Checklist: How to Conduct a Home Security Audit

Owning a home brings with it many ongoing responsibilities. As well as monthly bills and regular maintenance, home security requires regular attention and proactive measures. One of the best ways to safeguard your home and the people that live in it, is to conduct a thorough home security audit.

A security audit of your home involves assessing various parts of the interior and exterior of your home to check for any security vulnerabilities so that you can then make necessary improvements. Whether you are a first time buyer and have just moved into your property, or a seasoned home owner, it’s important to carry out periodic security audits to maintain a safe and secure environment.

Your Home Security Audit

Unsure where to start in assessing your home’s security? Here’s our checklist for fortifying your home against potential security threats.

Doors and Windows

For your home to be secure, it’s important that it is as difficult as possible for intruders to gain unauthorised entry. The main entry points to any home are external doors and windows, so it makes sense for this to be the first point of call of your security checklist.

• Assess door and window materials – Doors should be made from solid, robust material, such as metal, solid wood, or composite. If there are signs of weakness in your door, such as cracks, then it’s important to replace the door to remove weakness.
  
  For windows, double glazing is much harder to break than a single pane, but impact resistant glass or laminated glass provide more protection, and can withstand attempts at breaking or shattering the glass.
• Assess door and window frames – Even if a door is made from strong material, or a window features extra-resistant glass, if the frame that they fit into are unsecure, then home security is greatly compromised. Be sure to inspect frames for any sign of damage or deterioration, for example, rot or cracks, paying close attention to areas where there are joints, or the frames meet the walls.
• Check hardware – Assess the functionality and quality of all door and window hardware, particularly locks. Ensure that locks are working properly, allowing you to lock and unlock doors or windows with ease. Check for signs of wear or rust, and think about upgrading to more secure locks that are designed to withstand the lock snapping techniques that many burglars use.
  
  In addition to upgrading locks, adding deadbolts provides another layer of security in the case of forced entry. You can also decide to add peepholes, or a smart door alarm with a camera, so you can verify who is at the door without opening it. You may also decide to install access control systems and automatic locking systems, allowing you to gain access to your home via a key card or mobile app, providing more control over who enters and providing data of who enters the home and when.

Lighting and Landscaping

When you carry out a home security audit, it’s vital to inspect for any vulnerabilities related to lighting or landscaping.

• Assess lighting – Check your exterior lighting, ensuring that key entry points and perimeters are well lit, and that outdoor light fixtures are working and in great condition. If there are areas around your property that provide shadows or blind spots for intruders to hide in, then it’s important to invest in more lighting.
  
  If your exterior lights do not feature motion sensors, then you should consider adding them to serve as a powerful deterrent. Motion sensors mean that lights aren’t in action at all times, only in the case of a potential intruder. When a light is suddenly triggered, this also helps capture your attention.
  
• Check landscaping – Whilst trees, bushes and shrubs can provide more privacy for your outside spaces, they can also provide hiding spots for potential intruders, making it easier for them to approach your property without being detected. If vegetation is overgrown, particularly near entrance points to your home, be sure to trim them back.
  
  If you have CCTV security cameras, as part of your home security audit, it’s crucial to ensure that the landscaping of your property doesn’t obstruct the view of the camera and allows a clear sightline.

Gates and Fences

As with doors and windows, external gates and fences provide access points to your property, so it’s important to inspect them for any vulnerabilities that should be addressed.

• Inspect perimeter fences – Assess fences or walls closely to look for any signs of damage or wear that could weaken the security of your home. In The UK, the maximum height allowed for a fence is 2 metres in a back garden, and up to 1 metre in a front garden next to a road or footpath. Higher fences no doubt provide more privacy and security, but planning permission is required for a fence heights higher than the legal requirements mentioned above.
• Inspect gates – As well as checking gates for any damage, it’s also important to ensure that locking mechanisms are in good working condition. If you are not using a keyed lock for your gates, then it is recommended to upgrade the locks or use a padlock for an extra layer of protection. If you have a gated driveway, then automatic gates not only provide convenience, but much more control over who enters your property.

Alarm Systems and Surveillance

In order to achieve the highest levels of security for your property, it’s essential that alarm systems such as burglar/intruder alarms and fire alarm systems are in full working order.

• Intruder alarms – To assess the effectiveness of intruder alarms, it’s important to test the alarm is functioning correctly. Whilst it is possible to check that alarms are set properly and motion sensors are working, in order to be 100% certain that your alarm system is fully effective, it’s important to call a professional alarm installer.
  
• Fire alarms – As well as intruder alarms, fire alarms are incredibly important for the safety and security of your home. Check that all smoke detectors and fire alarms are working correctly and replace batteries if they are not functioning. Like burglar alarm systems, it’s important to invest in a professionally installed fire alarm system, and arrange for a professional service, making sure that your fire alarm system is in top working order.
  
• CCTV – When installing or assessing CCTV surveillance, as well as ensuring that all cameras are working properly and footage is clear, it’s also important to assess the coverage that cameras provide. Inspect whether CCTV cameras cover all entry points to the home and exterior areas of the property. If there are blind spots that could be a weakness, it is advisable to install extra cameras in order to reach these points.

Home security experts

Carrying out your own home security audit is very important, but for an expert eye, and for advice on the best steps to take to ensure the security of your home, it’s always recommended that you work with a professional.

At First Contact Fire & Security, we specialise in installing and maintaining the highest quality of home security systems, including intruder alarms, fire alarm systems, access control systems, CCTV, and automated gates.

If you are looking for a professional home security audit in Hampshire, get in touch today.