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.

Benefits of self storage during the pandemic

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2020 has been a year of uncertainties all around. Amid all of the unpredictable events that have unfolded, it helps to have at least one thing you can rely on. Even though plenty of businesses have been affected by the lockdown, the storage industry has been deemed an essential industry and making their services available for customers all over the US. For many businesses, having the option to get self storage during the pandemic has turned out to be a truly beneficial solution. If you are currently contemplating whether your business could profit from renting a Newcastle self storage unit, then this article might be the answer to all of your questions. Here come a couple of benefits you can expect to get from a storage unit that will be your safety net during the coronavirus pandemic.

Two surgical masks on a red surface.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought a lot of challenges in the lives of most people.

Of course, businesses aren’t the only ones that could benefit from renting a storage unit during a pandemic. That’s something we here at PortaBox Storage Seattle know first-hand. It always pays off to invest in a good and secure unit – now more than ever.

Operating at reduced capacity and downsizing won’t be an issue

Unfortunately, this year has been marked by nationwide lockdowns. These lockdowns affected everyone – from regular people to non-essential businesses, everyone had to be responsible and play their part. For that reason, plenty of businesses marked as ‘non-essential’ were forced to re-open in a reduced capacity. Some of those businesses chose to rent storage spaces as a safe place for safeguarding all of their belongings that simply couldn’t make the cut at smaller venues.

A similar benefit could be noticed with those individuals who had to move to a cheaper or smaller apartment. Those surplus items had to go somewhere for the time being, and what a better place than a safe storage unit. And yes, reliable self storage services in Seattle aren’t cheap. But they certainly pay off more than having to throw away some of your favorite pieces of furniture simply because they can’t possibly fit in the new apartment.

Self storage during a pandemic is particularly useful for those who stockpiled

We are all familiar with how the public reacted to the first lockdowns back in March. People stockpiled everything from Purell and toilet paper to canned food and bottled water. Now, depending on your own tendencies to stockpile, you might not have enough space in your home for all of those items. And if you haven’t used most of them, you now need a safe place where you can store them for future use. That is where reliable Mill Creek self storage portable containers enter the scene.

A cart full of toilet paper to keep in self storage during pandemic.
Stockpiling is something that made people feel safe. During these times, safety is the thing we need most.

But storage solutions aren’t a good option just for those who were buying these supplies – they are also perfect for those selling them. If you were able to predict the shopping spree people went on, then you have probably stockpiled those items yourself. In that situation, it’s very likely that you thought in advance and found yourself good business storage in Seattle. That way, you were able to avoid overcrowding your retail store, but you also managed to provide all of your customers with what they came for. And guess what – storage solutions are still the perfect way to keep your extra inventory safe until it hits the shelves.

Keep your items safe from vandalism

It is very unfortunate that, in addition to the health risks involved, business owners also faced the risks of vandalism and theft. Some of the businesses that were shut down were robbed, leading to further financial loss. While storage facilities can’t prevent someone from forcefully entering your business premises, they can ensure nothing stored gets stolen. In fact, by putting your inventory in self storage for the duration of a lockdown, you would get some peace of mind knowing that your items are being kept safe and sound. Because every decent storage service provider will take the necessary precautions to secure your items in their facility.

A security guard.
Seeing a security guard watching over the storage facility is always a good sign.

These measures include everything from security cameras to guards that will be placed on the premises. In normal circumstances, if you wanted to confirm the safety of a storage unit, you would first visit multiple storage facilities and assess how each maintains the premises. However, this year has changed the game quite a bit. Because of the widespread presence of the coronavirus, you don’t want to risk face-to-face contact when not necessary.

That is why plenty of storage providers now offer virtual video tours of their facilities. That way, they ensure your wellbeing and the health of their employees. It more than obvious how this way of touring a facility does have its benefits, especially during COVID-19. Just imagine – you don’t have to drive to multiple different locations, saving you time and gas expenses in the process. You can simply turn on your laptop or even your phone and video tour all the facilities in your area in a matter of hours.

Should you rent a safe storage unit during the pandemic?

The choice, limited as it currently is – is yours to make. If you had the need for storage before the pandemic, then that need isn’t likely to have gone away. There are many uses for self storage during the pandemic, especially for both essential and non-essential businesses. From keeping your inventory safe during lockdowns to helping you transfer to a smaller shop, there are many benefits to get from just one storage unit. Of course, before you rent one, you will first have to take a look at your finances. You shouldn’t put yourself in debt just to rent a unit. It’s something that you should do once everything falls into place.

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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