Click here to get this post in PDF
1) Consider What You Need To Store
Prior to begin the shopping process for your new safe, it is necessary to evaluate exactly what sorts of things you wish to protect. The key question to ask is if you were to lose it all without a moment’s notice, what are the possessions you would be saddest never to see again?
If you still can’t decide, separate items by whether they are in fact replaceable. Paperwork can be a starting point. Passports, birth certificates, wills, real estate deeds, and the like might be included. Investment records and insurance documentation are also good candidates for safekeeping.
In addition to key documents, you might want to place external hard drives or valuable jewelry in your safe. Those with young kids often find safes useful for storing prescription drugs and other hazardous items out of their youngsters’ reach.
2) How To Select Your Safe
There are numerous types of safes available on the market, and they offer different features to suit consumer needs. The right choice in safes will likely depend on exactly what you plan to keep in yours. It’s extremely important that the choice you make comes from a company that really builds with only quality materials, like https://inkassafes.com/. Review some of the most frequently selected safe options below:
Wall Models: These can be evocative of classic spy movies, but while they may look rather neat, they aren’t capable of holding a great deal of weight. As such, they make sense for those looking to store photos, papers, and things of that nature.
Floor Options: These tend to be the heaviest variety of safes, but they offer tremendous flexibility. Bulkier items such as hard drives, jewelry, gold and silver are some of the items that make sense for these safes.
Gun Safes: It is important to note that floor safes and wall safes are not recommended for weapons storage. A specialized safe for guns and other weapons will feature fortified metal construction, additional locks, and bolt technology designed to provide the height of security.
Bear in mind that there is no reason you cannot have multiple safes for different applications. If you own a range of things you want to protect, consider selecting several different options so that each item is in a proper place.
3) What Sort Of Space Is Required?
Though this may be an obvious observation, it is necessary to do a bit of measuring before you shop. Home safes tend to be very heavy and unwieldy, so you need to know that the option you choose will fit into its designated spot in your home. Also, measure the items you intend to store, because nothing is more frustrating than buying and moving a safe only to find that it won’t hold all of your possessions.
It is not difficult to get exterior measurements for your desired safe. Simply take note of the width, depth, and height you need. Take measurements of doorways and staircases as well, so that you will be confident in your ability to move the safe into place once it is purchased.
When it comes to measuring for the interior of the safe, collect your valuables and measure the depth, height, and width of them all together. Because safes are categorized by cubic feet, multiply your measurements and divide the total amount by 1728. This will give you the parameters you need to buy your safe. Consider buying a larger safe than is needed at the moment, because you may ultimately acquire more things that need protection.
4) What Is Your Protection Priority?
Safes offer an array of protection types, and not all are made the same. There are some options that protect against fire, but may not stand up to a determined burglar. Prior to making your purchase, carefully think about what sort of protection is most critical to your situation.
Consumer Reports has indicated that fire is the most frequent reason for the loss of valuables, with burglary and water intrusion coming in behind it, respectively.
Composite models provide a certain amount of protection against a range of threats, and these are widely available. But, the degree of safety in the face of each kind of threat may vary, so it is important to do your research.
5) What Is Your Budget?
Budget is always a key element of the safe shopping process. Extra features and options can boost the price of a safe rather rapidly, so make sure you know how much you are comfortable spending before you shop. The Lock Boss has a good range of safes to suit any budget.
The safe itself will have a basic cost, and low-end models are generally quite affordable. But, if you find that you need additional locking capacity, stronger construction, or other features, make sure you are prepared to pay a little more.
Also read: Keeping Your Office Valuables Safe
Image source: Pixabay.com