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 maximize your apartment space

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There are many benefits to living in an apartment instead of a house – apartments are more affordable, easier to maintain, and often more centrally located. But one thing that apartments definitely don’t have in spades is space. Even a large apartment only has so much room. At some point, usually, a lot sooner than you would expect, that will simply no longer be enough. Of course, you can always rent portable storage containers Seattle on short notice as a temporary solution. But wouldn’t it be better to learn how to maximize your apartment space so you don’t run into issues in the first place?

Maximize your apartment space by reducing clutter

Here’s a question for you: do you have too little space or too much stuff? The math is simple – the more stuff you have, the more space it takes up. So if you want more space in your apartment, all you need to do is get rid of some stuff.

Declutter and clean regularly

Neat and clean apartment.
If you want to maximize your apartment space, you need to get used to minimalism.

We accumulate a lot of stuff as we go through our lives. Some of it, we need. A lot of it, we don’t. When you live in an apartment, all the things you don’t need take up what little space you have. So if you want to free up some room, make sure to periodically go through your belongings and get rid of the ones you don’t need. You don’t have to throw them away – you can also put them in Bainbridge Island self storage, sell them, or donate them. The important thing is to get them out of the apartment.

Stay organized

Organization is the key to utilizing limited space well. Keep everything in its designated place and you won’t have to deal with any mess that would take up unnecessary space. In order to maintain order like this, you may need to develop better habits. But the effort will be worth it: it’s easier to never make a mess than to constantly have to clean it up.

Maximize your apartment space with creative storage solutions

Between your apartment and Seattle mini storage, you’ll have enough space for all your things. But you’ll need to utilize that space well if you want to make the most of it.

Use furniture for storage

Furniture that helps you maximize your apartment space.
Well-designed furniture can help you maximize your apartment space.

With the increased rates of urban development, most people live in cities nowadays. That means you’re not the only one looking to maximize space in an apartment. Furniture designers are well aware of this too, which is why they’ve come up with a creative solution – furniture that doubles as storage space.

The obvious examples are closets, shelves, and desks, all of which you’re probably already making use of. But it goes beyond that. You can find beds with shelves, drawers, or storage compartments built-in. Similarly, there are hollow ottomans, sofas, and coffee tables that you can put stuff inside of. Not only does this give you more space in an apartment, but it also helps you stay organized. Not to mention, your new furniture will complete your interior design!

Utilize walls and think vertically

We are used to thinking about our rooms in horizontal terms – what is the surface of the floors, will our sprawling bed fit in between the walls, how many tables and chairs can we fit into one room. But this sometimes leads us to forget that we can use walls for storage too. Hanging cabinets and shelves can hold everything from dishware to books to clothes. But they’re just the beginning. You can also turn to more creative solutions, such as hooks, railings, and hanging organizers. These will help you utilize all the space you have in your apartment.

Rent storage space

Sometimes, having too much stuff isn’t the problem and you really just don’t have enough space. Perhaps you’ve just bought your first piece of real estate or you had to downsize unexpectedly or you’re renting and cannot make any major changes to the apartment. In such cases, decluttering and being creative may not be enough. Instead, you need a better solution: renting storage to get some extra space.

Chair and bed in a bedroom.
With most of your things in storage, you’ll have plenty of free space in the apartment.

When you have Everett self storage at your disposal, you don’t have to worry about overcrowding and cluttering your apartment. Simply go through all your belongings and set aside those you don’t use very often. These might be special items like fine china, old but working electronics like the TV you have nowhere to put just yet, or seasonal belongings like winter clothes and sports equipment. Pack them up and put them in a storage container that will be kept safe at a secure facility. When you need them again, you can simply have the storage container delivered to you and emptied. It’s a win-win scenario: you get to free up space in your apartment and keep all your belongings.

Maximize your apartment space with interior design tricks

Making the most of an apartment space is not just about practicality; it’s also about appearances. So in addition to actually freeing up space, you can utilize a few tricks to make the place appear larger. Try these tips:

  • maximize (natural) light: incorporating daylight into your interior design is a great way to make the room look bigger, brighter, and fresher; large windows and see-through curtains are your friends in this
  • opt for an open floor plan with partitions: walls take up space just like all your belongings so it stands to reason that getting rid of a few will free up some room; use partitions to separate rooms instead
  • open up shelves and closets: using closets, cabinets, cupboards, and shelves without doors creates the illusion of extra space by removing a hard barrier from sight
  • use color wisely: light colors make rooms appear bigger but a pop of brightness, darkness, or even pattern will add depth to the space and make it seem even larger
  • be smart with decorations: decorations are a great way to make the apartment uniquely yours but don’t go overboard; too many decorations will just turn into clutter

To truly maximize your apartment space, combine practical advice about storage space with interior design tips for aesthetics. That way, you get the best of both worlds!

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