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.

Tips for first-time storage renters

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Even though renting storage seems like a simple thing, first-time storage renters have a lot to think about.  If you are thinking about renting a storage unit, the first thing you should know is that there is a variety of storage solutions out there. Even though they might seem like a perfect place for your items when you scan them online, a closer look might reveal numerous issues with some of these solutions. In the following article, we will focus on making this whole process easier for you regardless of whether you are renting on demand storage Seattle or a regular self storage unit.

First, you need to find a good storage facility

PortaBox solution for Kenmore self-storage
Finding a proper self storage facility is crucial.

The most important thing for first-time storage renters to know is that the conditions inside the storage facility are the number one thing to focus on. Yes, there are many options to choose from, but if your storage facility doesn’t provide your items with a proper environment everything else will be secondary. That is why your main attention should be on finding self storage solutions that can keep your items in good condition on a long-term basis. So, here are some of the important things to check on before opting for a self storage Marysville solution, or any other location, for that matter:

Use online search to discover the storage solutions in your area

Go online and search for “storage companies near me”. Once you find several storage facilities leave a day or two to visit them in person. You need to see with your own eyes that your items will be stored in a good Mill Creek self storage, if that is where you are currently stationed. Call the storage companies you come across and see whether you can visit their facility or get a virtual presentation of it.

Check the exterior of the self storage facility

Nobody wants to store their valuables inside a 50-year-old warehouse that looks like it could collapse any minute. The first thing that you need to pay attention to once you arrive in front of the facility is its exterior. Does it look like it is well maintained and secure? Are there good access points and is the overall location practical and clear of shady neighborhoods? These are some minor details that can offer a lot of peace for those of us that tend to stress over safeguarding belongings in remote locations.

Inspect the interior thoroughly

Once you enter inside, take a look around you, you are looking for clues that show you how well this facility is maintained. Are all light bulbs working? Is it clean? Every storage company that takes good care of its facility should invest the time to make it all look professional. If there aren’t any that is a bad sign regardless of whether they have pest problems or not. If you see any of these red flags, leave the facility and move on to the next one on your list.

Check the safety

Another thing that you need to check especially if you are looking business storage Seattle is safety. You do not want to keep your items in a storage facility that doesn’t take any safety precautions. The first thing that you will notice is the fence around the facility. Is there a security house at the entrance or a vehicle ramp? Are there any surveillance cameras stationed on the walls? Is there an alarm system?

surveillance cameras
You want to rent a safe storage

Of course, those things do not have to be so obvious nor the facility has to have all those measures to be considered safe. If you are not sure what they do safety-wise, talk to management and ask them about this issue.

Compare storage services and rates

Once you find one, two, or even three facilities that you like it is time to pick the best. Of course, this depends on your requirements and their services and rates. Maybe you need on-demand storage. Or you need a climate-controlled unit. Maybe you look for business storage suitable for keeping documents. There are many different kinds of storage services. And you need to find a storage company that offers what you need. Of course, if you find that two different facilities offer the service you need, simply compare their rates and location and pick the one that works the best for you.

How to determine the type of storage you need?

With so many different types of storage solutions available today, it’s important to find the one best suited for your needs. And for first-time storage renters that have little to no experience in the self storage industry, making the smart call becomes vital. PortaBox Storage Seattle is a company with a very modern and practical approach that is tailored for first-time storage renters.

You order a portable storage container and have it delivered to your home. You load up the storage container (or you can let our team handle it for you) and have us transport it to one of our facilities for safekeeping. When the need for those stored items arises, you have us deliver the temporary storage Seattle container back to you to unload it. A very simple and direct approach that makes storage easier.

Proper packaging is one of the crucial things when renting storage

Packing boxes
Having the right packing supplies is very important for first-time storage renters.

When renting storage, packaging can make a huge difference. First, proper packaging will keep your items safe from dust, moisture, pests, and deterioration. Of course, you need to apply suitable packaging for every particular item. Clothes should be stored in plastic or vacuum bags that will keep them from soaking unpleasant odors, for example. Wooden and metal items should be wrapped in plastic. While plastic, glass, or porcelain, for example, could be stored in cardboard boxes.  Another thing that you should keep in mind regarding packaging is that it can significantly lower the volume of your inventory and that if you pack your items well, you can get a much smaller and cheaper storage unit.

Follow these tips if you want to keep your items in good condition long term

Of course, these are just basic tips for first-time storage renters. There are many other things that you should think about. However, if you follow these guidelines those other things will be much easier to handle.

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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