Home Security Checklist

Start with entrances and exposed areas

Review the main door, side doors, ground-floor windows, yard, passages and parking area. The goal is to identify where monitoring, alerts or controlled access are actually needed before buying equipment.

Core checklist

• Make sure external entrances are visible and adequately lit, with no major blind spots.
• Plan camera positions to cover entrances and passages without pointing into unnecessary private areas.
• Check whether door locks need improvement or whether a smart lock or access-control device is appropriate.
• Decide whether motion, door or window alarm sensors are required.
• Review whether an intercom is needed at the gate or entrance for visitor handling.
• Confirm stable network coverage for cameras or smart devices that depend on connectivity.
• Define the required recording retention before selecting recorder or storage capacity.
• After installation, test mobile viewing, alerts, time settings and account access.

Cameras: cover the areas that matter

Resolution is only one factor. Field of view, night performance, mounting height, weather resistance and cabling all affect the result. See our outdoor camera guide or CCTV solutions.

Alarm and access control

Cameras document events, while an alarm system can add event-based alerts. Depending on how the entrance is used, a smart lock or intercom may also be useful. See alarm systems, smart locks and intercom systems.

Network, recording and maintenance

Connected devices need reliable network coverage, while recording capacity depends on camera count, image quality and retention period. After handover, verify recording, date and time, notifications and remote access, then schedule periodic inspection and cleaning.

When is a site survey useful?

A survey is useful for larger homes, multi-floor properties, multiple gates or layouts with unclear blind spots because it helps determine device count and mounting positions before purchase.