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 to pack first when moving

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Moving to a new place is a stressful and daunting process. One of the most difficult parts of every move is definitely packing. No matter if you are moving across the street or to a new country, packing is the most time-consuming and boring task. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. If you do proper planning of what to pack first when moving, the whole packing process can be done efficiently and without any trouble. If you want to be fully packed in no time, follow our guide.

The first thing you need to do before packing

Woman thinking what to pack first when moving
Packing can bring a lot of stress, but if you know what to pack first when moving, the whole process of packing is much easier.

Let’s start from the beginning. Even before you start thinking about what to pack first when moving or whether to rent a self storage Lynnwood WA container, you first need to deal with a few fundamental moving tasks. You must organize your relocation and prepare yourself for the packing process. These are the things you need to do.

Create a moving checklist

The moment you decide to relocate, you should make a moving checklist. During relocation, there are numerous tasks that need to be completed. Therefore, it would be better if you are well-organized, so there will be a small chance that something goes wrong. Your moving checklist should include a timeline of all the tasks that you need to do. With this list, you will know when to rent Kenmore self storage or when to change utilities. Once you are done with one thing, you can check it off. 

Make inventory list

Before you start thinking about what to pack first when moving, it would be smart to take inventory. That way, you will see just how many belongings you have to relocate. First, write down everything you own. Then, you can break it into categories. This way, you will determine how many sets of sheets you have or how many boxes with out-of-season clothes there are that you don’t need at the moment. Maybe, you will realize that some boxes can be stored in self storage Seattle, so you can get them later when you need them. Having this list will help you figure out what items should be packed first and what can be stored later on. 

Get rid of some stuff

Woman carrying cardboard boxes
Start packing for the move with the items stored in your storage, garage, and in your walk-in closet.

Once you make your inventory list, you will probably realize that there are a number of items on the list to get rid of. Therefore, before you start packing for the move, take time to eliminate some old clothes, recycle old books and magazines, and toss items that you won’t use anymore. Once you are done with this, you are ready for the packing.

What to pack first when moving

Many people have trouble with packing, and that is all because they do not know where to start and that to pack first. Luckily, we have compiled a list of what you should pack first. With this list in your hand, you will never have trouble with packing again.

Pack items in storage first

The first items you should pack when moving are the ones in your storage. It doesn’t matter if these items are stored in storage, garage, or your walk-in closet, they are very easy to pack since they are already in the boxes. However, you need to make sure that the boxes are in good condition. Also, get rid of the boxes you do not want. Remember, the fewer boxes you take with you, the better.

Out-of-season clothes

Out-of-season clothes, like items in your storage or garage, are probably in the boxes. Thus, these items are very easy to pack first when moving. Plus, you won’t have to go through these boxes again, since you have probably done that when you were packing the clothes. Therefore, you can start packing with these boxes and give yourself time to tackle more difficult stuff to pack.

Fine china and rarely used plates

A couple packing boxes
An inventory list will help you be organized and pack more efficiently

Well, you won’t be a host of a fancy dinner party during your move, will you? Therefore, fine china and dishes that you rarely use are perfect items to pack first when moving. However, make sure to pack these items very carefully using the proper packing material. Remember to label the boxes as fragile, so you will know what is inside the box on your moving day. Since you are already packing dishes, you might also pack other dishes and cookware. You can spend a few weeks using paper plates.

Artwork and picture frames

Even though artwork can be a bit tricky to pack, they are good for packing first. We use artwork and picture frames as decoration. But, you must admit that you do not need decoration while you pack for the move. Also, there is a big chance that you forget about them when the packing chaos begins. Therefore, you should pack the artwork first when moving is avoid forgetting them.

Books

If you are a book lover, you probably have dozens of books on the shelves and all around the house. Nevertheless, you should choose two or three books to keep with you during relocation, and should pack the rest of your books. Books are very good to start packing when moving since they are similar in shape and that makes them easy to pack. Remember to return the borrowed books to their owners.

As you can see, deciding what to pack first when moving might sound a bit scary, but with a good plan and a little help, it can be pretty easy. Follow our simple guide and you will be packed and prepared for the move in no time.

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