Security is no exception.

For example, there’s a right way and a wrong way to move a bulky item like a home safe. If you’re considering a DIY safe move, here are some techniques to avoid at all cost.

1. Underestimating the Weight

Safes are heavy and can weigh several hundred pounds or more. People often underestimate the weight of the safe and end up straining their backs (or injuring themselves in another way) during the move. Be sure to consult with a safe professional to determine how much help you’ll need. Moving a safe is a two-person job, at the very least. But the more people you have to move it, the less you’ll risk injury or damaging the safe.

2. Choosing the Wrong Equipment

Another common mistake is not choosing proper equipment. Consider a heavy-duty dolly, straps or a hoist. If you don’t have any of these tools, it might be best to consider hiring a professional to move and install your safe, as they will usually have the necessary equipment to do their job. Not using the right equipment can make the move much more difficult (and also risk injury or damage to your home, business or the safe itself).

3. Not Planning the Route

“Measure twice, cut once” is a common saying. It’s important to prepare for a big safe move, which includes measuring the safe itself and the route where you’ll transport it. Make sure there is enough clearance where you’re putting it and remove any obstacles along the way. Pay special attention to stairs, narrow hallways and doorways, as these are parts of the route that typically cause issues. The more you plan, the less you risk having to move the safe multiple times or failing to even reach your desired location for the safe.

4. Not Securing the Safe Properly

It’s important to secure the safe properly, both during the move and after it’s placed in your desired location. For the relocation, you want to ensure it doesn’t fall off the equipment you’re using. For the placement, you want to ensure it’s mounted properly so it doesn’t tip over (especially if it’s in an area that children access). A professional locksmith or safe technician can give you additional guidance on how to best secure the safe you’re moving.

While knowing these four mistakes to avoid while moving a safe yourself is important, this list is not limited to these and there’s also the value you’d receive by working with a company that already has all the equipment, knowledge and staff to handle your safe move. Maybe you have a low-bed trailer ideal for moving the safe and you’re prepared to bolt your safe down. Now couple in your own labor and likely the labor of a friend and you can easily see where the value proposition is of working with a safe-moving company even if you’re able to avoid these common mistakes when moving a safe yourself.

For the best locksmithing and safe services in Dallas-Fort Worth, trust A-1 Locksmith. Stop by any of our DFW locations today.

If you’re not a professional, however, you should think twice before you tackle something outside your area of expertise. Home safe delivery is one such area.

We often get asked how we deliver big, bulky safes in hard-to-reach locations. In this post and video, we take a look at a 650-pound Liberty Franklin Model Safe we successfully delivered to a customer who wanted it on the second floor.

Watch the video, and/or read about it below.

Key Components for Safe Delivery

When it comes to home safe delivery, there are a few best practices to consider, whether you’re doing it yourself (with help) or hiring a professional. Here are some of the key components for home safe delivery:

• Reachable location: the safe has to fit in the space and the path to the space.
• Proper weight: the space needs to support the 50-500+ pounds of the safe.
• Experience: whoever is moving it needs to know what they’re doing.
• Multiple people: bigger safes especially shouldn’t be moved alone, even with a dolly.
• Mitigated risk: whether it’s for personal injury or property damage.

Is Delivery or Pickup the Best Option?

The two main factors with this decision are: the size of the safe and the difficulty in delivery. As for the size of the home safe, many people can handle 100 pounds or less with a dolly (assuming no or few obstacles). Anything more than that requires two people and some practical knowledge. So if you’re confident in both of those departments, picking up your safe yourself might be the best option.

If the safe is approaching 200 or 300 pounds (or more), it might require professional equipment and experience. The difficulty of reaching where you want the safe delivered might also require an expert’s strategy, whether it’s up stairs, around corners or past obstacles. (Though be aware an extra fee may be charged for difficult delivery situations like this.) 

How A-1 Safe Delivery Works

At A-1 Locksmith Security and Safes, we pride ourselves in professional, efficient and safe home delivery for our safe options. This includes hiring and training professional team members, using advanced equipment and providing extra security with ropes and/or cords. Finally, we are insured and bonded to provide even more peace of mind.

Need a safe delivered? Interested in purchasing a safe? Contact the team at A-1 Locksmith Security and Safes today and we’ll answer any questions you may have.