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  

Reasons to ask for a binding long distance moving estimate

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Free Moving Estimate

    Drafting a responsible budget is the first step to a successful relocation. At the glance, this seems simple enough. However, it often becomes a bigger challenge than it should. Simply because you can never predict every single thing or service you’ll need to go through the relocation. At least, not with 100% certainty. And therein lies the problem. Not knowing exactly how much your move will cost leads to a plethora of unpleasant surprises. Fortunately, reputable freight companies Seattle has can help you avoid them. And it all starts when you get in touch with them and ask for a binding long distance moving estimate.

    What is a moving estimate?

    A young couple using calculator.
    A binding long distance moving estimate saves you the pain of guessing the cost of your move.

    Moving estimate (or moving quote) is a calculation that professional movers use to give you an estimate of how much your relocation will cost. They do this based on many factors, such as distance, cargo weight, and even time and date of the move. Based on this, we can split estimates into two distinct categories:

    #1: Rough estimates

    As the name implies, this way of calculating moving costs gives only an approximate value. It’s a type of estimate you can get over the phone or through a quote calculator on your moving companies’ website. Now, even though it isn’t completely accurate, that doesn’t mean it’s useless. A rough estimate can give you an excellent base for drafting a budget. It’s a quick, easy, and convenient way to start planning without wasting time.

    #2: Precise estimates

    A binding long distance moving estimate falls into this category. Precise moving estimates incorporate every element of your relocation into the calculation:

    • Distance to the destination;
    • Weight of the cargo;
    • Time and date of the move;
    • Type of items (breakables, valuables, etc.);
    • The workforce needed (number of movers);
    • Basic moving services (loading/unloading, transportation, etc.);
    • Additional services (packing, storage, etc.);
    • Special services (piano, artwork, pool table moving, etc.).

    As you can see, this way of calculating moving costs goes into extreme detail. Therefore, with it, you’ll have an exact price of your move, which makes planning even easier.

    However, although the number itself is accurate, it’s still subject to change. That’s because this type of estimate remains non-binding. Therefore, a moving company retains the right to change the pricing. Of course, they will only do this if something changes regarding the requirements of your move.

    That said, this can, actually, work to your benefit. With a non-binding estimate, movers won’t charge for the services you don’t use. For instance, if you pre-request storage services movers Bothell WA offers and end up not needing them, most moving companies will exclude it from the price list. On the flip side, if you don’t request them, but your belongings have to spend time in storage, movers will add them to the cost.

    What is a “Binding Long Distance Moving Estimate”?

    A person signing a binding long distance moving estimate.
    As legal documents, binding estimates offer security in turbulent moving times.

    A binding long distance moving estimate is a legal document that allows you to “cement” the price of your move. It’s a moving companies’ guarantee of an agreed-upon amount for the price of your moving needs. With binding moving estimates, if there are unforeseen expenses outside the initially agreed-upon ones, the company itself agrees to cover them all. They can’t charge you more and you can’t pay any less.

    A binding estimate is a sign of a reputable moving company

    If you want to ensure you’re hiring some of the best movers Seattle can offer, asking for a binding estimate is an excellent place to start. If the moving company is willing to sign a binding estimate, it indicates two things:

    1. The company operates within the confines of the law. This is a major factor. Only law-abiding companies can give you the peace of mind you need during relocation;
    2. The movers are confident in their work and willing to take responsibility for their belongings. So – more reliability, especially in the long run.

    On the other hand, if a moving company doesn’t want to provide a binding estimate, it should immediately raise some red flags. This can mean you’re dealing either with amateurs or fraudulent movers. Both options are less than ideal, and both can be a great source of stress.

    A binding estimate helps you avoid rogue movers and moving scams with

    Tying into the previous point, asking for a binding estimate is an excellent way to avoid moving scams. If there’s one thing scammers hate – it’s dealing with the law. So, since a binding long distance estimate is a legal document, they’ll try their best to convince you not to sign it. Which makes it almost too easy to recognize and, therefore, avoid them.

    There’s no “guessing game” with a binding estimate

    A happy couple taking notes
    With a binding estimate, you’re leaving nothing to chance.

    Reliability is one of the major benefits of a binding long distance moving estimate. This document leaves nothing to interpretation. You have a solid number that never changes. Therefore, you can plan way ahead, without uncertainty or the need to reserve more of your funds than necessary. This makes it far easier and faster to organize your relocation. Especially if you’re moving on a budget. But, most importantly – it eliminates one major stress-inducing factor from the equation.

    How to get a binding long distance moving estimate?

    Getting a binding estimate is quite a straightforward process. You only need to get in touch with reputable movers and ask them to do an on-site estimate. The moving company will send their representative to your location. This person will do a walk-through of your home and note down everything important. After that, they’ll devise a full list of services you’ll need for a smooth transition. Lastly, they’ll calculate how much it all costs and present it to you. After that, it’s only a matter of working out the details before you sign.

    Go for a relocation free of any unpleasant surprises

    Moving isn’t stressful only because of many chores and race with time. They do play a significant role, of course. But what really makes it unbearable is the uncertainty it carries. A binding long distance moving estimate helps you overcome this. By turning uncertainty into reliability, it also turns a relocation from stressful to strainless. And that’s exactly how moving should be.

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