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.

How to clean out your parents’ home

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At one point in life, we all find ourselves cleaning out our parents’ home. Whatever the reason for this may be, this is inevitable. Going through tons of stuff that piled up over the years is not an easy task. It can be draining and time-consuming. Also, a question arises- where to keep all the stuff that they no longer need or don’t have space for? Well, self storage Seattle is the perfect solution that you are looking for. You will be able to keep all your items in a safe place for the desired time. To help you out with this task, we have prepared a guide on how to clean out your parents’ home.

Before you clean out your parents’ home make a plan and stick to it

The first thing you need to do before you start is, of course, make a plan. The elderly are known for hoarding stuff. They have a hard time disposing of the items they don’t need. Therefore, going through it all can take days. For this reason, you should write down which part of the home you will do each day. This will help you stay on track. Plus, crossing out everything that you have done for the day is satisfying. This will keep you motivated to continue. Moreover, if you are working and are not able to do this regular a good schedule will help you remember where you stopped and what you need to do next. Also, if other family members want to help you they will know exactly which part of the home they can help you declutter.

a house
Renting a self storage container is the best decision when sorting out your parents’ home.

A self-storage unit is your best friend!

There are many storage solutions out there, but the one that we would recommend you is getting the self-storage containers. This is a great solution, especially for those who don’t own a car. Forget about renting a truck to move the boxes filled with items, all you need is Lynnwood self storage containers! These containers are very convenient. The process of getting them is pretty straightforward:

  • Get in touch with the storage company
  • Select a date when you want to receive a self-storage container
  • After receiving the container fill it with items
  • You have up to a week onsite before the storage company picks the container up and stores it in their warehouse

It is as simple as that! Many storage companies offer competitive prices. Therefore, you will not break a bank by renting one. Once you decide that you want your items back, just contact a company’s representative and your items will be delivered to the address of our choice.

a woman sorting out items
Separate all items into categories to make the whole process easier.

Use the color-coding method to clean out your parents’ home

Once you start decluttering you will find all sorts of stuff that you will either want to toss, keep or sell/donate. Assign a color to each category. This will make the whole process easier, and you will not forget whether or not certain items are meant to be kept or not. Once you are done, you can put all the things that you want to keep in your storage container.

Find all the important documents and put them in a safe place. It is best to keep them in the house instead of storing them. You never know when you might need them. This way you will avoid calling the self storage Boise to bring you the container only for those documents. They don’t take a lot of space, so put them in a nice folder whit the rest of the important paperwork.

Talk with your parents before your toss anything

Communication is key! You will probably find much stuff that you will deem unnecessary, however, you should ask your parents for their opinion. After all, this is these are their items, and they are sentimentally attached to them. Therefore, before you toss or sell anything, check with them if they are fine with it. If they are unsure of what to do with certain items, asking the following questions will help them decide:

  • When was the last time they used this item?
  • Did they forget about having it before they saw it?
  • How important this items is for them?

These three simple questions will get them to think rationally. Therefore, you will be able to get rid of all the unnecessary things more quickly. As soon as you come to an agreement with your parents, start preparing your items for storage. This is something that requires time, so the sooner you start the better.

girl having a talk before she goes to clean out her parents' home
Before you toss or donate anything and clean out your parents’ home make sure to consult with them.

Get proper packing materials for the items you are planning to store

Throwing stuff in the self-storage container is not a solution. In order to preserve your items and ensure their total safety, you need to pack them properly. There are different kinds of packing materials that you can get either from a storage company that you have hired or from your local store. However, the staff from the storage company can help you choose the right boxes for self storage. They know exactly which boxes are ideal for which items. Moreover, once you are done with packing make sure to label your boxes and make an inventory. Make a list of everything that you want to store, This way you will know exactly which items are stored and in which box. Therefore, whenever you need them it will be much easier to find the item you need.

With the right packing supplies, a bit of organization, and our advice on how to clean out your parents’ home, you will be able to do this task successfully. Just take your time and look at this as a trip down memory lane. Moreover, this is a great opportunity to bond with your parents and share past memories.

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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