Getting a home safe is a great way to protect important documents, valuables and items that hold special meaning. Along with passports, jewelry and birth certificates, the popular items to store in a home safe include external drives, memory cards, and weapons.

While a home security system can lessen the dangers of a forced entry or home burglary, a security safe will also keep away the prying eyes of people you have welcomed into your home, like children, party guests or contractors. In particular, protecting your children from unsupervised access to any guns in the home takes planning and investment.

When choosing the best safe, consider what you will be storing and whether you want a manual lock or an electric safe. There are safes specially made for cash or jewelry, with various sizes available for different needs.

In addition to the ability to lock up valuable items and documents against theft, a safe can help to protect your valuables during a natural disaster. Fireproof safes and waterproof safes can lessen the damage caused by wildfires, structure fires, hurricanes and flooding. While you should always employ smoke detectors around your home and pay attention to all evacuation warnings and orders, having a fire- and waterproof safe can let you rest a little easier if disaster does strike.

Placement of your safe matters in terms of maintaining its security. For extra protection, you may want a safe that bolts in place in a closet, on a bookshelf or under home or office furniture.

Other useful tools for taking care of valuable documents and possessions include locking file cabinets and Bluetooth trackers. Trackers attach to important items and help you find them via an app on your smartphone. If investing in security from the ground up, consider these home security essentials and tips for how to choose a home security system.