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 save time while packing

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One of the main reasons why moving and moving preparations take so much time is packing. Packing is the most time-consuming task when moving. After all, you do have to pack everything you own. And that takes time – a lot of time. Depending on how you organize, it might take you weeks to get everything packed and ready to go. So every idea to save time while packing is worth considering, especially if you’re moving on short notice. Luckily for you, the PortaBox Storage team are experts at packing and we are here to share the most useful tips and tricks on how to cut down your packing time.

Save time while packing by preparing well

Preparation is half the work when it comes to packing your household. Whether you are preparing for relocation or simply planning on using Issaquah self storage for your belongings, the process is the same. It all starts with preparation. If you get that step right, everything else will be much easier.

Planner for planning on how to save time while packing.
Staying organized will help you pack faster.

Have a plan

The first thing you’ll want to do when packing for Mill Creek self storage is to create a plan. Packing is a huge task that can take weeks to complete. This can seem very overwhelming. And when you feel like you’re facing too big of a task, it can be difficult to start. To avoid such issues, break packing down into smaller tasks. Write them all down: decluttering, gathering supplies, packing each room, cleaning. When you have a list, it’ll be harder to forget things. Remember to put your checklist on a timeline as well – you don’t want to be paying for storage space you’re not using because you haven’t packed yet.

Gather your supplies in advance

It is best to have all your packing materials ready to go before you start packing. This will save time because you won’t have to constantly be replenishing your supplies in the middle of packing. Instead, buy all the materials you need (and a bit extra just in case) before you start then set up a “packing station” in your home where you’ll keep them. That way you’ll be more organized.

Save time while packing by hiring professionals

It should go without saying that the fastest way to pack is by hiring professional packers. Just because you’re using self-storage doesn’t mean you can’t rely on other moving services like professional packing. Simply hire movers for this task and they’ll get it all done within a few hours. It saves time, energy, and nerves. However, it will cost you.

Save time while packing by getting rid of stuff

The more stuff you have, the more packing supplies you need to pack them and the more time it takes to complete the task. On top of all that, you’ll need a bigger unit to store more stuff and that will only add to your storage rental costs. So to save yourself both time and money, declutter before packing for moving or storage.

Go through all your belongings and split them into three categories: the things you want to keep (and therefore move or store), the things you want to donate, and the things you may as well throw away. Although we all form attachments to our belongings, it is best to be ruthless when decluttering – at the very least, get rid of anything you haven’t used in a year or more.

Person browsing a second hand shop.
Donate to charities or second-hand shops.

Best packing practices

There are multiple strategies you can use when packing. Which one works best for you depends on how you prefer to organize and how much time you have. But the general rule is to go room by room and start with the things you’re not using.

Start with the things you don’t need on a daily basis

The first things you should pack are the things you have no use for at the moment. This includes out-of-season clothing, holiday decorations, fine china, and other things that only come out seasonally or on special occasions. Then you can slowly work your way up to the things you use on a daily basis like cutlery, towels, mattresses. Following this strategy allows you to pace your packing without disrupting your daily routine.

Pack room by room

The easiest way to stay organized and keep track of your packing is to go room by room. You’ll always know exactly where you are and what you still need to do. It’s a simple yet effective way of packing that works for virtually every situation, even last-minute relocation. Start in one corner of the home, focusing on one room at a time until you’re done with it before moving on to the next area of the house.

Save time on unpacking

Regardless of whether you are moving or storing your belongings, you are (presumably) going to be using them again at some point in the future. This means that everything you pack, you must also unpack. This process can be time-consuming as well if you don’t plan for it.

Couple unpacking.
Unpacking can take time too.

Label everything

The most important and effective way of making unpacking faster and easier is by labeling your boxes. This serves multiple purposes: it lets you (or your movers) know which boxes may contain fragile items, it tells you what’s in a box so you can easily locate specific things if you need them, and it makes unpacking simple because you don’t have to wonder what’s where and can instead identify which box goes where without even opening it.

Prepare a first-night bag or box when moving

If you’re packing for a move, then you need to plan accordingly. You’ll probably be very tired after relocation and you won’t want to jump into unpacking the second your belongings are delivered. But you’re still going to need some essentials like a change of clothes, toiletries, bedclothes, and the like for your first day and night in a new home. So pack a separate bag or box with those things and bring it with you to make sure it’s not lost somewhere on the moving truck. It might not save time while packing, but it’ll certainly make the days immediately after your move easier.

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