So you’ve made the responsible decision to get a safe for your home or office. What’s next? How do you decide what to put in your safe? Depending on the size of your home safe, you may be limited in how much you can store in it.

In addition, some items may be better off in a safe deposit box in a bank instead of in your home safe. Of course, it’s up to you to determine what to keep in a home safe and what to store in a safety deposit box.

But here are 10 things you should consider keeping in your home safe:

  1. Insurance documents. If your home suffers damage from a fire or other disaster, you’ll want to keep your insurance documents safe, so you know your coverage and have the right information to file a claim.
  2. Personal documents. Passports, Social Security cards, and birth certificates can be a hassle to replace. But you may need access to them outside of banking hours, so it’s best to keep them at home.
  3. Legal documents. If you’ve drawn up a living will, power of attorney or health care directive, it’s best to keep those forms close rather than at a bank, which might seal your safe deposit box upon your death.
  4. Financial documents. It’s wise to hold onto certain financial documents, including tax returns, property records, brokerage statements and debt records. By keeping them in your home safe, you can prevent identity theft.
  5. Prescription medications. Keeping potentially addictive medications in your safe can prevent abuse or overdose.
  6. Cash. It’s always a good idea to keep some cash on hand in case of an emergency, especially if the area you live in is prone to natural disasters that can knock out bank and ATM networks.
  7. Certain valuables. If you have jewelry, a coin collection or other valuable items that you want access to from time to time, you might prefer to keep it close rather than at a bank.
  8. Guns. Your local bank may not allow firearms in its rental agreement. Even so, it’s best to keep your gun in a home safe if you want easy access or you want it for general home safety.
  9. Old family photos. If you have any family photos that you want to keep but don’t display on your walls, your home safe will protect them from fire and water damage. It’s also recommended to scan them, so you have a digital copy.
  10. Safe deposit box keys. If you choose to get a safe deposit box with your local bank, store your keys in your home safe to always remember where they are and to keep them safe from thieves.

As for things you should keep in a safe deposit box instead of in your home, here are four:

  1. Valuable heirlooms. If you have family heirlooms or other valuable items that you don’t need regular access to, it might be better to keep them in a safe deposit box rather than a home safe.
  2. Home inventory. Property insurance companies typically require that you keep an inventory of what you have in your home in case of a burglary or damage. By keeping this in a safe deposit box instead of a home safe, your list will be completely safe.
  3. Certain important documents. While it’s good to have some documents in a home safe, you can keep others in a safe deposit box if you don’t need easy access to them. Unless you’re planning to sell your car soon, for instance, you likely don’t need to keep your vehicle titles at home.
  4. Sensitive computer data. If you have a USB drive or external hard drive with sensitive information on it, it’s best to keep it in a safe-deposit box where it likely won’t be subject to intense heat, potential water damage or magnetic interference.

Visit A1 Lock and Safe to see how we can help you protect your home. Notably, we sell safes where you can store firearms and your most prized possessions in the event that you are robbed. Thankfully, A1 Lock and Safe specializes in changing locks, making duplicate keys, and more for your safety. If you so much as suspect that someone could break into your home or office because your locks are faulty, let our Durham locksmiths know and we will replace your keys and locks for an affordable price. Contact us today to get started!