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.

Must-have storage supplies for first-time renters

Step 1 of 2

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Renting a storage unit is slowly becoming a necessity for most homeowners. The fact of the matter is that homes and offices are becoming smaller by the year, especially in the larger cities. But even in smaller ones, such as Everett, storage units are in high demand. To make the most out of your Everett self storage unit, you are going to want to procure some of the must-have storage supplies before you relocate your belongings there. But what exactly do you need? We are going to cover the answer to that question in this article.

What are the must-have storage supplies when renting a self storage unit?

two people walking around a storage facility
Simply finding a storage unit to rent is not enough for an ideal experience.

Generally, the choice of supplies greatly depends on the type and number of items that you wish to store. However, they can be categorized into several types. Here are the supplies that every storage unit can profit from:

  • Packing materials
  • Containers
  • Shelving
  • Cleaning products

Having these before you start transporting your items to the storage unit is going to make the entire experience much more enjoyable. Do note, however, that some storage companies can provide you with much of these supplies and materials. That is why you may want to take some extra time to choose the perfect storage unit for your purposes. It has the potential to reduce the time and effort you are going to need to invest.

For example, our Lynnwood self storage facility can provide you with universal portable self storage containers and packing materials. Most of the units are rented out by a moving and storage company, after all. At the very least, by talking to your storage service provider, you will understand what it is exactly that you need to make your belongings as safe as possible.

Moving on, let’s explore each category so you can understand exactly why is it that you need these supplies.

Packing materials

Even though your items are going to be within the safe confines of a storage unit, that does not mean you can afford to be sloppy with the packing process. When moving things in and out of a storage container, there is always a chance of something falling down or getting a bump here and there. And if your items are not properly packed, they might get damaged in the process.

The supplies that you are going to need are much the same as the ones you would use for the packing process for relocation. That means packing tape, packing paper, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, etc. Depending on the type of your items, you may want to procure additional supplies for maximum protection. If you are not sure exactly what it is that you need, you can always talk to the storage provider or a moving company. And if you are utilizing a business storage Seattle solution, for example, it might be worth your while to invest a bit more into high-quality packing materials. These supplies are not really that expensive and they can save you a lot of headaches.

Must-have storage supplies – Containers

some of the must-have storage supplies - cardboard boxes
You are going to need plenty of cardboard boxes.

Next up, containers. This includes all the cardboard boxes, plastic bins, baskets, totes, anything you can put some of your belongings into. You will want to have a variety of containers available before you start storing your belongings. Some items can be safely stored within a tote, for example, while others will require the full protection that a plastic bin can offer.

However, the choice of containers is going to greatly depend on the storage unit in question. One of the most cost-effective choices that you have at your disposal is PortaBox Storage. Our services enable you an affordable, easy-to-access solution for all your storage needs. We deliver our portable self storage containers to your address, where you can load them up with the boxes, bins, totes, or others types of containers for your items. Our team will then pick up the storage container and transport it back to one of our facilities until the time comes where you need those items back.

Shelving

To make the most out of your storage unit, you are going to want to utilize the space to its full potential. This means installing additional shelving inside a storage unit. While some storage units will already have built-in shelves, most of them do not. In most cases, there will be ample space to install shelving and create even more storage options. However, before you order the shelves, you may want to talk about your storage provider if you are allowed to install them.

You have a choice of metal, plastic, or wooden shelving, which will depend on the items that you plan on storing. Plastic shelves are a great choice if you don’t plan on having plenty of heavy items on them, for example. If you do, you might want to invest in heavier metal or wooden shelves. You can even build shelves on your own if you want to minimize the cost. If you have the time and the inclination, this is actually the best option.

Cleaning products

cleaning chemicals
Stock up on some cleaning chemicals.

Lastly, you may want to have some cleaning products on hand. You will want to thoroughly clean all of your belongings before you store them, anyway. But since you never know how much time it will pass until you need a specific item, you may need to clean it again before using it. That is why you may want to have some cleaning supplies within your storage unit. While some storage facilities offer their own cleaning services, few of them extend these services to your items. This is a task that you will need to do on your own.

Conclusion

As far as must-have storage supplies go, these are the most important ones. Of course, you will want some additional supplies based on other factors. For example, if you are storing your belongings in an “unsafe” neighborhood, you will need to invest in heavier and sturdier locks. Or if your unit has a problem with humidity, you are going to need supplies to deal with that. The best thing to do is always to talk to a professional and get recommendations for your specific situation. But for the most part, if you get these supplies that we mentioned, you will have no problems!

Latest Posts

Locations Served

LYNNWOOD PORTABOX

2902B Lincoln Way Lynnwood, WA, 98087

SEATTLE PORTABOX

10750 Aurora Ave N Suite B Seattle, WA 98133

NEWCASTLE PORTABOX

6868 Coal Creek Pkwy SE Newcastle, WA 98059

BOISE PORTABOX

103 N Curtis Road Boise, ID, 83706