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 reclaim your garage with ease

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Do you have a garage that stopped serving its purpose a long time ago? You are not the only one. In fact, you would be surprised to learn how many people use their garages as a dumping ground for excess items. And a garage can actually be good storage if people were using it smartly. However, that is rarely the case. If you are looking to reclaim your garage with the use of portable storage containers near you, PortaBox Storage will show you how to do it with ease in the following article.

Reclaiming your garage could be a time-consuming task

vintage clock
Reclaiming your garage could take a lot of time

Are you looking to turn your garage into a proper storage space or do you want to make space for your car? Either way, you have a lot of work ahead of you. Of course, it all depends on the size of your garage and its current state. Nevertheless, keep in mind that you will have to invest a couple of days in reclaiming your garage if you want to do it properly.

Plan the process

Start by preparing a plan. Take a good look at your garage and the items that it’s currently holding. Do you really need all those items? Are there any things that you could get rid of? What are the items that you are planning to keep in your possession? Where do you plan to keep them? Are you going to reclaim your garage and turn it into storage or will you rent Newcastle self storage and use your garage as a garage? There are many things that you need to think about before you start acting. If you do it in advance, the whole process will go smoother and easier.

Decluttering is the most important part of the process

When you are planning to reclaim your garage, the first thing that you need to do is to declutter. Still, decluttering is the most difficult part of the process. And it will take away most of your time and energy. But if you made a plan and you know what items to focus on, things will be easier. Of course, getting things out of the garage is only the first stage. What you will do with those items requires much more work.  Here are the options that you have:

Get your items in front of your garage and organize a yard sale

Organize a yard sale. If your garage is cluttered and full of junk, get those items in front of it and try to sell them. If you are planning to this though, make sure that you get a permit and spend a few days or even weeks advertising your event. This will ensure that you have a lot of customers when the time comes.

Place your belongings into temporary self storage

Woman loading an Everett self-storage PortaBox container
Use temporary storage while you are decluttering your garage

Find some good temporary storage Seattle has in your vicinity. Move items that you plan to keep in your possession there, remove the junk, and once everything is ready get your items back.

Get a portable storage container

A storage company will deliver a storage container in front of your garage. Load it with items that you plan to keep in your possession and let them take it to their facility. You will reclaim your garage in a matter of hours.

Call professional junk removal service

If your garage is loaded with junk, call a professional junk removal service provider. You will have to pay for this service but at least you will not have to put any effort into reclaiming your garage. In a matter of hours, your garage will be empty and ready for your car.

Browse the internet to find innovative ideas for your reclaimed garage

Now that your garage is empty, you can start turning it into space you thought about. Of course, a garage can serve many purposes. It can be a place for your car, storage space, workshop, kids’ playroom, laundry room, etc. Before you begin doing anything, our suggestion is to browse the internet for ideas. No matter what you thought about it, we are sure that you will find better ideas for your garage online. Once you make a decision, take measurements, plan the furniture, and start turning it into your dream space.

Insulate the space

insulation installation
Make sure that you insulate the space well

Garages are usually not very well insulated. The floor is usually naked, walls are thin, and standard garage doors are not made for keeping the space protected from outdoor temperatures. Therefore, if you are planning to turn this into a functional space you will have to deal with the insulation as well. Unfortunately, if you do not have any experience with this, you will probably have to hire professionals. When it comes to a garage door, besides insulation, you will also have to think about its functionality. You have many available options on the market. So make sure that you choose a good garage door that will serve as a good insulator and allow you to access your space easily.

Painting and putting in the furniture

Once you are finished with insulation installation, paint the walls. Of occurs, which color you will choose depends on your preferences as well as your garage’s final purpose. Once the colors are dry install the furniture, racks, and shelves, and you can call our storage service Seattle to deliver items you temporarily placed inside our facility.

How hard this task will be? Depends on the current state of your garage

And that is it. That is how to reclaim your garage in a few simple steps. As you can see, decluttering and remodeling are the two biggest tasks. However, if you are garage is not cluttered, installing insulation and furniture will be your main and most difficult task.

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