What to do with safe during remodel?

[scbauer]

[Dirk Tungsten]

Maybe move it to another room (preferably with a locking door), or if you had to maybe bolt it down in the garage with a large appliance box over it or something?

[PaperTarget]

Maybe move it to another room (preferably with a locking door), or if you had to maybe bolt it down in the garage with a large appliance box over it or something?

Empty it first.

Hiding it works. Using the appliance box or a painters tarp.

For construction workers and laborers, the act of moving a safe isn't too difficult or time consuming. Even at 900lbs, it is easy to put on moving dollies and roll around. If empty and bolted down, you could lock it in the open position so would be thieves can see there isn't anything in it.

I have used a security camera overlooking jobsites to keep track of contractors and subs. You could even put a Ring doorbell under the box or tarp.

[Mr.Cip]

Empty it first.

Hiding it works. Using the appliance box or a painters tarp.

For construction workers and laborers, the act of moving a safe isn't too difficult or time consuming. Even at 900lbs, it is easy to put on moving dollies and roll around. If empty and bolted down, you could lock it in the open position so would be thieves can see there isn't anything in it.

I have used a security camera overlooking jobsites to keep track of contractors and subs. You could even put a Ring doorbell under the box or tarp.

[PachecoFTW]

Move it, idc what you or others think less suspicion or none is best.
When I had a safe at my parents house when they where getting appraised I drug out the safe and stored it at a freinds last thing you want is a scout amongst the labors.

[eviioiive]

It was a pita but it went to the garage.

[hermosabeach]

Where are you living during the remodel?

[baih777]

Move it into the garage against the wall.
Cover it with blankets and a tarp or plastics sheeting from home depot.
Stack boxes in front of it.

[splithoof]

I have been through this once for myself, and helped a friend manage same shortly thereafter. To do it right is a bit of a hassle.
Half the battle of securing valuables involves intelligence on the part of those who would steal your property. If it is known that you store valuables [in this case your safe(s)], returning later after the remodel is doable, as they have also likely studied your patterns of coming and going in the process. The fewer people who have knowledge of the existence of your safe the better. This particularly applies to tradesmen, who often have the skills, means, and experience in moving heavy objects that have been secured to the structure. And who knows who else they talk to after hours.
I would offer that finding another secured location away from the job site, and moving any valuables to that secured location prior to the start (or solicitation of bids) of the job is the best bet. Do you have a relative or friend whom would be open to bolting a safe(s) somewhere on/in their property for the duration?....If your remodel project requires you to rent/lease another dwelling to live in, that is another good option. Also consider keeping your moving of valuables secret while you actually do it, to not alert potential thieves.

[PaperTarget]

Sounds like your instinct leads you to moving it to a secure place without much stranger traffic and with some monitoring.

With what your are doing for layers of security already and keeping a low profile, you are already doing more than many and, therefore, much less likely to be a victim before and after the remodel even if a thief were to know about it.

[The War Wagon]

Don't demolish the old closet, UNTIL the new one is ready for it.

[DrjonesUSA]

We did a major remodel when I was young, had to move somewhere else for ~9 months.

My dad got some stuff stolen from his tool shed during the remodel.

Let's be honest; there are some real sketchy characters working construction & it seems to me that theft is sadly common.

I'd move the whole safe - contents & all - to a different location; storage unit, friend / relative's house, etc.

It's going to be a pain to move & cost some money, but then it just depends how much value you place on the safe & it's contents.

I would certainly NOT leave the safe - even empty - around for construction workers to see. Way too tempting a target.


Even if they don't steal or try to steal anything during construction, it just takes one of them to say something to an extra scummy friend of theirs & now you are a target on their list.

JMO.....

[003]

Rent one of the "shipping container" storage units and put it in your driveway. Add one of those doorbell alarm systems and some heavy duty locks and motion sensor lights.

Goes without saying put your safe in when no one is watching. Put the safe in the back and add lots of miscellaneous stuff to hide it from view and make it difficult for anyone to get to the safe itself.

[scbauer]

Lots of good ideas here folks. Thanks.

I don’t think moving it out of the house is a good option since I’ll have less visibility. We are hoping to spend 75% of the time in the house, so I’d rather have it be a little less secure at a place I frequent than “more secure” (questionable) at a place I will hardly visit.

I really like the idea of putting a refrigerator box (or something similar) over the safe to disguise it. I’m guessing an unlocked safe that nobody knows about is more secure than a 5,000 lb safe that everyone knows about.

I’m thinking the safe will go into another part of the house that isn’t getting remodeled, with a box hiding it for a few months.

Keep the ideas coming!

[Daze]

Safe Cloak

Sorry if this is a dupe. Garage and try one of these so it doesn't draw stares when you open and close it.

https://www.deansafe.com/products/amg-safe-cloak