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10 Tips For Buying Your First Safe

Buying a gun safe can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t know what to look for in one. Having the right questions answered before you buy will help ensure that your new safe meets all of your needs and expectations. In this article we’ll go over some of the most important factors that people should consider when buying their first gun safe.

1. What is the main purpose of this new safe?

This is a great question to ask yourself, because it will help you determine the type of safe that’s right for your needs and wants. Do you want a gun safe for protecting all your firearms? Check out our Gun Safes. Do you just need something small enough to hold some important documents? Home and Office safes are the best fit for this application.

Are you planning on keeping jewelry, cash or other valuables in the safe? These type of items need the highest security possible to keep unwanted hands out. American Security has many top of the line High Security Safes including small and compact safes like the CE1814 with TL-15 security.

2. What size safe do I need?

If you are a gun collector looking to safely store their guns then you are defiantly going to need a larger than average safe. Liberty and Browning carry many safes that cater more towards guns than storage of other valuables.

For storage of small valuables and important documentation a smaller sized safe will not only help keep things secured it will also not take up much space. Smaller safes also come with an easier installation and even a cheaper cost.

You should always take in account future growth because through our many years of business we have seen many customers regret going with a smaller safe and having to spend more money than if they went with a bigger safe first.

3. How much am I willing to spend on a new gun safe?

The cost of a gun safe is one of the most important factors to consider when buying one. The more money you’re willing to spend, the better quality and security features you’ll be able to get.

For example, more expensive safes generally have a higher level of fire-resistant and a tougher body. A good rule of thumb is to spend as much as you can afford—the extra price is worth it considering how much peace of mind having a secure place for your valuables will provide.

Our West Coast Series is our personal choice of the best price to performance option out there coming in three sizes; 15, 20, 30.

4. Will the safe be delivered or will I move it myself?

If you are buying a large safe, it may be difficult to move it yourself. West Coast Safes offers a full installation including leveling, bolt down, and delivery. Check out our delivery page to learn more or call us at 1-800-933-3515.

Safe’s can vary in weight from as low as 100 pounds all the way up too 4000+ pounds. We offer a store pickup option for all of our safes but it is worth it too understand whether you are capable of installing a safe, it heavily depends on the size and weight for how easy it would be for you too install it on its own. We also recommend bolting your safe down during installation so that its a lot harder for someone too transport your safe unwantedly. This is a free service we offer with any installation.

5. What kind of warranty I expect with my purchase?

Warranties vary differently between manufactures. Most warranties  are lifetime warranties that aren’t transferable. Liberty has one of the best in class warranties with a lifetime coverage that is even transferable.

6. What features are important to me?

There’s no one-size-fits all safe, so it’s important to establish what features and qualities matter most to you.

To get a sense of your priorities, ask yourself these questions:

  • Am I storing guns or valuables such as jewelry/money? This is the most important question to ask because the interior heavily affects what safes are fit for you. High Security Safes are fit for storing valuables and money where as Gun Safes stores what their name implies.

  • How much fire protection do I need? Depending on where you live should heavily impact your fire rating choice. However no matter the location fires are possible. We have each safe listed with its Temperature and Time fire ratings.

  • Do I want quick access to my safe? An electronic lock is perfect for this but if you are looking for a more reliable lock mechanical dials are for you.

  • Will this size fit well into my home environment? All safes on westcoastsafes.com have their dimensions listed. Make sure to measure so the safe you want can fit through doors and be installed no hassle.

  • How heavy is this safe and how will I move it around if needed? Weight ratings are listed on safe product pages. Heavier safe = Harder time moving. We offer full installation and moving of safes check our delivery page for more info or contact us.

7. Where should I buy a Safe?

If you are looking for a dealer in your area many safe manufactures have a dealer locater on their website.

West Coast Safes carries the best of the best when it comes to quality, security, and reliability. We also ship nation wide and deliver locally in Southern California. With over 900 reviews and 5.0 overall rating we have the reputation and history to satisfy your needs.

8. What customization options do I have?

Safes come in many different colors, hardware options, and even logo styles. Fort Knox leads the pack when it come to safe customization because they custom build every safe they make. They will make almost anything you want as long as its reasonable.

9. Where should I put my safe?

Safes are usually installed in homes/garages and sometimes upstairs. If you are going to be in and out of your safe a lot or if it’s going to store a home defense weapon most customers chose to install it in the master bedroom. Garages are the most convenient because they allow for easy installation and the safes take up less important space.

10. But what safe should I get?

With so many quality options it can be hard to choose one. Call today at 1-800-933-3515 and talk to one of our many experts who can help you find exactly what you need! We take in to account many different things such as budget, use case, and where the safe is being stored. 

Conclusion

Buying your first gun safe is a big deal, and it’s important to make sure you get the right one. By asking yourself these questions, we hope that you will be able to narrow down your options based on what is most important for your situation and needs. If you still have questions about buying a gun safe or would like more information, please contact us today!