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.

What are the risks of doing a last-minute move

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There are many times when people are forced to relocate in a hurry. Although this situation can be a bit overwhelming, you can make it simpler and we are going to tell you how. If you keep reading this guide, you will learn about the risks of doing a last-minute move and how to manage them without putting your relocation in jeopardy. So, grab a cup of coffee, make yourself comfortable, and keep reading to learn more about handling your emergency move without stress!

Need to move in a hurry? It’s not as hard as it sounds

Hourglass on the table
Last-minute relocations require good time-management and organizational skills

If you have been following our blog, then you already know how important it is to keep things organized. Whether you are relocating your items to your new home or placing them in portable storage Boise, you will need a well-made plan as a starting point. And like all plans, the sooner you create it, the better. But what happens when you have to move in a hurry and you aren’t able to plan everything at your own pace? How can you be sure that you will have a successful relocation if you don’t have the time to properly plan it?

It can be challenging, that much is true – but it also doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds. Yes, emergency relocations are more challenging than others. And, having to prep everything can be a bit overwhelming. However, even when you need to move in a hurry, you will still have enough time to plan your further steps. All of this will be even simpler if you hire professionals. They are used to working fast so they will be able to move all your belongings from point A to point B in next to no time.

The most common risks of doing the last-minute move

The thing about the last-minute move is that you will need to take care of moving preparations quickly and when you work under the pressure, mistakes can happen. However, you shouldn’t let this scare you off. Instead, you should learn about the risks of doing a last-minute move and learn from other people’s mistakes. By doing this, you will prepare yourself for the upcoming challenge and you’ll know how to organize a successful relocation.

To help you out, we have listed three risks of doing a last-minute relocation. Here is what you need to know about them and how to avoid any unpleasant situation during your emergency move.

Moving injuries

Two people carrying boxes
Most back injures happen because of lifting big and bulky items

Whether you need to move in a hurry or not, this risk will be present. Unfortunately, moving injuries happen all the time. In most cases, people get hurt during the move or when placing items in temporary storage Seattle because they try to do everything on their own. Individuals try to lift extremely heavy items and don’t ask anyone for help. This kind of behavior can often lead to muscle inflammation, torn ligaments, or back injuries. So, how can you avoid them? Well, it is not that hard. To avoid moving injuries you should:

  • Avoid lifting heavy items on your own;
  • Find friends to help you or hire professional movers;
  • Avoid rushing things;
  • Learn the proper lifting techniques;
  • Make regular breaks during the move.

Damaging items during the relocation

There are different tactics to pack your household and many of them will help you speed up this process. Although they are really useful, you shouldn’t rush things and try packing all your items at the same time. Rushing things during a move is when most mistakes happen. So, take your time with this process.

If you want to ensure the safety of your items during the move, you will need to pack them carefully. And if the big move is getting closer, you need to find help and hire professionals. You can declutter your home and they can pack it. By working together, you will handle packing with ease and your items won’t get damaged during the relocation.

Dealing with fraudulent moving companies

As you can see, you can avoid the risks of doing a last-minute move by hiring a professional moving company in Washington. But, this doesn’t mean you should hire any company. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scammers out there who are just waiting for people to hire them. In most cases, those who need to move in a hurry, aren’t paying attention when hiring a moving company. Since they want to take care of everything as fast as they can, they don’t research a moving company before hiring it. And, this is a very big mistake that can have some serious consequences.

Couple sitting on sofa and readin on their laptop about the risks of doing a last minute move
Research the company before hiring it to avoid the trouble

So, even if you need to move in a hurry, you will still need to get informed about the company you plan to hire. You should check their profiles on social media, check the USDOT number, and see if the info they have provided you with checks out. That is how you can be sure that you are not dealing with a fraudulent company.

Tips and tricks to help you avoid the risks of a last-minute move

Although we have already mentioned how you can avoid the risks from above. Let’s go through these methods once again. Here is how you can move with ease even if you need to relocate in a hurry.

  • Have a plan – You need to sit and start writing things down. What do you need? Do you need to get a Seattle mini storage? Or do you have some valuables that can be moved only by skilled professionals? Do you know where you will move your belongings? Write all of these things down and come up with a plan.
  • Don’t do everything on your own – We are sure you can move on your own, but there is a simpler and cheaper way. With the help of professionals, you will manage to relocate your stuff to the new address in next to no time. They can deal with every step of your relocation while you focus on other things. Trust us, this will be of great use to you.

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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