5. Forgetting Power Access Inside the Safe

Lighting and dehumidifiers require power. Yet many buyers skip adding a power outlet kit, only to regret it later when the interior is too dark or when they need to plug in accessories. Power kits are affordable—often around $40—and in many cases, installation is included when you buy your safe.

4. Not Bolting the Safe Down

A 600+ pound safe can still be tipped, moved, or stolen if it’s not secured. Some buyers initially skip bolting because they think it isn’t necessary, only to call later asking for a technician to come back (usually with an extra service fee). It’s easier and cheaper to decide on anchoring when your safe is first delivered and installed.

3. Failing to Measure Properly

Measuring just the spot where the safe will sit isn’t enough. You also need to measure doorways, hallways, and turns along the delivery path. Safes are deeper than their catalog dimensions once you include handles and keypads—typically adding about 3.5 inches. For example, a 27.5″ deep safe becomes over 60″ long diagonally when tilted for a turn. Use cardboard cutouts of safe dimensions to test fit through tight spaces before purchase.

2. Overlooking Lock Options

Mechanical dials and electronic keypads both have pros and cons. Many customers who start with a mechanical lock later switch to an electronic keypad for convenience. Today’s keypad locks are far more reliable than older models, and most carry a five-year manufacturer warranty—some even offer lifetime upgrades. The best advice is to visit a showroom and try both lock types before deciding.

1. Buying Too Small

The most common mistake: underestimating storage needs. Most safe buyers outgrow their safe in 2–5 years. It’s not just about firearms—safes also end up storing ammo, optics, family photos, documents, passports, tax records, keepsakes, and even emergency cash. A safe advertised to hold 20 guns may only hold 10–12 comfortably once optics and accessories are factored in. Choosing a larger safe up front helps you avoid an expensive second purchase later.

Final Thoughts

A gun safe is more than storage—it’s peace of mind for firearms, valuables, and important family documents. Avoid these five mistakes and you’ll save yourself headaches (and money) down the line.

Ready to explore options? Visit our Safe Showrooms in DFW and Austin or shop our online collection of Liberty Safes. Our experts will help you measure, choose the right lock, and even anchor your safe securely for long-term protection.

Living alone has its advantages, but it can also reduce your peace of mind, especially if you’re worried about security for your residence. As a residential locksmith company in Dallas-Fort Worth, we can help. Here are some security tips for those who live alone.

Set up Automatic Timers

Whether they’re motion sensored or on a timer, connect your lights to some sort of system that gives the appearance that someone is home. These also deter potential intruders, who like to stay hidden in the dark during burglaries. A dark, empty home is an enticing target.

Consider a Security System

For superior peace of mind, a security system takes the cake. This can give you assurances about your home security whether you’re at home or away, as cameras can be placed wherever your residence is most vulnerable. Modern security systems can even be monitored remotely, or by an entire team of security experts, and you can have emergency services notified during certain scenarios or triggers. 

Be Sociable!

The more friends, neighbors, and family you know nearby, the better. Thieves are less likely to target a home with lots of activity in it and you can also depend on these people to watch your residence if you’re away. It’s also great for your mental health, which can potentially suffer if you’re alone too much.

Invest in a Smart Doorbell

If a security system is out of reach for your budget, a smart doorbell is an affordable option that provides some of the same benefits. Monitor visitors to your front door, set up motion tracking zones, and customize your notifications. You can even communicate with people with some of these models, and the technology is always being improved.

Be Careful Online

This is true for anyone, but make sure you don’t broadcast the fact you’re going to be away on vacation or a business trip online. If someone knows you live alone, and you’re not at home, they also know the home is sitting there empty, and vulnerable. 

Keep Valuables Out of Sight

Finally, whether in your residence or car, make sure you aren’t leaving anything valuable out in plain sight. If you do have to leave something valuable in your home or vehicle, hide it. But little things like locking the door, hanging curtains, and buying a home safe are all techniques that can keep your belongings, and personal safety protected. 

Whether you live alone or are simply interested in improving your home’s security level (and your peace of mind), A-1 Locksmith is your ideal residential locksmith partner. Visit one of our DFW-area locations today or give us a call at 972-284-7500 with any questions.

If you’re a property manager or landlord, taking care of your tenants, and keeping them safe are your biggest concerns. Whether you’re renting out a single property or an entire apartment complex, here are some security tips to consider implementing, if you haven’t already.

Upgrade Doors, and Locks 

For starters, when was the last time you had the doors or locks in your property inspected? These need to be maintained just like other elements of your property, but many landlords end up overlooking issues until they’re too late. Inspect your doors, and locks regularly to identify issues with structural integrity, and consider upgrading locks to smart locks. Also, you might need to install new locks in any access points that don’t have them, such as a garage door.

Keep All Areas Visible

Lighting is an important security component, as criminals are usually active in the dark. If your property has any hiding spots, address them by installing additional lighting or upgrading your existing lighting system. This is especially important if there are any hiding spots near doors, windows or areas of your building not visible from the street. (Check inside your property for compromised areas as well.) 

Get More Cameras

In addition to lighting, a security system with new cameras can keep all areas of your rental property visible. Security systems give current residents peace of mind, deter potential criminals, and are an overall wise investment for your rental business. Door cameras are another popular option that more landlords are using for individual units, as it’s a big selling point.

Trust a Locksmith

At the end of the day, if you’re not sure what security upgrades your rental property needs, it’s a smart idea to consult with a professional locksmith. These experts have seen everything when it comes to commercial security and can recommend what you need. They can also ensure a proper installation better than you or a general handyman could.

If you’re interested in additional security tips for rental properties, give A-1 Locksmith a call today at (972) 284-7500.

Do you qualify for any security-related tax breaks? Let’s go over five of the most common ones, and see if you qualify.

1. Car Tracking Services

Many insurance companies will offer a discount if you have a stolen vehicle recovery system installed, but you can use this to your advantage during tax season if your employer doesn’t reimburse you for it. This applies to company vehicles, and vehicles you use for company purposes, such as delivering products. If it’s a professional expense that isn’t reimbursed, there’s a good chance it’s a tax break. 

2. Home Office Security Improvements

Any security improvements you make to your home office can also be written off and you get more of a break if the improvements are exclusive to your home office. So if you buy, and install a security camera in your home office, it’s a tax break. As would reinforcing windows in your home office or installing locks on the doors.

3. Whole-Home Security Improvements

You can also write off certain improvements to other areas of your home, if they impact the security of your entire home including your home office. For example, if your home office takes up 20 percent of the square footage of your home, you can write off 20 percent of expenses that impact the whole home. A surveillance system and new locks on the fence gate both qualify for at least a small percentage of security expenses you can write off.

4. Unreimbursed Business Expenses

If you have a security-related expense that your employer won’t cover, you can potentially write it off on your taxes. For example, if you have a business trip, and you want to secure your luggage with a new lock that your employer won’t cover, it could qualify for a small tax break. Or, you could write off a portion of your internet service if you use it for monitoring a company vehicle. These unreimbursed business expenses can add up over time.

5. Unused Budgetary Considerations

Finally, while it’s not necessarily a tax break, the end of the year is a good time for making business improvements in general. Whether you own a business or lead a specific department, maximizing your budget will ensure you can expect the same amount next year. If you have room in your budget for security improvements, now is the time to make them.

We’re not CPAs, and encourage you to talk with a financial advisor on your specific tax handling for security-related purchases. Whether your security improvement qualifies for a tax break or not, if you’re looking to enhance the security of your home or office, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today.

1. Control Access Points

Homes for sale will usually have a lock box placed on the home to control who can enter and view the home. There are different types of lock boxes, and it’s important to limit access to them (e.g. your agent, showing agents, family, etc.). But you should also think about securing other access points in the home, such as windows, and the back door. By controlling access points, you can limit who you allow into the home you’re selling.

2. Keep Valuables Away

Jewelry? Collectibles? Stack of cash? Yeah, you’ll want to keep all of those out of sight and/or properly secured when it comes to showings. Consider keeping valuables in a home safe instead—if you don’t have one, now might be a good time to purchase one. At the very least, get valuables out of the open, where they’re vulnerable to thieves. 

3. Remove Sensitive Information

Similarly, you want to protect your digital valuables as well. Your personal information, in particular, can be vulnerable if you have it anywhere in your home where a visitor can access it. Take sticky notes with passwords off the fridge, and desk, relocate spare keys, and keep any important documents out of drawers that aren’t secured. Make sure to lock your computer or any other electronic device housing sensitive information.

4. Install Video Monitoring

Whether it’s a full-blown security system or a single video doorbell, a surveillance system of some sort can go a long way toward giving you peace of mind during your home sale. If your home is damaged, burglarized or vandalized in any way, you’ll be able to see who did it. You can also check in on your home when you’re away for peace of mind during showings.

5. Remove Personalizations

Removing pictures of family members, names, and anything else that could give away your identity is important. Not just for the people who will physically be viewing your home, but also because of the potential that photos will be taken of personalized items during the prospective buyer’s tour and posted online. It’s especially important to remove personalizations if there are children in the house.

6. Never Allow Showings While at Home Alone!

Most homeowners elect to leave the house before a buyer’s agent shows the home, but this is optional. If you do choose to stay while your home is being toured it’s important to know that many buyer’s agents will send their clients to showings without accompanying them. Even if the buyer’s agent joins their client it’s a good idea to plan on having, someone else in the home with you that you trust if you must remain in your home during a showing.

If you’re interested in more residential security advice, contact us today or stop by any of our DFW-area locations.

According to a report from the U.S. Department of Justice, “rates of… household crimes tended to be higher in the summer than during other seasons of the year (when the study took place)” and “aggravated assault rates were higher during the summer than during (other seasons.)”

Let’s discuss why this happens, and what you can do about it.

Warm Weather = More Crime?

Motor vehicle thefts also are higher in the summer than other seasons (like spring), so theft in general is a summer problem. But why? Let’s take a look at a few contributing factors to the increase in thefts during the summer:

• Many families take vacations during the summer and are away from their homes
• Beach-goers often forget to lock their vehicles, or they leave the keys in the car
• Criminals in popular destinations target tourists, and people from out of town
• Increased temperatures can lead to increased aggression from thieves
• People tend to let their guard down and relax during the summer

These are just a few reasons, of which there are many, and they can be complicated. But the good news is that you can be proactive regardless of the reason for increased thefts.

How To Be Proactive

It’s a good idea to think about security all year long, but there are certain steps you can take to ensure your home is especially protected during these vulnerable few months. Here are some tips for improving the security of your home during the summer:

• Key duplication: Leave a spare key only with a trusted friend or family member.
• Security system: Install a surveillance system or video doorbell so you can check in at any time.
• Maintenance, and landscaping: Make sure your home landscaping is maintained so thieves can’t tell you’ve been away.
• Locks, and windows: Ensure all locks, and windows in your home are repaired, and in good working order
• Social media: Avoid posting online that you’re on vacation!

If you’re interested in additional security advice or products for the summer, contact us today or stop by any of our Dallas-Fort Worth locations.

Obviously, there is a need for enhanced security at retail locations. Whether you’ve experienced challenges related to crime or are interested in enhanced measures to prevent crime from happening to you in the future, here are a few security tips for retail stores that you should consider.

Embrace Access Control Technology

Traditional locks are great and all, but they’re not exactly state-of-the-art. They’re prone to picking and bumping. Retailers can beef up security by implementing digital locks with access control technology, however. These systems range from electronic deadbolts with keys that are programmed to open the lock at specific time ranges to full proxy card, and access logging systems. Either way, technology will help you have more control over your locks.

Install Video Surveillance

If you don’t have video surveillance already, now is the time to do it. Even if you do have video surveillance, do you have it everywhere it’s needed? Consider expanding your system to include cameras that monitor the cash registers, the parking lot, inventory/storage areas, and all entries or exits. The more angles, the better.

Limit Entrances, and Exits

Speaking of entry points, it’s best to keep them at a minimum. The more entrances, and exits, the more opportunities for crime to happen (whether from internal or external sources). Consider permanently locking up access points that aren’t needed outside of emergencies, and keep track of everyone who enters, either through a keycard or keycode system.

Make Sure All Alarms Are Monitored

While noisy alarms can deter, some criminals, they don’t do much in the way of catching them or notifying the appropriate authorities. With a monitored security system, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that all your cameras, and alarms are monitored by a professional security company. For example, our sister company A-1 Security Group currently provides sales, system design, cabling, networking, monitoring and servicing of intrusion alarm products.

If you’re interested in security solutions for your retail stores, contact the A-1 Locksmith team today for a consultation.

Improving security is one way to accomplish this, so allow us to provide our commercial locksmith expertise. Here are some security tips for assisted living facilities.

Secure Entries, and Exits

It goes without saying that you want to protect entry points from intruders, but with assisted living facilities, you also want to think about protecting exit points as well. Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and memory issues can result in a confused resident trying to leave, and not remembering where they are. 

You can control entries, and exits with smart locks that will only open via a code or key card, as well as install alarm systems for certain doors that should only be opened during an emergency. Make sure you also have high-security locks installed, and repair any locks that are broken.

Improve Surveillance

Voice, and video intercom systems can help you better secure main points of entry or exit and also allow you to easily identify visitors. Residents of assisted living facilities may have friends or family that want to see them and you need to ensure that their visit is planned. 

Also, a proper security system can help you monitor all highly trafficked areas to ensure residents are safe, and not confused or lost.

Get a Master Key System

To protect both the staff and the residents of your assisted living facility, you might want to limit access to some rooms. With a master key system, you’ll have control of the entire security system and can access any room, but you choose who else has access to what room. Need to keep the surveillance room limited to security staff? Or keep certain medical supply closets away from curious residents? Master key systems let you easily handle both of these situations (and more).

Keep a Locksmith’s Number on Hand

Finally, you never know when an emergency lockout or other situation might occur, so it’s always a good idea to keep a commercial locksmith’s number on hand. Either put it in a prominent place or keep it with other important numbers, like the police or hospital. Time can be of the essence when it comes to locksmith emergencies in assisted living facilities.

If you’re interested in improving the security of your assisted living facility, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today.