Do I need a fireproof/waterproof safe?

parristim

I've a baby who's suddenly no longer a baby, up and walking, knocking things over, pressing buttons. Bit of a wake-up call so we're taking stock of everything 'important' (not that anything else seems that important any more!) Life cover, cloud backup for photos, etc. etc.

The one thing that still bothers me is that I have a heap of papers the solicitors sent when we bought the house just sat on a shelf. I reckon all my other papers (bank accounts, marriage cert, insurance policies, etc.) could be replaced in time but I'm not sure about the house documents.

Should I invest in some kind of strong box in case the worst should happen? What are peoples' opinions/experiences?

Thanks!

phill99

For what they cost and the safety they can provide, it's a bit of a no brainer in my book!

Mojisola

parristim wrote: »

I've a baby who's suddenly no longer a baby, up and walking, knocking things over, pressing buttons. Bit of a wake-up call so we're taking stock of everything 'important' (not that anything else seems that important any more!) Life cover, cloud backup for photos, etc. etc.

The one thing that still bothers me is that I have a heap of papers the solicitors sent when we bought the house just sat on a shelf. I reckon all my other papers (bank accounts, marriage cert, insurance policies, etc.) could be replaced in time but I'm not sure about the house documents.

Should I invest in some kind of strong box in case the worst should happen? What are peoples' opinions/experiences?

There a big spectrum between "sitting on a shelf" and "fireproof/waterproof safe".

If all you want is to keep the paperwork safe from baby, wouldn't putting it on a high shelf in a cupboard solve the problem?

If your house is registered at the Land Registry, the documents you have are probably only of historical interest.

yangptangkipperbang

Scan it all into your PC. Copy it onto a memory stick/disc and ask someone you trust to keep it for you as a back up to your copy.

tyllwyd

I'd agree that if the solicitor sent the house deeds to you, they probably aren't vital although it would be a shame to lose them. If a safe is over the top, how about buying a small metal filing box -this kind of thing http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9010936.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=cgid:7257508967|tsid:41409|cid:143062607|lid:47486962142|nw:g|crid:24795962927|rnd:20389427591391826669|dvc:c|adp:1o2
- that would give a bit more protection against everyday kind of accidents

phill99

A fire and waterproof safe isn't just for documents. Remember that routine digitisation of documentation has only been with us for the last 15years or so. Prior to that everything was in hard copy. There may well be loads of things that the OP can store in a fire safe. What about the last letter your father sent to you before he died? What about children's first school reports? What about jewellery or education certificates? If you loose a degree certificate that is more than 20 years old, it's the devils own job to get a replacement.

For the £60 or so that a fire safe can be had for, it seems silly not to have one.

I_have_spoken

I have 'laptop safe' into which I put the laptop(doh!) when going away, PC backup disc, iPad, camera plus passport, pass book, share certs, spare keys, emergency £500 etc.

It's not going to stop Raffles, but should be enough to defeat a crackhead/wee ned.

googler

£40 or so gets you a 'fire resistant for X hours' lockbox, into which can go the vital stuff that everyone mentions above. Tuck it away in the attic, if you have one. Keep the keys separate, and don't forget where they are.

Myser

http://www.thesafeshop.co.uk/Categories/fire-safes-for-paper/1.html

diable

Card board box place in loft or on top of a wardrobe.

Retro_Bunny

I_have_spoken wrote: »

I have 'laptop safe' into which I put the laptop(doh!) when going away, PC backup disc, iPad, camera plus passport, pass book, share certs, spare keys, emergency £500 etc.

It's not going to stop Raffles, but should be enough to defeat a crackhead/wee ned.

So where do you live and when do you go away?

I recall an old episode of "Beat the Burgler" with Dom Littlewood.
The house in question had a safe like this, screwed into the bottom of the wardrobe.
"Burgler" nipped in, grabbed this thing and ripped it clean off the wardrobe floor, splintered wood and everything.

These things are fine, but I understand they need to screwed into the beams with solid metal struts or fixed to concrete floors to be worthwhile - and actually, replacing the beam or flooring is probably more expensive than the items in it...