Fifteen years ago, owning technology meant having big, clunky devices that you treated with extreme care. However, today there is so much that our phones and tablets can do that many people don’t need much else. This also makes a lot of us more casual about the way we treat our technology. In the past, carrying a technological device worth $1,000 when walking in the streets would have been unthinkable.
In other words, the average person has expensive technology at risk every day. For someone like me, who makes music with technology, there is even more to consider. In addition to my laptop, I have an amp, a microphone, a midi keyboard, and more. Because these items are cheaper and more accessible than ever, it is easy to take them for granted.
In reality, however, if something happened to my tech equipment, I would struggle to replace them without taking out a high interest rate loan or purchasing on a payment plan.
It is crucial to store your valuable devices in the right environment and with the right protections. Here is what you need to know.
Get renters insurance
If you don’t own a home, your possessions are not covered under your landlord’s homeowners insurance. So, if their home was to burn down, for example, you would get no compensation from their policy.
This is why renters insurance is so important. It covers your possessions, including your clothes, devices, and more. You can specify certain extras, whether advanced tech or an engagement ring. You can also get personal liability cover with your renters insurance, so that you won’t be left in the lurch if you accidentally cause damages to someone else. What does renters insurance cost? You can get it for as little as $5 a month, protecting your valuables that you simply cannot go without.
Make it inaccessible
Break-ins are common around the world, and particularly in the United States. Of course, locking your doors every night and activating your alarm system keeps you somewhat safe. But it is possible to make mistakes that leave your tech vulnerable.
For example, while your home may be well protected against someone getting in without getting caught, if you leave a device by a window, a smash and grab is an easy way for thieves to take advantage of you.
Make sure your technology is inaccessible when you are not using it. This may mean keeping it in a storeroom rather than in your exposed office.
Keep away from pipes
This may seem obvious, but keeping your technology away from pipes when it is unattended is a crucial step to take. Flooding can happen in an instant, and anything in its path can be easily destroyed. Not all insurance policies cover flooding, either.
Ideally, your technology should be in a room which has no pipes running through it, and which would be safe even in the event of flooding. This is not always possible, but at the least you should have the opportunity to get it out of the way.
One easy way to minimize potential damage is by never storing expensive tech directly on the floor. If it fits on a desk or shelf, it is far safer there.
Consider humidity
If you live in a humid city, storing your gadgets and technology safely is somewhat more difficult. The simple reality is that the humidity is likely to cause quicker decay and more frequent problems. There’s nothing you can do to get rid of this problem entirely, but try to minimize it as much as possible.
Keep your tech in a room with good insulation. You should also take pains to close any gaps where moisture can enter.
You can also use moisture-removing pods – the small packages that come in many products (always marked as inedible). These will not protect your tech completely, but will lengthen their lifespan.
Keeping your valuable devices safe from theft and damage takes a bit of foresight. Make sure you have insurance, as the loss of your technology can be devastating to your financial situation.