Those who buy a key safe do so to gain security, knowing that help is always available, especially if friends, family, or loved ones live some distance away.
The reality is that many families are separated by distance and not everyone has reliable neighbours they count on when they need help. It’s unfortunate, but the truth of the matter is that many people out there, especially elderly people who live alone, do not have local support and are vulnerable as a result.
But emergencies are not the only reason to have a key safe. This is especially true today where, due to COVID-19, many elderly people who have been shielded from the virus have had their groceries delivered by home help, or they have had friends or loved ones visit more regularly to check in with them.
In this post, we visit a few other reasons to buy a key safe that you may not have thought of, starting with a quick reminder of what key safes are and also some tips if you are concerned about how safe and secure they are.
What is a key safe?
A key safe is a discreet metal lockbox that can store one or more keys to your home. It is typically secured on the wall near your front door, or another convenient location, on the outside of the home.
On the front of the cabinet, you will find a keypad used to enter a code. When the code is correctly entered, it will unlock the safe and reveal a compartment that holds one or more keys.
Are key safes secure?
Having a key safe installed can feel like an overwhelming prospect. After all, it holds the keys to your front door and your home! There are also many options to choose from, all with varying degrees of build quality.
Our advice is to first check that a key safe is recommended by others or is highly rated in its reviews. One example of a trusted product is the Yale Y500 key safe. It is a spacious key cabinet made from thick steel that is sturdy and weatherproof. This key safe box allows the user to set a 4-digit combination to unlock it.
You should also look for signs of certification or accreditations. If you are looking for a more premium key safe, the Burton Keyguard Digital XL is accredited by Secured By Design. This means it is built to a Police Preferred Specification. The Keyguard XL is also the world’s first key safe to be certified to meet the LPS 1175, Issue 8 A3 standard – the highest standard available right now.
These trusted key safe products are far more secure than simply keeping a spare key under your doormat or a nearby flowerpot. Both of them come highly recommended at their individual price points.
Both the Yale and the Burton Keyguard XL can be purchased from Telecare24 when ordering a personal alarm plan.
For customers who order our Pendant Alarm plan, we offer a free Defender Combination Key Safe worth £29. The Defender Combination Key Safe is a compact and highly secure unit. It was awarded silver in Real Homes’ Best Key Safe Guide 2022. To know more please visit Telecare24 offers page.
Reasons to have a key safe in 2023
Save time and money spent on getting your key copied
Getting your keys copied can be time-consuming and expensive depending on how many copies you want to make. With a key safe, you can simply give your friends, family, and loved ones the code to your key safe instead. Whenever you want to give somebody new access to your home, you only need to give them the code.
Convenience for family, friends, carers or other home help
It’s a fact of life that sometime we may need additional help to look after ourselves or our homes. This is especially true looking back at 2020 where, due to lockdown restrictions and coronavirus, many elderly people were shielding at home. They could not simply pop to the shops to buy groceries or medication.
A key safe makes it easier for your caregivers to access your home. This also saves you from having to move to let them in when the doorbell rings. It’s reassuring to know that they can gain access for themselves when you are in the garden.
You may also have other types of home help services who need to come in and out of the house. They may include cleaners, gardeners, or meals on wheels.
Having a key safe also makes it much more convenient for your family and friends to visit you. Perhaps you’re feeling unwell and it’s a struggle to get to the door. In another situation, they may need to get access to your house when you’re not at home.
While we only suggest ever giving your key safe code to a reliable person that you trust, it can be helpful if you need to let people in when you’re not there. For example, if you’re having some work done on your home. You can always change the code after the fact if you’re worried. However, remember that it’s imperative to let us and your keyholders know straight away.
A lifeline when you get locked out
It doesn’t happen often, but we’ve all been or come close to being locked out at one point or another. The feeling of knowing you’ve left your keys inside the house can be anxiety-inducing. With a spare key stored in a key safe outside the property, you know you’ll always have access to your home, no matter what.
For added security in the case that your keys are lost
We all lose things from time to time, and your keyholders are no exception! Having a key safe means that you don’t have to worry about those people looking after your keys or losing them. They should never leave the property without putting them back in the box.
In case of emergencies
Ultimately, a key safe is of great use in an emergency. The last thing you want is the emergency services having to force their way into your home. That is costly and a headache.
If you have a personal alarm and an emergency occurs, we will share the code with paramedics. They can easily get access to your home and provide you with the help you need as quickly as possible.
If you have any questions about purchasing a key safe when ordering a personal alarm from Telecare24, send us a message or give us a call.
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