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 practice eco-friendly storage

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The need for going green is present now more than ever. And we as people should do our best to look for eco-friendly solutions in our everyday lives, as it’s the small changes that will make the biggest difference. And when it comes to the current condition of our planet, changes are definitely necessary. That’s why we here at PortaBox Storage believe it’s important to practice eco-friendly storage whenever possible.

The good news is that if you happen to be renting temporary storage Seattle, there are many small changes that you can make to keep the peace with nature. If the thought of eco-friendly storage sounds too far-fetched, you should know that it really isn’t. Here are a couple of things to pay attention to once you decide to go green in your storage unit.

Practice eco-friendly storage by using recycled packing materials

The process of getting your items ready for Newcastle self storage is the first instance where you can make smarter choices. The first choice people usually have to make is whether to use cardboard boxes or plastic containers. We believe that you already know the answer, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of it – always opt for cardboard boxes. Better yet, try to find biodegradable boxes that will be the healthiest option for our planet. However, if you have no way of supplying yourself with these boxes, then you can be smart about the way you acquire cardboard boxes.

Cardboard boxes to use if trying to practice eco-friendly storage.
Repurpose old cardboard boxes and make your storage unit an eco-friendly place.

Look around your household. Have you relocated or performed a major renovation project on your home? Then you must have some cardboard boxes piled up somewhere in your home. Instead of buying new boxes and producing more waste, it’s always better to use the ones that you already have. That is not only a great way to make your Redmond self storage unit more green – it’s also a way to save money.

Bear in mind that cardboard boxes aren’t the only way to be more eco-friendly when packing. There are many other materials and supplies that you will need to use when packing your items for storage. You really have to think outside of the box and try to find innovative solutions. Instead of buying loads of protective packing materials, you can always utilize old towels and linens, as well as old newspapers. Get crafty, as that’s going to be necessary if you want to practice eco-friendly storage.

Invest in LED light bulbs

A man looking at light bulbs.
Invest in LED lighting and bear in mind that this isn’t a huge investment to start with.

If you happen to be looking for the easiest and quite possibly the cheapest way to make your at-home storage unit (garage, attic, basement, etc.) more eco-friendly, then all you have to do is look into LED lighting. These days, many households in the States have realized the potential of LED light bulbs and are gladly using them on a day-to-day basis. These energy-saving light bulbs are an amazing way to show our planet some love as they lower energy consumption by as much as 90%.

Find a storage facility with temperature control

Good insulation inside your storage unit is going to be important for a couple of different reasons. If you live in an area that experiences extreme weather fluctuations, then you need to be very careful when looking for storage services in your area. The cold winter months will lower the temperature inside your unit. That will make you use more electricity in order to keep the optimal temperature. And if you don’t do that, you risk letting in the mold inside your unit, which is one of the most damaging things for your items.

So in order to avoid spending more electricity (and more money), do your job at the very start right. Seek out a temperature-controlled storage facility, as that will prevent too much heat or cold from seeping into your storage container. This is the optimal way to practice eco-friendly storage while saving money and protecting your items all at the same time.

Don’t waste time and resources on storing appliances you don’t need

A kitchen.
Be careful if storing kitchen appliances for a long time.

There are many different types of items that you could store in your unit. Likewise, there are many different types of residential and business storage solutions in Seattle. Some of them are designed for those people that have to store a large number of appliances that need to be plugged in and maintained. It’s safe to say that many items working inside your storage unit for a prolonged period of time will result in a lot of wasted electricity, as well as a lot of money spent. That’s why one of the most important decisions when renting a storage unit is deciding what you want to store. 

Of course, sometimes you can’t bypass the fact that you have to store some appliances. That’s when you need to take a realistic look into the situation. Decide which of your appliances have seen better days and which ones ought to be stored for future use.

Employ eco-friendly storage solutions at the very start of the process

It goes without saying that you can always turn your storage unit into a more eco-friendly space. But why should you spend your time fixing something when you can get it right at the very start? It’s always a good idea to practice eco-friendly storage at the very start, from the moment you start packing your items for the unit. Bear in mind the fact that eco-friendly storage will not only be good for the environment – it will also be good for your bank account. Perhaps that can serve as a nice incentive for the future. And the best part of it all is the fact that it’s easy to employ eco-friendly storage solutions. You just need to make a few changes.

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