Guide of top 10 tips for First Time Safe Buyers
When purchasing a safe for the first time, there’s more to it than just walking into a store and asking which one they recommend. There are a lot of facts that you should consider. Getting the right-safe for you depends on you understanding all the factors involved.
Your first home safe is a good investment that you should approach with an open mind. Here are some things that lock experts always advise when you buy a safe:
1. The 10% rule when purchasing a safe
There is a good rule that you should budget an amount that is around 10% of the total value of what you envisage keeping in the safe. For instance, if you have property around $100,000 in value, you should be looking to spend at least $10,000 on a safe.
This rule is normally used to help to determine a budget for your safe. Also, the more expensive your belongings are, the more reason you should invest in a good quality safe.
2. Buy a heavy safe
A heavy safe is recommended because it will be difficult to move, relocate or reposition. The heavier a safe the harder it will be to break into. The thickness of the metal contributes to the weight of the safe and will prevent the safe from being easily susceptible to cutting and attempts at breach.
3. Check that there’s no gap
One of the weak points of a safe is the gap between the door and the lock body. When purchasing your first safe, make sure that the body of the safe is tight to the door when it is locked as this will reduce the chances of someone getting into it without proper access. This also increases its resistance against elements such as fire and water. The smaller the gap, the stronger the safe.
4. Anchor your safe to a secure, stable object
You may not want to bolt your safe to the floor to deter criminals from carrying it away, but you can ensure that there is some form of anchor for the home safe. Think of it as how you would secure a motorcycle. Ask a locksmith what is the best way to secure the safe to the floor or any part of your wall depending on where you want to position it.
5. Think about humidity
Determining where to place your safe might be difficult. One thing you should however note that it should never be located at a wet or even moist area. The safe would be exposed to high level of moisture and might get rusty and vulnerable. Either you check that the safe you want to buy is water resistant and will resist humidity or you get a dehumidifier that can help you remove moisture surrounding it.
6. Check for the possible lock options
When choosing your first safe, you should be aware that safe manufacturers make many types of locks for safes so your chosen safe may come with different lock options. These could be either manual dial, electronic or digital. Some safes have the option for a key override while some do not. The more options you have, the easier the safe will be to use. Having several options can also make it more vulnerable to thieves.
No matter what lock option you choose, there are both benefits and demerits. Investigate all the options and choose the one that works best for you from the available options.
7. Learn to differentiate between safes types
If you’ve decided to buy it, you should take some time to understand the different types of safes out there. There are many different secure-safes for different purposes. You should also know how they are tested and how they perform against different elements such as fire, water and other sources of damage.
Look out for the level and type of stress that the safe was subjected to during testing and for how long. Also be sure that the safe has been tested against most techniques used to forcefully enter a safe. This will help to guide your decision about your first safe.
8. Record your safe combination
Whenever you purchase your very first safe, you should learn how to open it. You should understand the combination method, how to change it and make sure you save this information in a secure place you could also easily reach. You will need this information in the event of any issue accruing with the safe.
9. Know what to place in the safe
There are different types of safes for different purposes and you should know what type of valuables you want to keep in it. Will you need to open your safe every day or once a month? Will it be easy to open when you are under duress? Know what you want to store so that you don’t have to look for an upgrade once you’ve bought one already. This is a waste of money.
10. Your safe is not foolproof
Keeping your home secure is not just about how strong your safe is. In addition to getting a home safe, be sure to also spend more on other means of security like closed circuit cameras, quality door locks and a reliable alarm system.
Make sure you do not leave your doors open such that you become a target of thieves. Also speak to a locksmith in Naples Florida if you need to change your locks or upgrade other aspects of your home security.
Conclusion
Now that you know what to look for when getting a home safe for the first time, you are well on your way to increase the level of security of your assets and belongings.
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