6 Key steps in purchasing a safe for your home or business
No one wants to think of the possibility that they will arrive home or to work to discover that their possessions are missing. Unfortunately, whether this is caused by theft, flood, or a fire, the reality is this can happen to anyone at any time. Luckily at Ambassador Locksmiths we have ways that can protect your valuables either at home or in the office.
We have put together a few key points to think about when purchasing a safe.
1. What will I keep in my safe?
You may find this a strange question, but your answer will determine the type of safe you require. If it’s at home and you just want to keep jewellery and a little bit of cash, then really a secure box is all you need. If you want to store media back up’s or photos, then a safe that is fire resistant will more likely be for you.
2. What size does it need to be? And what type?
The valuables you want to keep in your safe will determine the size you require. When buying a safe it is important to keep in mind that your possessions will only grow over time, so its good to think about what you would like to store in your safe today, and then go for the next size up, this will then take into account your future valuables. Also consider that a safe’s dimensions are external, so the space inside can be up to 100mm smaller depending on the thickness of the walls.
Wall Safes – Wall safes can only support so much weight so these are best suited to storing documents and photos.
Floor Safes – Floor safes are a bulky option, but they will give you the most flexibility. You can store heavier items in these with no issues.
Weapons Safe – Floor and wall safes are suitable for storing rifles or pistols. Specialty safes are fitted with extra locks and pry proof metal to minimise accidents.
3. How much protection do you require?
When considering the best safe to buy for your home or office, first think about the type of protection you need. If you live in an area with a high crime rate, you may need to buy a unit that can withstand cracking attempts and that can be secured. If you are mainly concerned about fire damage then you will need to look at safes with a high fire-resistant rating, these can range from 1/2 hour up to 2 hours.
We stock a wide range of the highest quality safes for home and businesses. Ambassador Locksmiths can provide expert guidance and advice about which safe is suitable for your needs, and best of all we come to you so we can fully understand your security needs.
We stock, supply, install and repair:
- Fireproof safes
- Data safes
- Cash safes
- Time delay safes
- Jewellery safes
- File safes
- Rifle and pistol safes
4. Accessibility – where will you install the safe?
Before you buy your safe, think about how often you will want to gain access to it. Placing your safe in a dark place you never go to might stop you from using it to its full potential and put your valuables at risk. If you plan on securing your safe to the floor, which Ambassador Locksmiths highly recommend, then you need to take into consideration what flooring type you have, and the options available. Something else to think about is what kind of locking system will be best for you, and who will have access to the safe. A simply key lock will provide easy access – but then what happens if the key is misplaced, one you can’t access your items but, two you then become more vulnerable for theft. Digital locks are a good answer, there are no keys to lose and with a memorised code on a digital lock, quick assess using a keypad and PIN, which takes just seconds to open, and the freedom to change the PIN as often as you like at no extra cost.
5. Value for money
There are many cheap and inferior safes on the market, as well as basic home and office safes sold at hardware stores. These safes might have an appealing price tag, they do not generally protect the value of the items being stored in them. Also, beware of purchasing a preowned safe may have been broken into and repaired, you may not be able to tell this just by looking. If you are looking to upgrade your current model, or need advice about purchasing or repairing a safe contact Ambassador locksmiths
6. Home or Business use?
Generally, a business safe needs to better built than a home safe. This is because businesses are more of a target for money theft. Thieves seem to think that a business safe will hold large amounts of money compared to a home safe and therefore give them a larger pay off. A business safe must be well built and secured down and we also recommended that added protection of an alarm system.
Seek advice from the experts
If you would like more information, consult with our professional locksmiths from Ambassador Locksmiths. We have a wide range of quality products and installation services available.