Every 90 seconds, a home is burgled somewhere in Australia. That’s more than 200,000 break-ins annually, affecting countless families and causing millions in property damage. While these statistics might seem alarming, there’s good news: most break-ins are preventable with proper security measures.
A comprehensive home security audit is your first line of defence against potential threats. This systematic approach helps you identify vulnerabilities and strengthen weak points before they become problems. Whether you’re a new homeowner or have lived in your property for years, regular security audits ensure your protection stays current with evolving risks.
This guide will walk you through 10 actionable steps to evaluate your home’s security comprehensively. You’ll discover how to think like a security expert, spot potential weaknesses, and create an improvement plan that fits your budget and lifestyle. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap for transforming your home into a secure fortress.
Step 1: Assess Your Property’s Exterior Visibility
Start with Street Appeal: Evaluating Exterior Sightlines
Your home security audit begins before you even step foot on your property. Walk down your street and view your home from a potential intruder’s perspective. What you see – or don’t see – can significantly impact your vulnerability.
Start this assessment during daylight hours, then repeat it at dusk and after dark. Take photos from different angles to document your findings. Look for areas where poor lighting or excessive vegetation creates concealment opportunities. Overgrown shrubs near windows, dense trees blocking street lights, or poorly maintained landscaping can provide perfect hiding spots for unwanted visitors.
Pay particular attention to your window treatments. Are ground-floor windows easily visible from the street, or do heavy curtains create privacy that could also conceal criminal activity? Consider how your current window coverings balance privacy needs with natural surveillance principles.
This is where quality blinds and shutters make a real difference. Modern window treatments allow you to maintain privacy while ensuring your home doesn’t appear vacant or vulnerable.
Take note of sight lines from neighbouring properties. Good relationships with neighbours create informal security networks, but only if they can actually see potential problems occurring around your home.
Step 2: Examine All Entry Points
Door and Window Security: Your First Line of Defence
Every door and window represents a potential entry point, making them critical focal areas for your security audit. Begin with your main entrance door, checking the frame, locks, hinges, and surrounding structure.
Inspect door frames for signs of weakness, warping, or previous damage. A solid door means nothing if the frame can be easily kicked in. Test all locks, including deadbolts, ensuring they engage fully and operate smoothly. Check that striker plates are secured with long screws that penetrate the door frame and into the structural framing.
Move systematically around your property, examining every window. Test window locks to ensure they function properly and haven’t been painted over or damaged. Look for signs of attempted entry, such as scratches around locks or damage to window frames. Pay special attention to ground-floor windows and those obscured by landscaping.
Don’t forget about less obvious entry points. Sliding glass doors often have inadequate locks and can be lifted off their tracks. Basement windows, garage service doors, and second-floor windows accessible via rooflines or adjacent structures all deserve attention.
Document any entry points that lack adequate security measures. Consider the cost versus benefit of various improvements, from simple lock upgrades to comprehensive security door and window replacements.
Step 3: Review Your Lighting Strategy
Illuminate Vulnerabilities: Comprehensive Lighting Assessment
Darkness provides cover for criminal activity, making comprehensive lighting one of your most effective security tools. Your lighting audit should cover both functionality and coverage gaps.
Start by mapping your current exterior lighting. Walk your property’s perimeter after dark, noting areas with inadequate illumination. Common problem zones include side yards, back gardens, pathways, and entry points. Test all existing lights, including porch lights, pathway lighting, and security floodlights.
Evaluate your motion sensor lights carefully. Are they positioned correctly to detect movement without creating false alarms from pets or passing vehicles? Check their sensitivity settings and range coverage. Replace any with damaged sensors or inadequate coverage areas.
Consider the timing of your lighting systems. Lights controlled by timers should vary their patterns to avoid predictable schedules that signal when you’re away. Smart lighting systems offer excellent flexibility for creating natural-looking occupancy patterns.
Energy efficiency doesn’t mean compromising security. Modern LED security lighting provides excellent illumination while keeping electricity costs manageable. Solar-powered options work well for areas without existing electrical connections.
Remember that lighting serves dual purposes: deterring potential intruders and providing safe navigation for legitimate occupants and visitors.
Step 4: Evaluate Perimeter Security
Boundary Protection: Fencing and Landscaping Review
Your property’s perimeter defines the first security boundary, making fencing and landscaping crucial elements of your overall protection strategy. Effective perimeter security balances visibility, access control, and aesthetic appeal.
Examine your fencing from both inside and outside your property. Look for damage, loose boards, or sections that provide easy climbing access. Gates require particular attention – check latches, hinges, and locking mechanisms. A secure fence becomes useless if the gate is easily compromised.
Height isn’t everything in fence security. A fence that’s too high can provide concealment for intruders once they’re over it. The most effective fencing creates a psychological deterrent while maintaining visibility for natural surveillance.
Review your landscaping with security in mind. Trees and large shrubs can provide beautiful privacy but may also offer concealment for criminal activity. Apply the “three-foot rule” – keep vegetation within three feet of the ground and three feet away from windows and entry points.
Consider thorny plants near vulnerable areas as natural security barriers. Rose bushes, holly, or barberry under windows create effective deterrents without appearing overtly defensive.
Your landscaping should eliminate easy climbing access to second-floor windows or roof lines. Trim tree branches that provide access routes and ensure outdoor furniture or garden features can’t be used as climbing aids.
Step 5: Inspect Existing Security Systems
Technology Check: Auditing Current Security Equipment
If you have existing security systems, regular functionality testing ensures they’ll work when needed. This step involves both technical assessment and user experience evaluation.
Test your alarm system comprehensively. Trigger each sensor to verify proper function and communication with the main control panel. Check backup battery power by disconnecting main power briefly – your system should continue operating without interruption. Review monitoring service connectivity and response procedures.
Evaluate camera systems carefully. Review footage quality, storage capacity, and remote access functionality. Clean camera lenses and check for obstructions that might compromise coverage. Verify that cameras cover all intended areas without creating blind spots.
Don’t overlook smart home security integration. If you have smart locks, doorbell cameras, or app-controlled systems, test their connectivity and ensure all family members understand their operation. Update any outdated software or firmware.
Review your system’s user codes and access permissions. Remove codes for former residents or service providers who no longer need access. Ensure all current users know how to operate the system properly, including how to prevent false alarms.
Document any equipment that needs repair, replacement, or upgrading. Consider whether your current system meets your family’s evolving security needs.
Step 6: Analyse Internal Security Measures
Inside Protection: Internal Security Assessment
Home security extends beyond preventing entry – internal security measures protect your family and valuables once someone is inside your home. This often-overlooked aspect of security auditing can make the difference between minor losses and major disasters.
Examine interior lighting and visibility from outside your home. Can people see valuable items through windows? Are there areas inside your home where intruders could hide or work undetected? Consider how interior lighting patterns might indicate occupancy or vacancy.
Review internal door security, particularly for bedrooms, home offices, or areas containing valuables. While you don’t want your home to feel like a fortress, strategic internal security can slow intruders and provide safe zones for your family.
Assess your valuables storage approach. Are important documents, jewellery, or expensive electronics easily visible or accessible? Consider both fire-resistant safes for irreplaceable items and concealment strategies for everyday valuables.
Think about internal communication and escape routes. Can family members quickly contact emergency services from anywhere in the home? Are escape routes clearly defined and practiced? Internal security cameras in key areas like hallways or living spaces can provide valuable evidence and real-time awareness.
Step 7: Test Communication and Emergency Systems
Stay Connected: Communication System Evaluation
Reliable communication systems are essential when security situations arise. Your audit should verify that you can contact emergency services and trusted contacts quickly from anywhere on your property.
Test both mobile phone reception and landline functionality throughout your home. Dead zones for mobile coverage could prove critical during emergencies. If you’ve eliminated landline service, ensure your mobile service is reliable and consider backup power options for extended outages.
Review your emergency contact systems, including neighbourhood watch participation, trusted neighbour relationships, and family communication plans. Everyone in your household should know how to contact emergency services and at least two trusted individuals who could provide assistance.
Consider backup communication methods. Two-way radios, satellite communicators, or personal emergency beacons might be relevant depending on your location and circumstances. These become particularly important in remote areas or during natural disasters that affect traditional communication networks.
Verify that your security monitoring service has current contact information and understands your preferences for emergency response. Test their communication systems periodically to ensure proper function.
Step 8: Conduct a Break-in Simulation
Think Like an Intruder: Vulnerability Testing
This step requires you to think like a criminal while maintaining your ethical perspective. The goal is identifying your property’s most vulnerable points by viewing them through an intruder’s eyes.
Walk around your property at different times, noting which entry points would be easiest to breach undetected. Time how long it might take to defeat various security measures. Are there areas where someone could work for several minutes without being seen by neighbours or passersby?
Consider the tools commonly available to opportunistic criminals – screwdrivers, crowbars, or simple climbing aids. Which of your security measures would stop a determined intruder with basic tools? Which would merely slow them down?
Evaluate escape routes from an intruder’s perspective. Quick escape access often influences target selection, as criminals prefer situations where they can leave rapidly if discovered. Areas with multiple exit options or good concealment become more attractive targets.
Document your findings objectively, noting both vulnerabilities and effective deterrents. This exercise often reveals surprising weak points while confirming the value of existing security measures.
Step 9: Review Insurance and Documentation
Paper Trail Protection: Security Documentation Audit
Proper documentation serves multiple security purposes – supporting insurance claims, providing evidence for law enforcement, and ensuring your family understands security protocols and procedures.
Review your home insurance coverage, paying particular attention to security requirements that might affect claims. Some policies require specific security measures or offer discounts for comprehensive protection systems. Ensure your coverage reflects current property values and security investments.
Create or update your home inventory with photographs and serial numbers for valuable items. Store this information securely off-site, either in cloud storage or a bank safety deposit box. Include purchase receipts and appraisals for high-value items.
Review warranties and service agreements for security equipment. Ensure contact information is current and you understand maintenance requirements that might affect coverage. Some security systems require professional servicing to maintain warranty protection.
Document your security protocols in writing, ensuring all family members understand their roles during various scenarios. Include emergency contact information, system operation instructions, and evacuation procedures.
Step 10: Create Your Security Improvement Action Plan
Plan for Enhancement: Prioritising Security Upgrades
With your audit complete, it’s time to transform findings into actionable improvements. Effective security enhancement requires strategic prioritisation based on risk assessment, budget constraints, and family needs.
Rank identified vulnerabilities by their potential impact and likelihood of exploitation. High-impact, high-probability risks deserve immediate attention, while lower-risk issues can be addressed over time. Consider both the cost of improvements and the consequences of not making them.
Develop realistic timelines for implementing changes. Some improvements, like changing locks or adding motion sensor lights, can be completed quickly. Others, such as installing comprehensive security systems or replacing windows, require more planning and investment.
Budget for both DIY solutions and professional installations. While some security improvements are suitable for handy homeowners, others require professional expertise to ensure proper function and warranty protection. Don’t compromise on quality for critical security elements.
Consider seasonal factors that might affect your security needs or improvement scheduling. Some projects are better suited to specific weather conditions, while others might address seasonal vulnerabilities like holiday travel periods.
Securing Your Home’s Future
A thorough home security audit reveals both obvious vulnerabilities and hidden weak points that could compromise your family’s safety. By following these 10 systematic steps, you’ve taken the first crucial step towards creating a comprehensive security strategy that adapts to your specific property and lifestyle needs.
Remember that home security isn’t a one-time project – it’s an ongoing process that evolves with changing circumstances, technology, and threats. Regular audits ensure your protection remains effective and current.
Proactive protection is your best defence against increasingly sophisticated criminals who are constantly adapting their methods. By implementing comprehensive security measures today, you’re not just protecting your property and possessions; you’re investing in your family’s safety and your own peace of mind. Don’t wait until it’s too late to discover your home’s vulnerabilities.
Take the next step towards a more secure future by scanning the QR code in the download below to access your free Crimsafe Security Score check, a personalised assessment that reveals exactly where your home stands and identifies specific areas for improvement. With these insights in hand, you can confidently secure your home, transforming potential weak points into strong defences that will keep your family safe for years to come.
Contact North Coast Blinds & Security today for a professional consultation. Visit our showroom to see our range of security products firsthand or call us to schedule an on-site assessment. Together, we can transform your security audit findings into a robust protection plan that gives you peace of mind and keeps your family safe.
Your home security is too important to leave to chance – let’s work together to get it right.