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How to Buy a Safe for the Home

Purchasing a safe for the home isn’t quite as simple as it might appear. It’s important to understand that safes can have several different ratings related to tool resistance, fire resistance, and construction. The common safe found in sporting goods stores is actually termed a “residential security container” and lacks many of high security safes.

Some safes have a burglary rating. As an example, tl 30 safes are rated against the use of common hand tool, drill, punches, and hammers for a period of 30 minutes. A safe of this rating must also be constructed of 1-inch solid steel.

The most important step is to determine your needs and budget. Are you interested in protecting firearms, jewelry, documents, magnetic media, photos, or cash? Certain types of safes are more appropriate for a particular purpose. A safe designed for firearms wouldn’t be the best choice for protecting photos.

What is your budget? Safes can range from less than $100 to well over $50,000. How much can you afford? How much are the items you want to protect actually worth? Determine a price range and limit your search to safes that fit your budget.

During your search, you’ll undoubtedly find many used safes for sale. While it’s possible to find a bargain, consumers should be cautious. It’s challenging to accurately determine what you’re getting. Most importantly, find a safe that fits your needs and budget.