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 prepare for full-time RV living in Washington

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More and more people are deciding to hop onto the new adventurous life in an RV. Whether you’re a young couple in search of an adventure or you’ve just retired and want to go on the road, RV living is an exciting opportunity to learn a lot about yourself. But it’s not as simple as it might look in your imagination. There are a lot of things you need to prepare for full-time RV living and a lot of things to learn. So, before you jump into this adventure head first, make sure to do your research. There are a lot of matters to consider and get help for. Your friends can help you with preparing your RV. PortaBox Storage Seattle can help you tuck away all those belongings you’re not taking with you on the road but want to safeguard for when you return.  Even if you want this to be your adventure, don’t shy away from help.

Prepare yourself and do extensive research on full-time RV living

A woman learning how to prepare for full-time RV living
Do extensive research in order to prepare for full-time RV living as this will give you confidence.

This should be the most important thing you do, as having a plan will give you confidence in doing this properly. A lot of things can go bad, but, if you know you have a plan and you did research, you will find it much easier to resolve all the problems you have. Start by learning more about the RV lifestyle. As we mentioned before, there are a lot of people who are doing it right now. And living in the age of the Internet means that a lot of that is documented. Search through Youtube, Instagram, and different blogs and see what other people can teach you.

You should also decide on the type of RV that will fit your needs the best. This can depend on who you are traveling with, or if you have any special requirements, and how much space you need. Don’t forget to also learn basic things about your RV. Knowing how to deal with some basic problems you can encounter on the road is extremely valuable. You never know where your RV can stop and if you will be able to ask for anyone’s help.

How to prepare by decluttering and downsizing?

Moving from a whole house to just an RV can seem impossible. In reality, you just need a good plan and some time to execute it. Go through all of your belongings to decide what you want to keep, what to bring and what you don’t need anymore. Downsizing can seem scary, as you might think you will need a lot of things again. This is where you can use the benefits of on-demand storage Seattle companies. Everything that you can’t bring with you, but you don’t want to get rid of, you can store. 

Some of the benefits of portable storage solutions

A family happy in front of their RV
Once you prepare everything for your new way of life, you can simply enjoy the adventure

Now that we have mentioned storage solutions, you can also get storage pods Seattle companies have to help you with RV living. You can hire them for a few days until you get everything ready. This type of storing has proven to be very useful, as you can keep items in your home, or call a company to transport them to an actual unit. Having a portable storage unit can also help you with getting everything into your RV. This also allows you to pack on your time when you see fit and you have time for it.

Get your RV equipped and ready for living in

After you have your things packed and ready, you should get everything equipped. Get all of the kitchen appliances you need, but try and think minimal and things for multi-use. Everything else you should leave in your self storage while traveling so you don’t overcrowd. Prepare your clothes, cleaning products, and linen. But think about getting some life and colors into your RV. This is your new home, so some decorations that fit your style will make it feel like that. Maybe you would like to hang some plants? Or find a way to put some art around you. Don’t just think about the interior. Once you set up at a campsite, you will probably spend a lot of time outside or in your RV. Look into decorating your “porch” maybe with some hammocks or simple chars. 

Prepare yourself for full-time RV living

a couple in their RV prepared for full-time RV living
Be sure to research how you will access the Internet and your mail.

Living in an RV does bring some issues you should think about and sort out before you head to the road. Think about the internet and how will you be able to access it. You have your phone data, but maybe this won’t be enough. Especially if you are working remotely. You will need to get a type of transportable WIFI. Another thing is that you should decide where all of your mail is going. Will it be delivered to your friends’ house or will you use some kind of travel mailbox? 

And then think about health care and insurance. This is important as you need to be covered in case something happens. Even if it’s just the flu. Do your research and see how other people living in RVs have sorted this problem. If you are thinking of joining some type of RV organization, check with them if there are some cheaper options for healthcare plans.

Find your first campsite and enjoy your new life 

Once you have prepared everything, you should find your first campsite. If you have some people you know and they have recommendations for you, all the better! If not, don’t worry. There are a lot of resources on how to find the best campsites for your needs. You can check different RV campsites in Washington and decide which one you like. It is best to fully learn about the one you choose as you don’t want to be stressed out when setting up for the first time. Be sure to also learn what stores and natural views you have around you for full enjoyment. 

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