What Is a Home Security Survey?

What Is a Home Security Survey?

Introduction

Most homeowners are blissfully unaware of the risk they’re exposed to, but burglars are all-too-familiar with typical weak points in home security and how to break in. That’s where a home survey comes in. By performing a thorough property security check, we can identify those weak points, so you can address them.

What Is a Home Security Survey?

A home security assessment or survey is a professional inspection of a property, designed to identify security weaknesses that make your property vulnerable to break-ins. A good security survey will also give you a report with recommendations tailored to your specific needs and your property, rather than generic, one-size-fits-all solutions.

These assessments can be carried out by qualified locksmiths, security specialists, and consultants. However, the benefit of having a locksmith perform the survey is that they are able to carry out many of the additional security measures recommended, such as adding anti-snap locks or installing a key safe.

What Does a Home Security Survey Include?

Physical Security Checks

We will check all entry points into the home; doors, windows, and all locks. We also inspect any garages, sheds or buildings you may have, as these often contain valuables and are also targeted by burglars.

Perimeter and Access Points

Home security checks don’t just cover the house or building itself; it’s equally important to assess the perimeter and any access points. That means checking all fencing, gates, and outdoor lights for potential faults or weaknesses.

Security Systems Review

Prevention (functioning locks, strong fences, etc) is vital, but so is ensuring that the right security measures are in place to alert you and the police if someone does make entry into your home.

We will manually test all alarms, CCTV, and smart home devices to ensure they provide you with early warnings for intruders. We will also check all external cameras for any blind spots on the property.

Local Risk Analysis

Beyond just checking for physical security vulnerabilities, we will also look at local crime rates, property types, and locations risks before making our final assessment. Security risks for a rural, detached property will naturally be different than for a terraced house in a busy town or city.

Behavioural Risks

Burglars are often motivated by opportunist theft – such as finding doors unlocked or windows open – and from identifying high-value vehicles they want to steal, and making entry to the home in search for keys. Many homeowners don’t realise the risk they’re taking through poor security habits and allowing valuables to be left in view.

How Does a Home Security Survey Work?

The home security survey process is very straightforward. Once you have booked the survey, one of our professional locksmiths will get in touch for an initial consultation, to help us understand the property and the scope of survey needed.

We will then perform an on-site inspection, which includes the exterior of the property, the property boundary, and inside the home. Following this, we will complete our security assessment report, which details our risk assessment, our risk score, and what actions we believe you should take to improve your security.

This may include replacing your locks with BS3621 locks – the British Standards thief-resistant lock, adding locks to your windows, or updating your CCTV.

Why Is a Home Security Survey Important?

ADT’s 2025 burglary report stated that over 245,000 incidents of burglary were reported in England and Wales in that year, with a third of these occurring while the victims were at home. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t prioritise security until after a break-in has occurred, but it is still important to do this after a break-in as some thieves will return to a property to steal replaced goods.

According to ADT’s report, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester are both among the most burgled areas in England and Wales, making proactive burglary prevention vitally important. Our home security surveys will help you identify hidden risks, reduce the instances of burglary, and may reduce the cost of your home insurance.

Common Questions About Home Security Surveys

How long does a survey take?

Depending on the size and complexity of the property, a home security survey usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour, and the formal survey report will be sent to you within a few days.

Do I need a home security survey?

Home insurance providers typically do not require a home security survey (with the exception being for listed building or other specific properties), however, we recommend that every homeowner undertake a thorough site survey for their own safety and peace of mind.

Can I do it myself?

Yes, you can conduct a DIY home security assessment, but understand that this will not be as thorough as one conducted by a professional. Having a locksmith or security specialist conduct your survey will ensure that every possible security threat is recorded and addressed, and suitable recommendations provided.

What happens after the survey?

After your home security survey, you will receive a full report within a few days, which will detail the overall safety of your home, and highlight any potential issues in order of seriousness. The report will also include formal recommendations for actions you can take to address these issues, but it will ultimately be up to you to decide which actions, if any, you take.

Are they worth it?

The cost of replacing your stolen property, repairing damaged items, and claiming on your insurance (which is likely to increase your premiums), is far greater than the cost of updating your locks or buying a new camera. We can’t measure the pound value of getting a survey versus not getting a survey, but surely increasing your home security and preventing burglaries is worth it to help you feel safe in your home.

Conclusion

We believe that home security surveys are an invaluable tool to improving the safety of your home and making life harder for would-be thieves. Our professional locksmiths are adept at identifying any and all weaknesses in your security, and we are able to complete 9 out of 10 of any subsequent security recommendations ourselves.

We want you to feel safer, reduce the likelihood of a burglary, and provide quality, long-term security solutions. If you would like to book a professional home security survey, please get in touch.