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.

Self-storage safety tips for beginners

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Safety should come first in all spheres and storage is no different. If you are thinking about renting a Renton self-storage unit, then you have to do much more than just pack up your items and throw them in a unit. What you need are some of the best self-storage safety tips that will help you avoid making a crucial mistake and jeopardizing your security, as well as the security of your items. Worry not – our goal for today will be to familiarize you with some things you have to do if you plan on storing your items in the near future.

The best self-storage safety tips you need to keep in mind

Now, mind you that even if you do everything by the book, some of your items might still get damaged. Although, the chances of that happening are minimal to none. So take every necessary measure of precaution the next time you find yourself in need of Woodinville self-storage. It will help you avoid many safety hazards that people come across when storage is concerned.

Find a safe and monitored facility

Storage has become a huge industry with lots of facilities competing for tenants. Depending on how you look at it, this can be both a good thing and a bad one. But we are not here to debate on that. What so many different choices can do is help you make the best decision by choosing a facility with the most layers of protection. The first layer is a gate or fence that is surrounding the perimeter. The second layer is video surveillance, with bonus points if the facility has an on-site guard at all times. And then we have electronic keys and codes, special padlocks, a whole array of different ways to keep your items safe and sound.

PortaBox solution for Kenmore self-storage
Keep your eyes open when choosing a storage facility that you plan to use.

That being said, don’t let your hastiness trick you into choosing the nearest facility. Unless the proximity is the most important quality for you. Do your research, tour different facilities, and always keep these self-storage safety tips in mind. They’ll come in handy before you know it.

Get familiar with the list of prohibited items

Have you ever heard of the fact that there are some items you can’t store in a storage unit? A lot of people haven’t, which causes them to make the biggest and most crucial mistake – storing prohibited items. Just to give you an idea of what type of items could be considered as prohibited, we’ll list a few items you can’t store in any storage unit.

  • Living beings, such as animals or plants
  • Perishable food
  • Ammunition
  • Flammable materials

Of course, every item can catch on fire due to many different reasons. But what you absolutely can’t do is store highly combustible items, such as gasoline. Imagine the catastrophe that would ensue if such material were to catch on fire. If you have any doubts when renting our units, we here at PortaBox Storage are always more than happy to tell you whether you plan on storing any items that could lead to a dangerous situation.

A plant in a black pot.
Forget about storing your plants inside a unit.

Store items that are 100% dry

A lot of people don’t realize this, but storing an item that is even slightly wet could lead to a horrible situation. Damp items are known for attracting and causing mold and mildew, which will only attract pests and insects. Soon enough, you will have a situation no storage renter wants to see – you’ll be in the middle of a pest infestation. So, be on the safe side and check whether all of your items are nice and dry. And do this whether you are renting a short-term or long-term storage unit – it doesn’t take much for damage to appear.

Be careful how you stack the boxes

A lot of times, we see people renting a huge storage unit because they have dozens of cardboard boxes that are filled with items. And the image we usually associate with such a situation is a unit that is filled with stacked boxes. If you are determined to stack your boxes, please keep this self-storage safety tip in mind – make sure you store lighter boxes on top, and heavier ones at the bottom. Also, don’t go overboard with the stacks. There is no golden rule as to how many boxes you can stack, but we do recommend you keep it to no more than four boxes in a stack.

Reach the maximum level of self-storage safety by renting a climate-controlled unit

Climate-controlled units are a special invention that provides maximum safety for your items. While they are a good idea pretty much always, they are of paramount importance if you live in a state with fluctuating temperatures. Storing your items during winter or summer is very risky unless you have the climate-control feature enabled in your unit. 

A man reading a book on self-storage safety tips.
Whether you are a businessman or not, you definitely want to make a good investment.

Truth be told, these units are more expensive than regular units. But there is a good reason why climate-controlled units have made their way on our list of self-storage safety tips – they are worth every penny. You won’t have to worry about pest infestation, nor about the cold or hot temperatures damaging your items. That being said, there are some types of items we definitely wouldn’t risk it with. If you are storing antiques, wooden furniture, works of art, or any other valuable items, definitely invest in a climate-controlled unit. You’ll soon be able to see just how much your investment will pay off.

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