When it comes to safely storing anything of immense value, perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is protecting it from being stolen. And while it is natural to think in this manner, the term ‘safety’ or ‘safe storage’ requires a wider level of comprehension. Keeping a valuable item safe and secure on a broader level includes employing ways that not just keep the item’s condition intact, but also extend and enhance the value and/or usability of such an item for as long as possible.
In simple words, knowing how to store a valuable thing safely and securely should be the main concern. Fortunately, this article covers an extensive account of how to safely store valuables in intelligent lockers or a digital locker system.
What to avoid when storing valuables?
Irrespective of the value and type of a valuable item that you plan to store in intelligent lockers, there is always a general guideline on what things you should primarily avoid while storing something.
Here is a brief explanation of things that locker manufacturers in the US suggest avoiding when using a digital locker system.
I: Maintaining the right level of humidity
Before storing anything in any place, make sure that it has the right amount of humidity to suit the product you are about to store.
Humidity, whether too low or too much, can cause alteration to the physical properties of an item stored.
However, thanks to the advanced features of a digital locker system and intelligent lockers, humidity inside a specific locker or in the locker facility can be easily controlled to better suit the purpose of storing the type of items in it.
II: Maintaining the right level of temperature inside and around the area of the storage
The second most important thing to consider is to have the right level of temperature inside and around the storage place.
Just like humidity, an unfit degree of temperature too can severely impact the physical and intrinsic properties of an item stored.
But again, thanks to the digital locker system, its temperature controlling feature makes sure that the quality of your valuables isn’t being compromised due to change in temperature.
III: Long hours of direct sunlight exposure
You might be familiar with how garment manufacturers often recommend not to dry clothes with direct exposure to sunlight or not put to dry without turning inside-out.
Well, the reason behind this is simply that long hours of direct sunlight exposure can easily deface some items.
Similarly, while storing any item, make sure that the place it is being stored at isn’t exposed to direct sunlight.
Choose the right locker for the job
Choosing the right locker for the job is an important consideration while planning to store a valuable item in a storage locker. However, doing this is highly dependent upon knowing what you should and/or should not store in a safe deposit box or parcel locker.
What items should/should not be stored in a safe deposit box/parcel locker?
The following is a briefly summarized list of things about what should and/or should not be stored in a safe deposit box or parcel locker.
Things that you can comfortably store in a safe deposit box/parcel locker –
- Important documents related to real estate and property that you own as a primary residence and/or for investment purposes. This includes title deeds, property survey reports, property value appraisals, title survey reports, settlement documents, and property mortgage agreements, etc.
- Just like above, title and other important documents related to your vehicle.
- Documents of personal nature such as certificates of marriage, birth, divorce, and death, insurance agreements, mortgage agreements, and adoption records, academic certificates and/or degrees, etc.
- Social security card.
- Certificates of investment in bonds and shares held for long-term redemption.
- Jewelry and other items that although small hold great value.
Things that you should never store in a safe deposit box/parcel locker –
- Cash or any uninsured valuable items that tend to be highly untraceable.
- The original copy of your personal will document.
- Estate planning documents including trust deeds in original condition.
- POA or Power of Attorney document.
- Any other thing that although quite valuable, is exclusively disallowed by the bank or locker facility provider for storing in a safe deposit box/parcel locker.
Storage unit insurance
No matter how reliable digital locker systems and intelligent lockers may seem, they still carry with them an inherent risk. Due to this, there is always a chance that the integrity of any item contained therein, irrespective of its value, might be compromised.
Common instances of this happening can be due to fire, flood, earthquake, explosion, etc. To mitigate such risks, storage unit insurance can be used as a secondary option.
However, remember that the probability of any disastrous condition occurring is in most cases very negligible. This means that having a reliable digital locker system or intelligent lockers would be enough in most cases.
How do you store high-value items?
While the exact manner to store a high-value item depends highly on the type of item itself, the following is a general guideline of some important steps that you can perform in most cases.
- Start with finding a reliable, most reputable, and suitable locker storage system company for your needs.
- Adopt the best practices and techniques available to preserve and ensure the longevity of your high-value items.
- If required, get an appraisal or value estimation of the item so that you become aware of its value before preserving it.
- If necessary, you may also want to take photographs as well.
- Maintain a record of important documents such as purchase receipt or ownership title deed of the high-value item in a proper file.
Need a trusted USA Locker manufacturer to help keep your items safe and secure? Shop with American Locker today for all your secure intelligent locker needs!