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.

Guide to fully utilizing your dorm room

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Living in a dorm room may seem a bit intimidating at first. It’s a new space, but more importantly, it’s a much smaller space than you’re comfortable with. Luckily, PortaBox Storage is here to show you how to make the most out of the space you have. We’re here to give you a few handy tips that will make utilizing your dorm room to the fullest an absolute breeze. As certified self storage Seattle specialists, we know how a lack of space can hinder one’s lifestyle. When it comes to living in a smaller apartment or dorm room, you need to get crafty and make do with what you have. Your main goal is to use clever tricks and hacks and effectively make the most of your limited space. To make this journey a bit easier for you, we’d like to present a few clever space-saving solutions!

dorm room with appliances utilizing the space
In a limited living space, creativity is king!

Fully utilizing your dorm room is easy with self-made storage

If you’re not careful, clutter can quickly spread and take over your dorm. This is why you need to do your best to keep everything tidy and organized. Bags, clothes, and stacks of paper filling every corner of your make the space feel smaller and unbalanced. The best way to store items in your dorm is to convert available space into clever storage solutions.

For example, you can build a closet at the base of your staircase. There are other alternatives, of course, such as renting out Mill Creek self storage. Once you start carefully observing your space, you will find many ways to convert your dorm into a compact and functional living space. There are many solutions, and your imagination is the limit. If you keep on reading, you’ll find a few minimalistic and elegant ways to stash more items in your home.

Reduce the paperwork by digitalizing your documents and books

The modern, digital age we live in has brought us many conveniences. With so many new ways of storing data, we are able to make our lives simpler, and clutter-free. As a student living in a dorm room, one of your biggest pieces of inventory are loads of books and papers. Additionally, with so much paper being used in the modern-day, approximately 20 football fields worth of trees every minute, deforestation is a real problem.

person reaching for a book on the shelf
Declutter your study library by going digital

Luckily, the 21st century has brought us ways to solve problems of ecology and storage, with the mighty Cloud. Scan all of your study material, convert it into a digital format, and place it in online storage. You can still keep your physical books in Woodinville self storage containers. Securing your schoolwork on online cloud services helps you stay safe, organized, and free up space in your dorm.

Fully utilizing your dorm room’s doors is a great way to create additional space

One of the areas in the home with a surprising amount of potential is the back of your doors. We often tend to forget just how much capacity this space can hold. Aside from it being a wide, rarely used area, it also makes use of vertical space, which is a blessing in a dorm room. Do yourself a favor and build a set of shelves that can be mounted to hang on the wall behind your door, or the door itself. The materials are not expensive at all, and the construction itself is simple. What you need to do is:

  • Measure the length between the hinges of your door, and the adjacent wall your door opens toward. Once you have the accurate measurement, subtract one inch from it. This will be your maximum shelf depth.
  • Use 1×4 inch boards for your shelve’s sides and top. Once you screw the sides into the top, outfit the sides with three hanging strips. Try to keep them evenly separated for the optimal load distribution.
  • After assembling your shelves, add a line of trim to the visible parts by gluing it on. These pieces both decorate the shelf and also keep it in place.
  • Lastly, place rubber bumpers on the front ends of your shelves. These will protect the woodwork and the walls.

Open up your living space by creating compact storage solutions for your clothes

When it comes to storing things in a dorm room, clothes and accessories are often among the biggest problems. If your clothing keeps pouring out of every closet and shelf in your home, you’ll soon quickly run into a problem. So, if you can’t afford to make additional cabinets and closets, it’s time to use what you have.

For example, out-of-season clothes can be stored under your bed until you need them again. The best container for this is reusable plastic bins since they can be closed tightly in order to prevent moisture. Cover all your bins with a dust ruffle or a linen sheet to keep them out of view. Alternatively, you can place your seasonal clothes in short term storage Seattle. Just make sure they are thoroughly washed and dried beforehand.

person folding their clothes
Save space by storing your clothes in clever ways

If you also like traveling a lot, you know it can be a headache to put away all your luggage in a dorm room. Luckily, your bags and suitcases don’t have to be used only when you’re going on a holiday. By putting your unused suitcase to use, you’ll be fully utilizing your dorm room and solving two problems at once. Your luggage won’t take up extra space, and you will store your clothes neatly and safely until you need them again.

To make the most use of your limited space, roll your clothes instead of folding them. Shorts, sweaters, and pants are less delicate fabrics, meaning they can be safely rolled into smaller sizes. Before you put your clothes away, group them together in loose bundles. This is a practical method that uses up less room and allows your clothes to breathe freely while stored.

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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