see why might be in your best interest to downsize after retirement.

Downsizing after your retirement makes it easier to relocate

First of all, selling a large home is usually a colossal hassle. Simply finding the right estate agent, showing the home to potential buyers, and negotiating the price can be quite annoying and stress-inducing. But if you downsize, and perhaps live in a rental unit, all these problems will disappear. By living your life as a renter, you have the option to relocate to any part of the country. Or anywhere else in the world, for that matter.

And if you are worried about what will you do with your belongings, you can always opt for mobile self storage Seattle units. That way, you will have access to all your stuff at a moment’s notice, and can even have them delivered to your new home. Ideally, you will want a portable storage solution, as that is the easiest way to transport all your items whenever you relocate.

Organizing a small home is much easier

Once you are living in a small home, decluttering is not an option anymore, it is a necessity. While living in a large household as a retiree, you usually end up using only a few rooms. Most commonly, you will only use the bedroom, living room, and kitchen. The other areas become cluttered over time and you mostly forget about them.

a cluttered room
You simply can’t afford to have a lot of clutter in a small home.

Furthermore, taking care of a large home is a lot of work. Maintaining a large space is quite difficult, especially when you are retired. You want to be enjoying your life, not be a slave to your own home. By downsizing, you will be able to free up all that time and spend it on doing something you really enjoy.

You will experience less stress in a smaller home

While you may think that letting go of your belongings will induce stress, the truth is that it will actually reduce it. According to Liliane Choney, the executive director of ReVisions Resources (a nonprofit group that provides information and resources about aging successfully), paring down your belongings and downsizing will increase the overall enjoyment of your new home, as well as reduce stress. This is backed by several case studies, where seniors who were reluctant to downsize found that their life has actually improved after doing so.

Therefore, it is smart to get rid of any furniture you don’t need, or any outdated electronics and exercise machines that are simply “collecting dust”. You can, of course, choose to keep all your belongings just in case you need them, by storing them. Whenever you find that you need a bit more storage space, there are always portable storage options at your disposal.

After all, clutter is simply not good for living comfortably. That is just the way it is. Having things neatly organized simplifies your life and makes it a lot more enjoyable. And all of that is much easier to achieve when you are living in a small household.

A smaller household can be more accessible

Most large homes have at least one flight of stairs in them. As we age, we find it more and more difficult to climb stairs, and might want to avoid doing so. Not to mention that having stairs in your home increases the risks of falls, which may cause injuries. As time passes, the appeal of a smaller home is more and more apparent.

a handicapped parking sign
A smaller home can be made much more accessible than a large one.

And if you happen to have any mobility issues, downsizing will provide you with the opportunity to choose a home that has significantly improved accessibility. And that, in turn, means that you get to live longer and postpone or completely avoid having to move to an assisted-living facility.

By downsizing after your retirement, you will have more time for yourself

Lastly, the fact that you will be spending much less time on cleaning and maintaining your home means that you will have more time for your hobbies. And if you happen to need a bit more space for your hobby items, there is always the option of portable storage bins. They can make your home “much larger” by the virtue of storing your belongings in an efficient, safe, and portable way.

Downsizing after your retirement is something that every senior needs to consider. It simply makes life much easier. In a small home, you simply can’t have too many items. And having a smaller number of items means that there are a lot fewer things that require constant maintenance and cleaning.

Latest Posts