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.

Six mistakes when renting storage

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Are you about to rent storage? Don’t know how to choose the right one? PortaBox Storage understands how difficult it may be to find suitable storage that will match all your requirements. When choosing a place to store their belongings, many people end up renting the wrong one. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of six crucial mistakes when renting storage you should avoid. Take our advice and don’t let your things get damaged.

A storage unit
Renting the proper storage unit is not an easy task and mistakes when renting storage often occur.

What should you consider when choosing storage?

When renting storage, people usually think that their only job is to find one. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. A lot of things should be taken into account when renting storage, and many people are not acquainted with the basic things to consider before choosing one. And that’s okay. That’s why our experts from Kirkland self-storage prepared you a list of things to pay attention to when looking for the right place for keeping your belongings.

  • Consider what storage type you need
  • Decide which items to store and prioritize
  • Think about storage conditions that your belongings require
  • Consider temperature-controlled facilities
  • Decide the level of security your belongings need
  • Don’t forget about securing your belongings
  • Think about the packing materials your belongings require
  • Research storage companies and their services. Compare them.
  • Check the physical aspect of the unit
  • Check what items can be stored

What are the common mistakes when renting storage?

Mistakes happen, and it’s not simple to foresee them. However, this doesn’t mean you cannot prevent most of them. Wonder what is the reason behind making mistakes? Well, the answer is simple – improper organization and planning. Due to them, mistakes happen easily. Here are six common mistakes when renting storage:

  1. Choosing distant storage facilities: Choosing storage that is distant from your old and new homes is both time-consuming and costly.
  2. Not securing your belongings: If you don’t secure your boxes, your belongings are at high risk of damage and even breaking, which you surely don’t want to happen.
  3. Not having the right floor plan: If you fail to plan space organization, you risk not having enough space.
  4. Storing your belongings in improvised storage: This is the riskiest mistake since such types of storage aren’t equipped and don’t have the right conditions for keeping your valuables safe.
  5. Not labeling the boxes properly: In this case, you risk damaging your belongings.
  6. Focusing on the price only: Although price is an important factor when choosing storage, you should not be guided by the price only.

Choosing distant storage facilities

One of the most common mistakes people make when renting storage is mischoosing the distance of the storage facility. Most storage facilities may be too far away from your old or new home. And storing your items this way requires renting a truck, loading your belongings into a moving truck, driving to the storage facility, unloading your items off the vehicle, and carrying them to the storage. And when the moving day comes, you need to load the boxes again and unload them at your final destination. A pretty time-consuming venture, right? That’s why you should consider renting portable storage containers. When you opt for portable storage, you save time loading, unloading, and relocating your possessions. You only have to tell your moving company when and where you want the containers to be picked up and delivered.

Storage
The size of the storage is what mostly defines the safety of your belongings.

Besides, other storage facilities are usually large-sized, often compared with large houses, which are not convenient when you don’t have a lot of things to store. Of course, you can find smaller ones, but you’ll still have to deal with the daunting task of loading and unloading. Also, the prices are higher than when renting a portable storage container. So, why pay a lot for a large space that you won’t use long. Instead, choose Seattle mini storage and avoid spending too much time and money. Besides using Seattle mini storage, you can also choose on-demand storage, short-term, or door-to-door storage.

The biggest mistake when renting storage is not securing your belongings

Another common mistake people make when renting storage is failing to secure their items. Some of the companies aren’t responsible for your belongings and it depends on the type of storage space you opt for. You should check with your storage company what kind of valuation coverage they offer and whether it is enough to keep the items safe. As s result, you won’t have to worry about the condition and safety of your belongings.

Don’t have the right floor plan for your storage container? Avoid this mistake when renting storage

When storing your belongings, every single inch is important. Why? Well, the safety of your belongings depends largely on how you organize the space and arrange the items. That’s why you should make an efficient floor plan to arrange the furniture and boxes well. If you fail to organize them appropriately, you risk not having enough space and you risk damaging your items. Some things require more space than others; some need to be placed vertically, some horizontally, and it’s not easy to do this without previously planning the arrangement. Think of the storage as a puzzle where all pieces should be put together.

Don’t make the mistake of choosing improvised storage

The worst mistake you can make when renting storage is to use improvised storage units. It is always better to use professional storage services than to risk damage, breakage, or even theft when using improvised storage. This mistake will cost you a lot in the end. So, why risk? If you cannot decide the storage location, you can always search for portable storage containers near me and transport your belongings whenever, and as many times you want.

A woman wondering about mistakes when renting storage
Packing is the first step of securing your belongings when storing

Improper packing is one of the main mistakes you can make when renting storage

Proper packing is the key to successful relocation especially if you want to store your belongings. That’s why you should carefully choose packing materials to secure your furniture and boxes. Our recommendation is to use professional packing services since your movers will know exactly how to pack up your stuff for storing them safely. Don’t make the mistake of packing the items yourself, especially the furniture. Let professionals take care of that. They’ll know what pieces of furniture they should disassemble and they’ll know exactly what kind of packing supplies to use for the best protection.

Focusing only on the price is the worst mistake you can make when renting storage

If you only focus on the price of renting storage, you risk not getting the appropriate service. People usually think that renting storage is expensive, but it doesn’t have to be so. You can find excellent storage services at affordable prices. Choosing storage based only on the price will limit your options for storing your belongings safely, and securely. Also, you may not get the chance to rent temperature-controlled storage, which, you’ll agree is very important. Besides, your belongings maybe won’t be monitored well. So, don’t make this mistake, and remember – you can find storage that is both suitable and affordable at the same time.

Need a place for storing your valuable belongings?

Avoid the mistakes when renting storage and choose the one smartly. And now the choice is easier with PortaBox Storage. Any type of storage, only call away from you. So, don’t hesitate to contact your preferred storage provider. Store your belongings without worrying about their safety.

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