Find the Right Safe

Making the right choice of home safe, can be overwhelming due to so many choices. At Simply Safes, we frequently receive calls asking for assistance. Our experienced staff put them at ease and help them make an educated decision.

With an extensive range of safes to choose from you might ask "Why do you list so many safes?". Some are not suitable, simply down to their size and/or weight. While most manufacturers follow similar sizing, some will have models with external hinges and larger handles than others. In certain situations, this will limit your choice. Rest assured we will help you find the type of safe to suit.

Buying a safe for your home is often a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. This easy to remember Buying Guide will assist you. The five points will give you peace of mind now, and many years to come.

Do I need a particular rating of safe?

Our suggestion is to start by choosing a rating that you require to suit the valuables you will be securing. Safes have a Cash Rating and the valuables rating is a multiple of 10 of that value. Entry level models start with a cash rating of £1,000 which gives a Valuables Rating of £10,000.

Do you want to protect any items from fire?

In our experience, customers will often opt for a model that has fire protection as well as a security rating. These models are a little more expensive than those without. It is not essential to have a fire resistant safe but it is worth considering as we tend to keep important documents at home more than in the past.

Our banks and solicitors used to keep our Title Deeds and Wills as standard. In most circumstances this is no longer the case. Costs to replace copies of these and documents such as passports can cost a considerable amount.

What type of lock should I choose?

Personal preference often solves this the answer to this question. In short, a key lock will last you longer. However, you will be required by insurance companies to keep the key on your person. An electronic lock means no key to keep with you. However, you should remember to change the batteries every year, or every 6 months if you use the safe a lot.

How will you secure your home safe?

An important part that most customers do not fully consider is how they are going to secure their purchase. We can of course arrange this for you if needed for greater peace of mind. Unless a safe is 1000kg or over you will need to ensure it is bolted down.

The world's strongest man is capable of lifting 500kg. You might ask why this is relevant? If your safe weighed 200kg it would probably take two burglars to remove it if it were not bolted down.

To secure your home safe, the best method is to fix it to a solid concrete floor. If you can't do this, then fix it to a solid wall such as brick or block. Alternatively, you can secure it to a joist underneath a wooden floor. Chemical fixing is a last resort for you to consider. Check out our handy installation guide for full details.

What sort of size should I consider?

Space in the home is often limited. You may not have many options as to where your safe can be secured. This could mean that size is one of the most important factors to consider. For this reason we stock many models, so you can narrow your choice by dimensions if nothing else.

A safe is a once in a lifetime purchase, so it is worthwhile getting the biggest model possible. This will enable you to store extra large items such as laptops when on holiday.

While budget may be limited, we urge you to bear in mind the replacement costs of documents. Please consider all the factors mentioned in this article when making your choice.

What is the purple badge I see on your product listings and product pages?

This purple badge is the AiS approved logo by the Association of Insurance Surveyors or AiS for short. It also confirms that the safe has been tested in a reputable testing house. Your insurance company will have access to the insurance approved safe list. Should you purchase a model with this logo they will know what cash rating it has.

How long would it take for a home safe to be opened by a burglar?

The typical time for the Police to respond to a burglary can vary dramatically. The average burglar will remain in your property between 8 and 12 minutes. Ultimately having a safe will buy you time. The higher the rating, the greater the level of protection, the longer it might take. If a burglar had sufficient time and the right tools then they would be able to gain access eventually.

Why should I bother locking keys away?

The modern-day burglar is no longer interested in taking your TV. They find it far more valuable to them to remove items such as car keys. Sophisticated burglars are even using a scanning device to trick your car into opening so it can be driven off. Locking your car keys away, not just your spares, will prevent this from happening.

What other measures can I take to help prevent my home from being a target?

There are several different ways you can prevent your property, these include:

• Ensuring all doors and windows are locked when you leave.
• Hide all keys from view and store them securely in a safe.
• Install outside lighting with motion sensors.
• Install a burglar alarm with a siren box to act as a further deterrent.
• Install a video doorbell or CCTV so you can monitor and record activity.
• Mark all property with your name and postcode.
• Consider joining a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme or starting one.

This list is by no means exhaustive, so try to consider all aspects of how a burglar might gain access.

Our summary

In short, it is no easy task to choose the right home safe. What is right for one customer is not right for everyone. We hope this buying guide has made the process of choosing that little bit easier.

Your ultimate choice might boil down to the size of space you have or the locking type you prefer. No matter what model you choose, your belongings, identity and keys will be secure, giving you that peace of mind.

Should you require any assistance please call and speak to one of our friendly sales advisors who will be happy to assist.