There’s nothing wrong or unusual with buying a used safe. There are many pre-owned safes that can still be put to good use for quite a long period of time. Safes are not like other appliances that easily degrade or get damaged after a few years of use. Second hand ones can still effectively serve their intended purpose.

However, you can’t just pick any second hand safe you find. There are things you need to know to properly examine and choose the right pre-owned safe to buy. Consider the following pointers as your guide:

1. Buy from a reputable company or seller. It’s difficult to rely on the claims of companies you don’t know or you have difficulties finding information about. While it’s true that you can simply check the item yourself to see if it’s really worth buying, there are safes with features that cannot be properly evaluated by ocular or physical inspection alone. Those with digital locks or those designed to be fire resistant, for example, may have already degraded considerably because of constant use or because they have been tampered with in the past. Ask for recommendations from people you know who know something about reliable safe sellers. You can also do some research online.

2. Inspect and test the safe’s different parts. Obviously, it’s important to to do a physical inspection. The safe you buy should be reliable and to know how reliable it is, you need to see and touch the actual unit. Inspect the door to see if it still securely closes. If the safe is already rusted, see to it that the rust can still be removed without affecting the durability of the safe and without compromising the security features. Mechanical locks should be securely locked. Electronic locks, on the other hand, should not malfunction. If you are looking for a fire resistant safe, be sure that you get one that has not already been exposed to fire. Fire is bound to weaken several parts of even the strongest safes. It’s not advisable to get a pre-owned fire-resistant safe if you are after the fire protection.

3. Choose the right type of safe for your need. Just like buying brand new safes, you also have to buy one that is suitable for the purpose you need it for. You can’t simply decide to choose a safe because it is what is available and because the price is appealing. Look for safes that have the right specifications. For example, if you plan to get a safe that will contain up to $30,000 in value, it is recommended getting a C rated safe with 1-inch protection on the door and up to 0.5 inch on the body.

Pre-owned safes are great for containing items like collectibles, guns, money, and documents. You can expect them to be as useful and dependable as new ones as long as you exert some effort to find a unit that is durable and coming from a reputable seller. Don’t hesitate to buy one but be sure to be prudent in making your choices.