Some people like to keep their valuables locked up in a safe in their home, while others want to store their precious items in a box at their local bank. Did you know that one advantage of using a safe at home is that its contents are covered by homeowners/renters insurance? Stuff kept in bank safe deposit boxes, on the other hand, is rarely insured! Even though banks have plaques indicating “FDIC insurance,” that refers to them insuring monetary deposits in accounts– not contents in their safe deposit boxes. Interesting, right? Furthermore, a person can only access their “bank stuff” when the bank is open. And if they die? Well, then, estate reps have to show court papers to the bank to open a sealed safe deposit box. So, access-wise, home safes are easier for all involved.
Safes Over Banks
What are some things you’d want to put in a fireproof home safe? Important “life” paperwork is at the top of this list, including original birth certificates, original social security cards, and insurance policy papers. Furthermore, key financial info should be stored in the home safe, including paperwork related to investments and bank accounts.
Legal documents like living wills, health care proxies and powers of attorney should also be kept in safes at home.
Paperwork related to key people like your doctor and pharmacy should be kept in home safes, too. It’s a good idea to make and keep a list of medications taken.
Do you have some favorite photos you wouldn’t want ruined in a fire? Keep those in your safe. Perhaps make a “CD” or some form of “digital copy” of your favorite photos, “just in case,” since family memories are hard to replace should actual photos go missing or become damaged.
As for valuables, people often store some cash, coins, and expensive jewelry in their safes.
If you do end up keeping some of these aforementioned items in a bank’s safe deposit bank, for whatever reason, then it makes sense to keep your safe deposit box key(s) in your home safe so you’ll always know where to find it/them.
Finally, any spare keys you have for various items, as well as titles to vehicles, would best be stored in a home safe, where they’re safe from harm and not easily lost or misplaced.
If you’re looking for the right safe for your needs, contact the experts at JC Security today.