The Best Document Safe

Buying Guide

If your home suffered a break-in, fire or flood, what items would you miss most? Your furniture and electronics can be replaced, but what about the many priceless items you own? If you suffer a home loss, you’ll probably care most about things like family photos, birth and marriage certificates and jewelry.

A good safe can help protect those precious items. You can store your valuables inside and lock it, keeping them protected from others in the household or intruders. Some safes come with keypads that let you input a code for entry, while others use key-based locks. Either way, make sure the door can’t be pried open by someone who’s really determined to get in.

If you want to protect against fire and flood, though, you need to look for a safe that’s rated to withstand those extremes. There’s a limit to how long any safe can hold up against extreme temperatures or moisture. Safes will be rated to handle up to a certain temperature for a maximum time limit and/or immersion in water up to a certain level for a specific amount of time. That means if your home does go through such an unexpected disaster, you’ll need to get the documents to safety as soon as you can.

• Document safes come in a variety of sizes. Some are great for storing smaller items like certifications and passports, while others have enough room for hanging file folders filled with documents.
• Some safes are more lightweight than others and even include a handle for easy carrying. This can make it easier to take it on the go with you.
• Even if your safe is rated for water protection, you can safeguard against water damage by storing it above floor level. If your home does flood due to a natural disaster or an appliance malfunction, your documents will hopefully be above the water.
• Some safes can be mounted on a wall. This is a great way to keep your items protected in a closet or other storage area.
• If you’re storing important items like extra credit cards and passports, a safe with compartments can make it easier to keep things organized.
• If your safe locks using a key, make sure it comes with a spare. Also have a plan to hide those keys in a place where you can find them. Tell someone you trust exactly where that key can be found in case something happens to you.