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 and tricks for packing books for storage

Step 1 of 2

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Any book lover understands the frustration of a bent cover, ripped, or a wrinkled page. No wonder they get anxious just thinking about the process of packing books for storage. Having to pack all books before placing them in self storage Seattle might sound challenging, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Sure, some challenges might appear during this process, but our guide is here to help all of you pack your precious book collection and store it in the safest possible manner. You only need to follow the tips we have prepared for you in this article.

Things you will need for a good start

Cardboard boxes, scissors, and books on a table
Speed up the packing process by gathering the necessary supplies in advance

Before we start listing the steps to placing books in Bellevue self storage, we will mention a couple of things that are necessary for a good start.  If you want to avoid problems while you prep your books for storage, this is what you are going to need.

  • A good plan and a schedule. Plan the entire process and you will manage to store your book collection in a timely manner.
  • Secure storage facility. Finding a well-maintained storage unit from a trusted company is a must. Also, if you plan to store books over a longer period of time, consider getting a climate-controlled facility. Books are delicate and this type of facility can keep them safe.
  • The necessary tools and supplies. Before you start packing books for storage, make sure you have gathered all materials and tools. There’s nothing worse than having to go back to the store to buy more boxes when you are in the middle of a packing process.
  • Help from professional packers or a good packing guide. In case you are not sure whether you will be able to pack your books properly, hire professionals. They have the skills and experience that allow them to take care of packing in next to no time.

How to pack your book collection for storage properly?

One of the reasons why packing books for storage can be so overwhelming is because they can easily get damaged during this process. Books have a great impact on our lives and many consider them as a real treasure. Because they are so important, the least we can do is do our best to pack them properly.

That’s how we can ensure their safety during transportation and the storing period. So, let’s learn how to do this! Here are the key steps that will allow you to safely store your book collection for as long as you need it. Follow them and you will have nothing to worry about.

Optimize your book collection before packing it for storage

Woman carrying books
Store only the books you want to keep and get rid of the rest

We will be honest with you. This will be the hardest step of packing books for storage. Although you don’t have to go through it, we strongly advise it because it will make packing cost-effective. What you can do is weigh the pros and cons of this and see whether you are going to go through this step or not.

If you are not sure what’s this step all about, here’s the explanation. If you are like any other book lover, then your home is probably drowning in all sorts of books. Packing and moving all of them will not only take a lot of your time but it will also be pricey. That’s why you should go through your collection and look for books you can get rid of. That’s the painful part of this step. We are not saying you should get rid of your favorite pieces. You should look for duplicates or books you didn’t like. There is really no point in storing these books! Instead, you can donate them, sell, trade with a friend, or give them away to one of Washington’s public libraries or one of Idaho’s public libraries. These are actually quite great options, so you should opt for the one you like the most.

Prepare your books and containers for packing

Coupla packing books for storage
Storing books becomes simple when you follow the right tips

So, did you separate the books you want to keep from the ones you are going to give away? If the answer is yes, congrats! The hardest part is over. Now, all that is left are preparation and packing. Keep in mind that you will have to prepare both your books and boxes for storage. And, here is how to do it.

  • If your books are dusty, clean them. One of the measures for protecting belongings in storage includes cleaning every item you plan to store.
  • Make an inventory list. Write down the name of every book you are going to store.
  • Strengthen your boxes. Use a strong packing tape to reinforce the joints and edges on your boxes.
  • Buy or make a repellent. Just in case, you should place a repellent in your home to keep pests away.

Start loading books into boxes

One of the most common mistakes people make when they start packing books for storage is that they pack them as if they are on the shelf. This is the wrong way. What you should do is lay the books facing flat, and pack them in columns. Start with the bigger books and place them on the bottom of your boxes. The spines of books should support each other and that’s why you need to pack binding to the binding. If there are any empty spaces, fill them with crumpled paper or foam peanuts. Do your best to fill any empty space in your boxes.

In case you have old and fragile boxes, handle them with extra care. Wrap them in packing paper and pack them separately in smaller boxes. Learn from other people’s mistakes, look for tips that can tell you how to save time while packing, and hire professionals if necessary. These are some of the ways that will help you take care of storing books like a pro. And, in case you need quality self-storage, reach out to us.

Latest Posts