Losing valuables and irreplaceable items to burglaries or natural disasters can be devastating. With the alarming increase in break-ins and the unpredictable occurrence of fire and other natural disasters, more people now understand the value of improving home security. One of the recommended ways to protect your most valued items is to get a dependable home safe. Home safes deter criminals and keep your valuables safe from damage.
What Things Not To Keep In A Home Safe
One of the things you need to consider before buying a home safe is which items should be kept inside. This will determine what type and size of safe you should buy, among other things. However, you might be unsure of the things that you should store in a safe. Some of the items people tend to keep in their home safes are the ones that should not be there. Generally, everything that is of value to you, but not to burglars, and needs to be available anytime can be stored in a home safe. On the other hand, large sums of cash and other irreplaceable items that you don’t need regular access to are better deposited in the bank. Below is a list of what things not to keep in a home safe.
Family Heirlooms
Irreplaceable items like sentimentally valuable jewellery, collectables, and priceless pictures should be secured in a bank safety deposit box. Expensive heirloom jewellery that is not worn often should be kept locked away until you need to wear it or give it to another family member. In the same way, memorabilia that can never be recovered when gone should be preserved for future generations. Unless you have a high-security safe that can withstand severe attacks and natural disasters, it is better not to take the chance of leaving your precious jewellery and keepsakes at home. Still, these items could be too precious to risk. Nevertheless, take the additional measure of talking with your bank and insurance expert about getting insurance for your family heirlooms.
Large Sums of Cash
While it's reasonable to have some cash in a home safe for emergency purposes, huge amounts of cash should be kept in your bank account where it can be more protected and even earn interest. Additionally, when other people know that you keep your life savings in your home safe, it could tempt your children and other family members, as well as trusted friends, to take them. You might not think this is possible but it's best to take precautions.
Home Inventory
Having a home inventory is recommended by insurance companies, to account for all your belongings, in case of burglaries or natural catastrophes. Along with a list of your belongings, your home inventory should include photos and videos of your property. This inventory of your home's contents should be kept in another secured location, in case you need to file a claim with your homeowner's insurance policy.
Sensitive Computer Data
Hard drives and flash drives that contain important data should not be kept in a home safe. Extreme temperatures or magnetic interference could delete sensitive data stored in computer media. Although you could put it up to the cloud for backups, keeping them in a bank box will be more secure. Additionally, temperatures are regulated at the bank so you won't have to worry about damage.
Rarely Needed Documents
Documents you don't need outside regular bank hours are better left in a bank box. These include deeds to your home, birth certificates, and car titles. But, copies of these documents should be kept in a safe at home, in case you will need them. However, originals are best left somewhere more secure and safe from fire and water-related catastrophes.
Are Home Safes Worth It?
Now that you know what not to keep in a home safe, you might think you no longer need them. If most of your valued things are better left in a bank box, why would you need a home safe? Well, other valuables must be kept nearby. These include passports, copies of important documents, frequently used jewellery, emergency cash, and firearms. While leaving some of your valued items in a bank guarantees their protection, it also limits your access to them. This is why only those items you won't need regularly should be kept there.
Conclusion
Knowing what things not to keep in a home safe is a necessary step to determine how you secure your valuables. Other than the above-mentioned items, you should keep the rest of your valuables inside your home safe. Finding a home safe is less confusing once you've figured out what you should store inside. The next step will be to find the best safe that will suit your needs. You might need a burglar-proof and fireproof home safe to level up your security. You will also need to know where to put a safe in your house and how to secure your home safe. To ease your way into finding the best safe for your home and how to properly install them, talk to any of our friendly professionals at BuyASafe. Call us on 1300 405 200 today!