1. A fire-resistant home safe is a smart choice to protect your valuables and important documents. Many are also rated for impact resistance, such as during a structural collapse. The likelihood of loss from fire or impact is about the same, so choose a safe that's UL-certified to withstand both.
2. Fire-resistant doesn't mean waterproof. During a fire, sprinkler systems and fire hoses cause the greatest loss: 21% of insurance claims are for water damage. A waterproof safe will protect you from any calamity.
3. A TL-15 rating means your home safe meets minimum construction requirements and will resist a thief using common tools for 15 minutes. A TL-30 safe can withstand such an attack for 30 minutes.
4. In 2007, 20% of property crimes were burglaries, and 67% of those were residential.
5. Think about what you want to protect. Some home safes are designed to accommodate laptop computers, while executive safes are more portable and great for travel. Wall safes offer permanent, out-of-the way protection. Like a good spy movie, you can even hang a picture over them.
6. If you are building a new home, consider installing a floor safe. Some install deep into the floor structure, with concrete poured around them for the utmost in permanence and fire-resistance. Others bolt to floor joists. The top-opening door allows the floor safe to be flush with the floor, out of sight and out of the way.
7. Store a copy of your lock combination or keypad code off-site, with someone you trust. If you forget the combination, you can call for assistance and avoid an expensive service call.
8. Sargent & Greenleaf locks are common in most quality safes for a reason. They have earned a respected reputation for protection, durability, and ease-of-use since 1857.
9. Biometric safes are state-of-the-art and convenient: no keys, no combinations. Most allow multiple users, each identified by his fingerprint. Only you get to lay a finger on your pistol.
10. To protect your valuables from water damage, seal mounting holes on the bottom with heat-resistant silicone. If possible, mount the safe above ground level, and place valuables high in the safe, where it takes water longer to reach.
