I did not realise there was so much to consider when buying a safe to protect valued possessions. After my grandmother passed and left me her jewellery, I quickly became aware of my need to get a safe to protect it. Because I live in a rental property, I needed secure options which were transportable when I move to future homes. In this blog, I want to share with you my findings on the best types of safe and the best location to hide a safe, so you can keep your personal belongings safe and sound too. You can use my research to help you whittle down your safekeeping needs quickly.
3 Tips and Checks When Buying a Second-hand Safe
Safes come in handy when you want to secure your valuable possessions like jewellery, art pieces, firearm, passports and academic certificates in your home. The good thing with safes is that they are made of durable materials and can stick around over time. Consequently, if you're strapped for cash, consider the alternative of buying a second-hand safe. You can find a second-hand safe in fine condition at a reduced price compared to purchasing it new. An important consideration when looking for a used safe is your preferred type of locking mechanism. To decide which locking solution suits you best, you'll need to consider three crucial factors: security, accessibility, and cost. Keep on reading.
1. Security
Security is a non-negotiable feature you should have to your safe. It should be the first consideration when buying any safe, whether new or second hand. With locking safes that use keys or codes for access, users can easily lose keys or forget codes. Plus, anyone who knows your code or stumbles upon your key can access your safe much more efficiently. With biometric safes, however, only users whose fingerprints are registered in the system can access the safe. Thus, they are tough to imitate which makes them the most secure.
2. Accessibility
While safes serve to secure your valuables, the way you access your possessions differs a lot. With locking safes, homeowners can use a key, dial lock or code combinations for access. With a biometric safe, all you need is your fingerprint to be scanned for access. Therefore, if you wish to access your safe quickly and on a regular basis, then a biometric safe would be ideal. You don't have to fumble to locate the key or recall the code. However, if several other people need to also access the safe such as in office or store, then a suitable locking mechanism would be an electronic lock.
3. Cost
When looking for safes, people often have a specific budget at the back of their minds. Although other factors like size and safe design add to the overall cost, the locking mechanism to a large extent determines the price of the safe. Biometric security undergoes constant improvements to provide better security and convenience. That's why biometric technology might be out of reach for many people with limited budgets. Locking safes are more affordable than their biometric counterparts.
In the end, the above-mentioned factors will significantly determine which second-hand safe you buy. Remember to have the safe's locking mechanisms checked and locks changed to ensure they weren't compromised. For more information, contact companies like Askwith Company.