You know you need a safe to store your valuables but once you start your search, the process can quickly become overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be though.
There may be a large variety of safes to choose from but there is an easy way to narrow down your search.
By sticking to top safe brands, you can be sure that the necessary research and development was undertaken to bring you a high-quality product. But even so, how do you know which safe brand and model is right for you?
The below tips will help.
Choosing the Right Safe: What to Consider
1. What You Plan to Store
Before you start looking at safes for your home, decide what you want to store. Are you planning to store a firearm or documents? Perhaps you only want to keep your most valuable jewelry and collectibles safe? What you want to store will be the first consideration when choosing the right safe. For example, a gun safe is quite different from a general jewelry safe. As for a safe that stores documents, this needs to be water and fire-proof.
2. The Type of Lock
There are three main types of locks to choose from when selecting a safe. Here are your options:
- Mechanical Lock. With a mechanical lock, you don’t need to worry about humid conditions or changing a battery. However, keeping a key around the house can be risky, so you will need to keep it hidden and not forget where it is hidden.
- Electronic Lock. Electronic locks are ideal if more than one person needs to access the safe. This way, you can give everyone a unique code instead of having to make key copies. Unfortunately, electronic locks are sensitive to moisture and humidity. You will also need to change the battery at some point, so make sure you can do this from the outside of the safe.
- Fingerprint Lock. Lastly, there are fingerprint locks, which don’t require keys or pins, just a finger. This is another ideal lock option for a safe that requires multiple users. The only time a fingerprint lock can be a nuisance is if the fingerprint wasn’t good quality, this can prevent someone from opening the safe. Fortunately, most of today’s fingerprint locks have a code backup function.
3. Your Budget
The final consideration for choosing the right safe is your budget – how much are you willing to spend? Before you answer though, keep in mind that cheaper safes can mean cheaper materials were used. If a safe is light or the price is too good to be true, it means the structure of the safe and its lock is of poor quality. You should also remember that a safe is an investment and you want it to last for many years, which is why it makes sense to spend a little more on one, particularly if you are planning to secure highly valuable items.
Smaller safes tend to start at around $300, while larger safes start from around $600 and upward. The brand, safe features, and model will all impact the price.
Need help choosing the right safe for your home? We can help. Contact South Beach Locksmith on 305-692-0234.
