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The thought of investing a significant chunk of money on a high security safe can be a daunting prospect, and while storing valuable items in a safe is the best way to protect them, how do you know what type of safe to buy, or even where you should keep it?

For anyone planning to purchase a safe to protect items of monetary or sentimental value, here are 7 top tips to help you make an informed choice:

1. Abide by the 10% rule

It’s a sensible ideas to spend 10% of the cost of what you plan to protect, on the safe you purchase. To make it a little simpler, take a zero away from the cost of the items, and keep your minimum budget at that number.

2. Buy a safe that’s weighty

The first thing a burglar will try to do is lift up your safe and carry it away, or try to tip it over onto its side to try and leverage it open. The heavier your safe is, the harder it will be for a burglar to do either, and a heavier safe generally means that its constructed out of more metal, which means your items get even better protection from theft and fire.

3. Bolt it to the floor

A safe that has been bolted to the floor is virtually impossible to remove or tip over, and while some people don’t like the idea of doing it, it really does offer your safe and its contents, the ultimate in protection from theft.

4. Think about humidity

Irrespective of where you keep your safe, most will experience some issue with humidity, and if you’ve got metal items stored inside, you might want to consider purchasing a dehumidifier designed especially for safes. Your local safe seller can guide you through your options, and advise you of a place to keep your safe that will minimize its exposure to moisture.

5. Consider your lock options

There are invariably a number of different options for locking a safe, and while you can open your safe faster with an electronic lock, you will need to keep an eye on the battery levels, and they do tend to go wrong more frequently. Should you opt for a combination lock, these are slower to get into and naturally, you need to remember the combination. For a key lock, it’s important to remember that all locks have the potential to be picked.

6. Understand the difference between safes

If you’re most concerned about items being stolen, then a high security burglar proof safe will be a worthwhile investment, while if you live in an area prone to wildfires, for example, a fire resistant safe may prove to be a better choice.

7. Think about what you are actually storing in the safe

If you need to access the items in your safe regularly, you may need to keep the safe in a more convenient place in your home, and if it’s going to be installed in a dark room, will you need a light installed inside the safe?

While there are many options as to the type, size and weight of safe you can buy, by thinking about what you plan to keep inside it, and understanding the level of risk it might be exposed to – be it fire or theft, or both – you can narrow down your choices and buy the right safe for your needs and budget.