Safes are an essential part of every household. They are used to store valuable items such as jewelry, money, guns, and documents and to keep your family safe. If you have ever experienced or encountered robbery, then you know how important it is to have a home safe.
Consider these tips on choosing the right safe for your home.
Pre-planning
When considering what type of home safe will best suit your needs, there are several factors involved. There are so many different safes to choose from it can be overwhelming. The first step in buying a safe is pre-planning to determine what the safe will be used for.
For example, will it be used for documents, photos, jewelry, guns, etc.? Once you have determined the purpose, next you will need to determine the size that will fit your needs. It is a good idea and less expensive in the end to buy a safe that is larger than you initially need.
Where Should I Purchase a Safe
It is best to seek out a retailer that specializes in selling safes. They can accurately determine what will be the best choice for protecting your valuables as well as provide service and repair that other suppliers may not be able to provide for you.
A professional safe retailer will also be more educated on each model’s performance. This is one time cutting corners just won’t do. Your valuables are priceless, so you want to go with someone who is experienced and can give you confident insight on what type of safe will fit the need in your home.
If you are buying small to medium home safes such as quick access gun safes, handgun safes, or car safes which are mostly portable and work out of the box, you can definitely purchase them online.
Different Types of Safes to Choose From
There are many different types of safes available today. You need to choose one that is appropriate for your needs. It is important to know what type of safe you want before you purchase it.
Fire Safes
Fire safes are designed to keep the interior temperature under 350 degrees for a certain length of time. The substance used to fill the safe creates steam to maintain the temperature and to form a seal. Since moisture is produced, a fire-safe would not be good for storing media items. Fire safes are intended to protect paper documents.
Data Media Safes
Data or Media safes are designed to protect items such as video disks, photos, sensitive data and media, etc. A dry substance is used to fill the safe that eliminates moisture. Typically, the cost of data/media safes will tend to be on the higher end.
Burglary Safes
If you intend to store money or jewelry, a burglary safe will be best suited to you. When choosing a burglary safe, be sure to ask about the burglary ratings. Burglary ratings determine how long it would take for an experienced thief equipped with adequate tools to break into it. The highest-rated safe will cost more, but in the end, the extra money spent will be money well invested.
Gun Safes
Gun Safes range from novelty safes to commercial safes. If your main goal is to protect children, then you can probably choose a less expensive safe.
Anyone who owns a gun where children are present should have a gun safe. Guns can be an investment as well. Therefore, a fireproof gun safe would best protect guns that hold great sentimental or monetary value.
Depository Safes
Do you have a home-based business? A depository safe allows you to open a door, place money inside, and when you close the door the money is deposited into the safe compartment. This will help when you don’t have time to run to the bank every day.
Compact Utility Safes
Small portable safes are ideal for storing documents or cash when traveling. People who own RVs would benefit from a portable safe that can be hidden away. They are also good for people who live in an apartment. Typically they are not going to be as safe as a large safe, but they do serve a great purpose for tight spaces.
Additional Options to Consider
You can choose from a freestanding safe, wall safe, or floor safe. With a freestanding safe, it will be more obvious, but if it’s good quality, it will be just as reliable as the other choices.
With a wall safe or a floor safe, you can have them sunken in when they are installed so that a picture or a rug can hide them. Most thieves are in a hurry, and they look for what they can grab quickly. You can just use your discretion and decide which of these options fit your personal needs.
Lock Choices
Safes today have several different operation choices. Some have keys, and others have electronic or combination locks. For whichever electronic or combination lock safe, you can have a backup key to override the safe in case of lost code in an emergency.
Electronic lock safes have a keypad on the door, and the keypad can be programmed to set the combination. Combination lock safes are like electronic safes, but instead of programming the keypad, you use a dial to set and input the code.
With electronic lock safes, you can choose from a wide range of available combinations. For example, you could program a combination of numbers and letters or a combination of only numbers. It is a good idea to choose a combination that is difficult to guess or use. You don’t want someone who wants to steal your safe to be able to just go out and get it without having to go through a lot of trouble.
The combination lock is usually very simple to use, and you should be able to set it up in less than 10 minutes. If you have never locked a safe before then, it will take a little time, but most people can figure it out in a few minutes.
Money-Saving Investment
Besides protecting your family, it is possible you could actually save money. You may actually get a reduction on your homeowner’s insurance policy. Specific restrictions and guidelines are required, so check with your agent to make sure everything meets their requirements.
The average person today spends a small amount of time at home. Therefore, it is important to keep your home as secure as possible while you are away. A safe is the best way to protect your valued possessions. Prices vary from style to style and from rating to rating. Quality is everything when buying a safe, and remember to seek out a professional to help maximize your needs.
Conclusion
The above information should give you some ideas about how to choose the best safe for your home. Your home safe is going to be one of the most important things to protect your family and your valuables.
Make sure you get the best quality safe that you can afford, and always choose a safe that has a rating that is appropriate for your needs.
