often goes beyond precious items in the home. For many homeowners, protecting important documents such as birth certificates, social security cards, checkbooks, and passports, is just as important as protecting the valuables inside the home. Protecting these documents is vital, as they are needed for most major events in life, such as travel to foreign countries, most major purchases, and for setting up bank accounts. Many people keep these documents in places where they can be easily stolen. However, purchasing a home safe can keep them secure and lessen the possibility of them being stolen or damaged.
According to Consumer Reports.org, fire is the No. 1 concern of most buyers, according to Greg Bonsib, director of brand management at SentrySafe, a major manufacturer in Rochester, N.Y. [ . . .] The National Fire Protection Association says that during an average lifetime, there’s a one in four chance of experiencing a household fire large enough to warrant calling the fire department. UL and Intertek rate fire-resistant safes in terms of what type of material they’ll protect and how long they’ll protect it. For example, safes rated to protect paper documents shouldn’t get any hotter than 350 degrees on the inside during a fire, according to John Drengenberg, consumer safety director at UL in Northbrook, Ill.
However, fire safety isn’t the only reason that homeowners should invest in a home safe.
Burglary is also a concern when it comes to these important documents, as many thieves steal them in order to not only resell them but to also gain access to bank accounts and credit cards. Homeowners also run the risk of having their identities stolen if these documents are taken, the results of which can be tragic and long-lasting. In order to prevent this from happening, they should invest in a home safe that cannot be easily lifted or transported. When burglaries occur, thieves only take as much as they can carry out easily, so a home safe that is heavy or bolted to the wall will not be a target.
When homeowners consider what kind of safe would be best for their needs, the primary concern will be what they plan to store in it. If they plan to store both money and documents, then the safe should have the ability to be bolted to the wall. If they want to store documents only, then they should go with a safe that weighs over one hundred pounds when it is empty to deter thieves from carrying it away.
Kris Murphy
Author – Kris has been learning the ropes, but already has 4 years of industry experience working with us. He is in charge of researching our security system reviews and putting together new content for our site’s blog section.