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.

Storage container vs attic – which wins?

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People often have a hard time letting things go. We always want to keep everything we own, just in case we might need it eventually. The problem arises at a point where you simply have too many things to keep in your home. Then, you have to find a way to store all of your seasonal clothes, photo albums, and toys, without cramping up your living space. Now, if your home has an attic, you could fall into temptation and use it as an easy solution to the problem, and place everything in it. However, have you ever considered the option of renting PortaBox Storage Seattle? The storage container vs attic is an age-old debate because both solutions come with their own benefits. Today, we’ll attempt to take a closer look at these two storing methods, and try to determine which one wins!

Keep the overall structural safety in mind when making your choice

The most important thing to consider is whether or not your attic was meant to be used as a storage space. With that said, structural safety is an essential factor to keep in mind. In order for you to safely store your items, the floor joints of the attic, as well as the floorboards, need to consist of sturdy materials that can handle the weight. If the structure of your attic is weak, filling it with too many boxes may cause it to collapse. You can counter this by hiring contractors to completely remodel it, however, this comes at a high cost. With self storage Marysville WA on the other hand, you don’t need to worry. The containers are made of durable materials which can withstand prolonged use. Most importantly, the unit sits on the ground, which means the weight capacity is not an issue.

Woman trying to decide between storage container vs attic
The storage container vs attic decision doesn’t have to be difficult at all!

Storage container vs attic – the cost aspect

Regardless if you’re moving, or just looking for ways to safely store excess items, one aspect comes to mind before all others. We’re talking of course, about the price. Planning a house budget is a very important factor for every household, and with that in mind, it is natural for you to try and store your items while minimizing the expenses. With that said, it is reasonable to think that using your attic as storage would be the cheaper option. It is a part of your house, so you don’t have to pay for any extra storage. However, remember the point we discussed previously, in terms of your attic being ready to serve as a storage unit. If it is in good condition, then you’re probably good to go and can save some money.

Attic space prior to renovating
Renovating your attic into a storage space may require high investments

But if the space isn’t in proper condition, you’ll have to remodel it in order to make it usable. This ranges from things like reinforcements and insulation, to even touching up on the roof structure and the tiles themselves. Once you add this all up, it can be quite a hefty sum. At this point, you need to return to the storage container vs attic decision and decide whether or not it’s worth taking on such a task. If you want to save up money and divert it to other expenses, it is a wise choice to rent short term storage Seattle. With a storage container, you’ll pay a very small monthly fee. And, you’ll get a well-maintained unit, so you won’t have to worry about restoration expenses.

Besides the safety of your storage space, you need to think about your own well-being

When it comes to your daily life, it is very important to stay healthy and safe, as you already know. With that said, you need to think about the ways storing items can affect your health. For example, in most cases, attics are only accessible through a square hole in the ceiling. This usually requires the user to climb up using either a ladder or a stepping stool. This may seem relatively simple on its own, but becomes significantly harder when you’re carrying boxes or heavy items in your hands and could lead to moving day injuries. This means that you’d either have a very hard time doing it alone or that you’ll need help every time you need to store or remove something. Alternatively, you can once again take the remodeling route, and hire a contractor to improve your attic.

two people packing a box
It all comes to your personal preferences and the type of items you want to store

If you go for remodeling, you’d first have to add a set of solid stairs or a ramp. Then, for even more ease of access, you’d have to widen the ceiling access too. This is, yet again, a costly process, and it doesn’t guarantee complete success. Some of the items you want to store may still be too heavy or wide to fit in the attic. This all changes when you rent a portable storage container, with the exception of a few general safety tips for storing. There is no risk of tripping, falling, or damaging your items! Also, the entrance to the unit is as wide as the unit itself, leaving you ample room to easily fit even the bulkiest of items inside.

Storage container vs attic – final summation

Now that we have a deeper insight into how both storage options function and how they are maintained, we can safely make the final verdict. The truth is, in the decision of storage container vs attic, it all comes down to your personal preference and capabilities. If you have plenty of smaller items that are easy to carry, you could use your attic without the need to renovate. If you do need renovations, it comes down to whether or not you can afford it. However, there’s one thing you must keep in mind. When you consider the maintenance costs, item safety, as well as personal safety, portable storage units have a significant advantage. They are very cheap, very easy to rent and use, require basically no maintenance, and have absolute ease of access. This is something to remember the next time you need to move, declutter, or renovate your home.

 

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