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.

Reasons why self storage is more popular than ever

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The last two years have reshaped the world we live in. Unfortunately, this has caused many businesses to struggle to keep their doors open with small businesses especially vulnerable. But some industries have fared better than others. In fact, self storage is more popular than ever. Whether we’re talking about temporary storage Seattle or more long-term solutions, people are renting storage space more than ever before. So how has the storage industry managed to not just survive but thrive in these strange times?

Self storage is more popular than ever because companies have adapted to their customers’ needs

Person using a laptop.
Smoothly transitioning to a more online-based model is one of the reasons why self storage is more popular than ever.

One of the things self storage companies have done very well is to continue operating safely during the pandemic. Unlike some industries where it was not possible (or at least not easy) to stay open while following restrictions, movers and storage providers have kept their doors open as essential businesses. And they’ve done so remarkably well.

Remote estimates

You can get estimates for self storage solutions via phone or online from most companies. This saves you the effort of having to tour storage facilities and waste precious time having to talk with representatives in person. If you are interested in knowing the cost of renting one or more of our Woodinville self storage containers, all you have to do is fill out the quote form on our website. And if you would like to learn more about how it works, all you would have to do is contact us directly.

Minimal contact with strangers

Since one of the main reasons why self storage is more popular than ever is compliance with regulations during the pandemic, we cannot skip the part where renting storage space only requires minimal contact with people outside of your social bubble. You pack your things and organize your space. And while someone has to deliver the storage container and the lock and keys to you, you can receive the delivery without ever coming within 6 feet of the driver. So there’s no need to worry about infection.

A great solution during lockdowns

Person working from home.
Setting up a home office will be easier when you clear out the necessary space with the help of storage.

Lockdowns and stay-at-home orders have affected everyone differently. Some have started working from home while others have lost their jobs entirely. For those working from home, storage has been a godsend. All you need to do is clear out a room by putting your belongings in storage and you can build yourself a home office. But even those who haven’t been working from home have reaped the benefits of self storage during the pandemic. If you’ve lost your job and fallen behind on rent, storage can help you downsize without getting rid of any belongings. Then, once you’re back on your feet, you can just continue where you’d left off.

Self storage is more popular than ever because businesses are downsizing

Individual people aren’t the only ones who have found the last few years difficult. Many businesses are struggling to keep their doors open and looking for ways to stay afloat. And business storage Seattle can help them with that.

For businesses operating on skeleton crews or with most of the employees working from home, renting the same storage space as before can be an unnecessary expense. They can instead store most of the furniture and equipment and move to a smaller, less expensive space or transition to working from home entirely. For non-essential retail businesses, storage can be a way to keep additional stock safe until it’s time to reopen. Finally, for businesses that had to downsize or even close temporarily, storage can be a good stop-gap until they’re ready to move back into a large office.

Self storage is more popular than ever because people are moving a lot

Storage is often used in conjunction with moving. When you’re moving, especially long distance, storage can help you pack more easily, move more smoothly, and conduct your relocation in stages. Over the last two years, people have been moving just as frequently as ever if not more. So it should come as no surprise that they’ve also been renting storage at the same rate.

Moving trucks driving down a road.
When people move, they also rent storage.

Many have chosen to move closer to their families. Others have decided to leave densely populated urban areas and go somewhere more suburban or even rural. Yet others have changed jobs and moved as a consequence. Some have had no choice but to move. Finally, some have simply reexamined their priorities and moved in search of a better life. Whatever the reason, people have been moving a lot over the past few years. And since storage makes moving easier, they’ve also been renting storage a lot.

How understanding the reasons why self storage is more popular than ever helps you

At this point, you may be wondering why you should care about how the self storage industry is doing these days. The answer is that there is a lot we can all learn from the state of the storage industry:

  • on a personal level, find out why you might need storage these days: If you’re considering renting self storage yourself but aren’t sure that it’s the right choice, knowing the main reasons why storage is so popular these days can help you make the decision. People have mostly been renting storage because they’re working from home, moving, or running a business; if that describes you, odds are you can benefit from storage too.
  • if you own a business, learn how other businesses are benefitting from storage: If you’re a business owner, the fact that many other businesses are using storage these days should fill you with confidence. Storage has been helping other businesses survive and thrive; it can help yours too.
  • as a business owner, learn how your business can thrive under similar conditions: If your business is struggling, then you can learn from self storage companies. Their compliance with local COVID-19 regulations and ability to adapt has helped them sail through the pandemic. Even if you’re not in the same business, that’s something you can take on board.

Understanding the reasons why self storage is more popular than ever can, therefore, help you through these trying times – much like storage itself.

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