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 make switching homes more simple

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We oftentimes hear that moving is one very difficult, very complex endeavor. By all means, relocation can be a daunting task, but it really doesn’t have to be. There are many ways to make switching homes more simple for the entire family. They range from finding the right self storage Seattle company to packing an essentials bag. Of course, bear in mind that this entire process must come with some stress, but you can keep that stress to a minimum. And that’s precisely what we aim to help you do.

The best way to have a simple relocation is by planning it on time

A close up of an alarm clock, a mug, and glasses.
Time is of the essence when planning a household move.

If there is one thing you should know about relocation it’s the fact that this is one process that’s accompanied by a multitude of different tasks. The completion of just one of those chores will take a lot of time and energy. So imagine how much effort you will need to put in order to complete all of them. For example, imagine how long it will take you to research the best moving companies Lynnwood WA. An entire week might pass from the moment you do an online search until the moment you book the moving date. And that’s just the initial task.

So the best piece of advice we can give you is making sure you start getting ready on time. Usually, six to eight weeks before the date of your move should be enough for you to plan and organize everything on time. Besides, the more time you have, the less stress you will experience. It’s just much easier to remain calm when not pressed for time.

Donate any unwanted items to make switching homes more simple

Moving is complicated enough when you are relocating with a minimum number of items. So imagine how complicated it will get if you decide to relocate every single item you have ever owned. It’s a general rule of thumb to declutter your household before embarking on a move. And unless you decide to keep your surplus items in self storage units Lynnwood based, then we suggest you donate them to a charity of your choice.

The other alternative is always organizing a garage sale and making some extra money for your relocation. Either way, you’ll make moving homes a much simpler endeavor as you won’t be burdened by all of your extra possessions. It’s a win-win situation.

Prepare a moving first-aid kit in the form of an essentials bag

An essentials bag to make switching homes more simple.
Save your time, effort, and energy by preparing a moving essentials bag for every member of the family.

All you have to do is imagine exactly how you will feel after a long moving day. Once you arrive at your new home, the first and, quite possibly, the only thing you will want to do is brush your teeth, change your clothes, and go to sleep. And that’s when the problem usually arises. Without an essentials bag by your side, you will have to spend an hour rummaging through the boxes, trying to locate everything you need to get ready for bed. What you decide to put in your essentials bag is completely up to you. However, make sure you include:

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • A roll of toilet paper
  • A bar of soap
  • Towels and sheets
  • A clean set of clothes 

It’s also important to note one other thing – you should prepare an essentials bag for every member of the family. Trust us – this is one of the most important things that will help you make switching homes more simple, easy, and, at the end of the day, exciting.

Make your moving day simpler by organizing childcare

Moving with kids will take your relocation to a whole different level. It doesn’t matter whether you are moving with a toddler or a school-aged child – they need to be taken care of on the day of the move. That’s really for both your and their benefit. You will have a much easier time packing and dealing with your Seattle movers if you don’t have to look after your kids. And your kids will be much more comfortable while being in a quiet area than when being in the middle of the moving-day hustle and bustle.

Whether you decide to leave your kid with a trusted family member or a professional nanny is up to you. Just make sure that your kids are safe, but also out of the way on your moving day. They can help before the move but, unless you are dealing with an older teenager, it would be better if they were out of the picture on the big day.

Communicate with your moving team

If you have hired movers to help you with your local, long-distance, or interstate move, then you already have great chances for a successful move. But if you want to further improve those chances, as well as to make your residential move simpler, then you need to keep open communication with your movers. You need to share your expectations, as well as keep your movers in the loop about all important things.

A white piggy bank with coins spilling out of it.
You don’t have to break the bank in order to tip your movers. But do make sure that every member of the crew gets an equal tip.

Inform them if you have any items that are too heavy, make sure you communicate what your priorities are, and ask how you can be of help to them. You and your movers need to work as a team. At the end of the day, if your moving team does a great job like we hope they will, don’t forget to give them a nice tip. That’s one of the best ways to show your appreciation for a job well done. Besides, they were the ones who helped you make switching homes more simple and easy, so they certainly deserve some compensation.

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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