Founded in 1890, Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage 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. The health & safety of our customers, staff, service providers, and local community are paramount and we continue to adhere to all directives from local, state, and federal government agencies.
Although many unknowns still remain, rest assured that Hansen Bros. will be timely and transparent in our communications regarding servicing your moving & storage needs. Our professional relocation consultants will work diligently to offer creative solutions in the event your project is impacted by the current health crisis.

OUR ACTIONS FOR COVID-19

All Hansen Bros. Employees are instructed and expected to follow the guidelines provided by the CDC. This includes:

  • Staying home from work if ill, experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or having been exposed to someone with the virus
  • Washing hands frequently with soap or using proper hand sanitizer when soap is not available
  • Maintaining a 6’ social distance from others to the highest degree possible
  • Wearing appropriate face masks when/if requested or required

Hansen Bros. continues to take the following steps:

  • Regularly refreshing and reinforcing prevention guidelines among all staff members to reduce the risk of spreading infection
  • Daily monitoring of staff for symptoms of illness and sending anyone with symptoms home
  • Offering customers the option of contact-free virtual estimate appointments – More Information About Virtual Estimates
  • Following all guidelines and protocols required by Retirement Living Communities, Apartment Complexes, Condominiums, Commercial Buildings, etc.
  • Upon request and at no charge, our crew members can wear masks while performing your move. Please simply notify your Relocation Consultant if this is your preference.

Hansen Bros. requests the following of our customers:

  • If you have a scheduled estimate appointment or booked move, please notify us immediately if you or any members of your household have been exposed to COVID-19, tested positive for COVID-19, or are experiencing symptoms including cough, fever, or difficulty breathing. Please rest assured there is NO CHARGE to reschedule your estimate or move due to illness – we will work together to find an alternate date that works for you.
  • Please use disinfectant/cleaner to wipe down commonly touched surfaces, objects, door handles, etc. at your residence.
  • Please make a sink, hand soap, and paper towels available to your outside salesperson and moving crew for handwashing during their time within your home.
  • Please keep all windows open throughout the moving process as this allows for greater airflow and reduces the containment of germs.
  • Please maintain a social distance of 6’ or greater during both your in-person estimate appointment and while moving services are being performed.

Here are some informative and helpful resources about COVID-19:

The team at Hansen Bros. is proud to continue offering our wide range of services in accordance with the necessary precautions outlined above. Whether you are planning to move your household or business down the street, across the country, or around the world, we’re here to make the process seamless & safe for you, just as we’ve done for well over a century!

~Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage  

6 packing mistakes that can cost you a lot

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    The packing process can look simple but it’s quite complicated. Whether you are packing your household/office for relocation or storing your belongings inside one of our self storage Seattle units, there is a lot of room for error. So, what can you do to make the process easier, and avoid any packing mistakes that can cost you? Simple, you learn about these mistakes first and then you will be a lot less likely to make them. In this article, we will present you with some of the most common mistakes that can make your relocation/storage cost more and be more difficult.

    Six packing mistakes that can cost you

    neatly-packed socks
    To have an efficient packing process, you will need to avoid making mistakes.

    While there may be dozens of small mistakes that you can make, these six can be more devastating than the others:

    • Leaving the packing process for the last minute
    • Packing absolutely everything
    • Not getting enough packing supplies
    • Getting the wrong packing supplies
    • No labeling
    • Trying to do everything on your own

    Before we get more into the specifics of each mistake, we would just like to mention that you can make the whole process easier by hiring professionals. If you are planning to store your items inside one of our self storage units Lynnwood WA, for example, you may want to get in touch with a moving company from the area. They can help you with advice that is tailored to your situation, as well as provide services that can make the whole process much smoother. With that in mind, let’s see what the packing mistakes that can cost you and that you will want to avoid are.

    #1: Last minute packing

    Regardless of the time you think you have, it is never a good idea to leave packing for the last minute. The packing process can be deceptive, and you may think that you have everything under control until it becomes evident that you don’t. Without a proper plan and a strategy, you might rush the whole process and endanger your belongings.

    The best way to avoid this mistake is to start packing at least one month before the relocation or before you plan on taking your items to storage. That allows you to spend a few hours each day and pack a box or three, without any pressure. But if you simply can’t afford to deal with the packing process in time, it might be better to hire a moving company Washington respects and have them help you. While it may be costly, it may prove to be less so than if you under protect your items.

    #2: Excessive packing

    Perhaps the most common among the packing mistakes that can cost you is to pack absolutely everything they own. This is not a good idea, as it will necessitate a larger storage unit or increase relocation costs. Therefore, what you want to do is go through a decluttering process first and pack second. It can be hard to get rid of some items, yes, but the fact of the matter is that if you haven’t used an item for a year or two, it is usually safe to get rid of it.

    #3: Lack of packing supplies

    one of the packing mistakes that can cost you - small supply of packing materials
    It is better to have more supplies than to have fewer than you require.

    To protect your items for their stay in the storage unit, or for their trip to your new home or office, you are going to need plenty of packing supplies. A very common mistake is to purchase fewer supplies than you actually need. You may think that you don’t have a lot of items to pack and acquire fewer packing materials and end up not providing enough protection for them.

    It is always better to have some extra supplies on hand than to not have enough. The best way to optimize the spending is to take your time packing one particular room. That way, you will see how many supplies are actually needed and can make easier calculations for the rest of your home or office.

    #4: Wrong packing supplies

    But having enough packing supplies is not sufficient on its own. You also need to ensure that every item and box are utilizing the correct packing materials. Plastic and cardboard boxes require different supplies to maximize protection, and different items require different padding.

    What you can do to make this process a lot easier is to get in touch with a professional mover. Ask them for a free quote for the packing service and take note of what packing supplies are included. That is an easy way to figure out exactly what kind of materials you might need. You can also ask them for packing advice and tips, making the process a lot easier.

    #5: No labels on your boxes

    person carrying a cardboard box with a "kitchen" label
    Clear, large, labels can make all the difference.

    Another mistake that is very easy to make is not labeling your boxes. While relocating or storing boxes, it is easy to forget what box holds which items. And that can be catastrophic in some cases. You will need to stack some boxes on top of one another, and you need to know which of them contain fragile items.

    Therefore, simply print labels or simply write on the box itself. You will want to be as detailed as possible, but short and concise as well. In other words, you need a balance of the two.

    #6: Going through the packing process on your own

    Usually, packing is at least a two-person job. Going through a packing process alone is one of the more serious packing mistakes that can cost you. The reason why that is the case is that some of the materials are difficult to handle with just one pair of hands. The more the better, of course, but even having one more person helping you can make a huge difference. You can always hire professionals from the state of Washington to help you out, of course, but with a couple of friends or family members, you might not need to. All you need to do is let your friends know that you need help and they will be glad to offer it!

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