Many people are afraid to keep their valuables at home. Although they would love to feel as if their family treasures and important documents are safe, the fact of the matter is that the unthinkable does happen. In addition to being the spoils of a robbery, valuables can become damaged due to fire, flooding or another act of nature. For this reason, a safe deposit box is a good idea.
A safe deposit box is a locked container kept inside of a bank vault. These boxes come in many different shapes and sizes and are made of a fireproof material. They're not free, however, and are rented much in the way one would rent a post office box. The amount of money a person pays depends on the size of the box desired.
Items that are good candidates for storage in a safe deposit box are important documents, such as the deed to a house or a last will and testament, and treasured family heirlooms such as jewelry. Anything a person would rather not see fall into the wrong hands should be kept their.
When someone rents a safe deposit box, he or she will most likely be presented with two keys. Only individuals authorized by the renter will be allowed to access the box. This means that an employee of the bank will request identification before allowing access to it. Anyone not on the list of approved persons will be denied access.
Should a person want to make a deposit into or withdrawal from a safe deposit box, the renter will be escorted to a private room along with his or her box. The person will be left alone to view the contents without worrying about who might be taking inventory.
People should keep in mind, however, that there's a downside to owning a safe deposit box. Since the valuables are held at a remote location, they're not available 24 hours a day. This means that a person who rents a box will not have convenient access to it during non-business hours. If someone decides to rent a safe deposit box, he or she should give careful consideration to those items stored in it.
In the long run, the benefits of renting a box often far outweigh the disadvantages. When it comes to important documents and family treasures, it's better to be safe than sorry.