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 declutter your self storage unit properly

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When you rent a storage unit, the easiest thing to do is simply dump all of your items in it and forget about them. After all, that’s what a storage unit is there for, right? To make more room in your home, and stash away unwanted items. Sometimes storage is used as a temporary solution while you’re moving or renovating your home. But what happens when the amount of stored items get out of hand, and chaos takes over? In times like these, you have to step up, focus, and declutter your self storage unit. Now, for a lot of people, decluttering can be quite intimidating. The number of items to go through and the mess of boxes and tubs just seems endless. But luckily, PortaBox Storage Seattle is here to make things easier for you! With our help, you’ll learn how to declutter your storage like a pro!

Before you declutter your self storage unit, make a detailed checklist

Before you do anything, you need to have a game plan in mind. First, decide what you want to do with your storage unit. Do you want to clean it up a bit and make room for new items? Or do you want to completely clear it out and cancel your lease? Whatever the case may be, a good first step is to make a detailed checklist that you can work with. Once you have a list and a timeline in mind, it is time to think about self storage West Seattle and get to work. Our recommendation is to start by removing everything from the unit, and writing down what you have. When a self storage unit becomes overcluttered, it is easy to lose yourself in the sea of boxes. Cataloging the pile helps you get a clear image of what you have, and helps plan the next steps.

plastix boxes for moving
Declutter your self storage unit – it is easier than you think!

Work your way up from the easy tasks

If you want to reach success, you have to start somewhere. Given how overwhelming decluttering your storage unit can be, it is a good idea to start small. By tackling easy tasks first, you will gain the much-needed confidence which will help you push onward. Start with the boxes of clothes you have lying around. Inspect them, and if they’re in good condition, donate them to a local charity. Once you sort out a few boxes, you’ll feel better about yourself, and the progress will be visible. Storage units and mobile storage containers Seattle are very often used for safekeeping paperwork. If you have a bunch of paperwork, separate it into two piles: keep and recycle. Old magazines and newspapers can immediately go into the recycle pile without much thought. Bills, tax documents, and other personal data should be kept just in case you need them at a later point.

woman sorting through boxed items
Be diligent when sorting through your boxes

Take your time with bulky items and large boxes

When it comes to decluttering your self storage unit, one of the toughest things to go through are big items. Here, we’re talking about large boxes filled with miscellaneous items, or drawers full of clothes. The process of sorting through each and every box can be very draining. And this is exactly why so many people avoid decluttering, to begin with. This is where a good timeline can really help you out. We advise sorting through one large box every hour. If you do this, you’ll have a  good way of marking your progress, and you’ll remain motivated. Just like with the clothes, you can make keep, trash, and donate piles of clothes for easy processing. Keep in mind that sometimes these tasks can be overwhelming without professional help. Relying on experts will help you overcome psychological hurdles, increase your efficiency, and prevent future decluttering.

Schedule self storage unit decluttering sessions for the future

The most common reason for renting a self storage unit is the inability to let things go. However, this is exactly what leads to your unit becoming cluttered over time. We frequently have a habit of saying “I might need this one day”, and then forgetting about the item in question after storing it. Clothes that don’t fit us, flickering lamps, and old newspapers. As time passes, the “out of sight, out of mind” mentality takes over. Soon enough, your storage unit is full of junk, and you’re back to square one. Sticking to a routine helps avoid bad storage experiences. Even if you think your storage unit isn’t that cluttered, don’t skip the cleaning session. This way, your storage unit will be clean, neat, and organized at all times.

two people looking over a floor plan
Prevent future clutter with a detailed floor plan

Keep your storage unit organized at all times

Once you completely declutter your self storage unit, your next goal is to make sure it stays that way. As we just mentioned, a lack of organization can quickly lead you back to the starting point. So, once you fully clean out your unit, work on ensuring that it stays organized in the future. Make a detailed inventory list of what you currently have stored, and update it as necessary. Labeling your boxes is another great way of organizing. Once you declutter and repack your items, write down the detailed list of contents of each box or tub. This prevents you from digging through random boxes looking for one specific thing. Lastly, make a detailed map of your storage unit. Separate your items by type or purpose, and regroup them within the unit. Then, mark them on your unit’s floor plan, and make sure this diagram is always visible.

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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