Lock, Stock, and Ready: Your Ultimate Home Security Checklist for 2024

With 2023 coming to an end, it’s time to start thinking about home security in the new year – is there anything you need to improve?

We’ve created the 2024 home security checklist – a comprehensive guide that will help you identify areas that require improvement, upgrade, and purchase. 

Keep your home safe all year round! We’ll assess your home’s security both inside and out and make sure you’re covered for emergencies and vacations. 

Year-Round Home Security Calendar

A properly secured house is key to home security to prevent any problems from burnout to theft. 

If you are starting out with home security, it can seem like a lot, and it is possible to forget some security. The same goes for the die-hard home security geeks – Are you sure you have all the items on our list applied to your home security? 

That’s why a well-planned year-round checklist is the basis for home security. A home security checklist helps ensure the overall safety and security of your home. Starting with a comprehensive list, you can cover all the necessary security measures and prevent break-ins.

Having a year-round home security checklist is more than just a to-do list. It’s a complete strategy for keeping your home safe. This approach has many benefits, such as maintaining consistent and thorough security and encouraging you to take proactive security measures, leading to the safest possible property.

Now let’s dive into a detailed year-round home security checklist:

1. January: Testing Alarms and Updating Emergency Contacts
2. February: Ensuring Indoor Security
3. March: Changing Passwords and Reviewing Smart Home Security Settings
4. April: Exterior Security Check
5. May: Ready Your Home for Vacation
6. June: Emergency Considerations and Evacuation Plan
7. July: Outdoor Lighting and Landscaping for Security
8. August: Indoor and Outdoor Maintenance Tasks
9. September: Update and Review Your Home Insurance
10. October: Halloween Home Security Tips
11. November: Cybersecurity Check for Smart Home Devices
12. December: Preparing To Secure Home For The Holidays

January: Testing Alarms and Updating Emergency Contacts

Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Testing your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors regularly is very important. 

These devices are crucial for detecting any potential threats early on, giving you more time to react in case of a fire or carbon monoxide leak. 

Plus, testing helps identify issues like low battery levels, ensuring that your devices always work correctly and keeping you safe.

🛍️ Recommended Product: Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector

A smart detector is a great way to keep your home safe from smoke and carbon monoxide. It sends real-time alerts and syncs with your mobile device to update you on potential risks. 

With this device, you get extra features that help improve the effectiveness of the alarms, making your home even safer.

Remember to test these detectors regularly to make sure they’re working correctly.

Google Nest Protect – Smoke Alarm – Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector

• Features:
  • Voice alerts for immediate notification of potential threats.
  • Mobile notifications to keep homeowners informed even when away.
  • Recognize fast-burning fires, smoldering fires, and carbon monoxide.
  • App silence enables to hush the alarm if everything’s under control.
  • A long-lasting battery ensures continuous protection. 
  • Constant overview of battery status – Green glow means all detectors have tested themselves, and the batteries are good.
• Price: $99.99
• 🛒 Purchase Here

Emergency Contacts

It’s essential to have emergency contacts in case something terrible happens. They help make sure that the people who need to know are contacted quickly. 

To make sure everything goes smoothly, it’s a good idea to keep monitoring services up to date with the correct contact details. You can also inform your neighbors about any changes so everyone can work together to keep the neighborhood safe.

February: Ensuring Indoor Security

Door and Window Locks

It’s important to check your door and window locks regularly to make sure they’re secure. 

If you notice any issues with the locks, fix them immediately to add another layer of protection against unwanted guests. 

Good locks also make burglars think twice before trying to break in, so it’s a good idea to keep them in good working condition.

Visibility of Valuables from Outside

Check if your valuable stuff is visible from the windows or doors. If yes, rearrange your window coverings to hide them from passersby. Doing so can reduce the temptation for burglaries and keep your belongings safe.

🛍️ Recommended Product: Home Security Camera

This indoor security camera is a really helpful gadget that can help protect your home. It’s easy to use and has features like motion detection, live streaming, and automatic video recording, which help you keep an eye on your house. 

With a home security camera app, you can monitor your home from your mobile device and quickly respond to any potential threats.

By using this camera regularly, along with other security measures, you can keep your home safe and secure.

ZoomOn Home Security Camera

• Features:
  • Motion detection triggers recording when movement is detected.
  • Two-way audio allows communication through the camera.
  • Live streaming for real-time monitoring via mobile devices.
  • Night vision to see everything, even in lower light conditions or in the dark.
  • Smart notifications notify thru the app of increased noise or suspicious movement in your home.
  • The app works on WiFi, 3G, 4G, 5G, and LTE; thus has unlimited reach.
• Price: $5.99+ ($59.99 yearly subscription)
• 🛒 Purchase Here

March: Changing Passwords and Reviewing Smart Home Security Settings

Update Passwords 

Changing passwords often for your smart home devices and WiFi networks is important so no one can sneak in without permission. 

By making strong passwords, you can ensure your connected devices and networks are safe and secure. This technique helps reduce the risk of hacking or unauthorized control of your smart home systems.

Review and Enhance Security Settings on Connected Devices

Make sure to go through all your connected devices and check if they have the latest security settings. 

If possible, turn on two-factor authentication to add extra protection. 

It’s important to check your smart home regularly to identify and fix any vulnerabilities.

🛍️ Recommended Product: Password Manager

A password manager is like a secret safe that can keep all your passwords safe and organized for different accounts. 

When you use a password manager, you won’t have to worry about remembering all your different passwords for smart home devices and networks. 

This is not only a secure way to keep your smart home safe, but it also encourages using strong, unique passwords that are harder to crack. 

Bitwarden

• Features:
  • Fully functional password manager to store all passwords across all devices. 
  • Multi-device sync for convenient access across multiple platforms.
  • 2FA, a.k.a. two-step authentication.
  • Transmit data securely to anyone, even no-users, with end-to-end encryption. 
  • Generate email alias for an added layer of privacy and security.
  • Health reports inform if passwords are weak, reused, or exposed.
• Price: Free for one person, $3.33 per month for family (up to 6 users)
• 🛒 Purchase Here

April: Exterior Security Check

Door Frames and Entry Points

Regularly checking door frames and entry points is crucial to make sure they’re strong enough to keep out unwanted visitors. 

Fixing any weaknesses and reinforcing the frames will make it harder for anyone to break in. 

Keeping entry points in good condition can also make it more challenging for intruders to enter by force.

Trim Bushes and Trees

If you let your bushes and trees grow too much, it can be an invitation for intruders to hide and sneak around your property. 

But if you trim them around windows and doors, you’ll be able to see everything much better. 

That way, if something sketchy is going on, you can spot it quickly and maybe even scare off whoever’s doing it.

🛍️ Recommended Product: Smart Doorbell with Camera

Thinking about stepping up your home security? Check out a smart doorbell with a camera. 

It’s got all the bells and whistles, like the ability to chat with visitors remotely, record what’s happening outside, see in the dark, and store everything in the cloud. 

It’s like having a security guard, ensuring nothing goes down you don’t know about. 

Google Nest Doorbell

• Features:
  • Send an alert to your smart device, either when someone presses the doorbell or when it detects a person, motion, or sound. 
  • Equipped with 1600 x 1200 HD vision, HDR, and Night Vision, Nest Hello provides bright and crisp images right around the clock. 
  • HD talk and listen enables hear visitors and to have a crystal-clear conversation.
  • See live what’s happening at home or go back in time with 3-hour event history snapshots.
  •  30 days of video history in the cloud.
• Price: $99
• 🛒 Purchase Here

May: Ready Your Home for Vacation

Secure Doors and Windows

Before you head out for your vacation, make sure you lock all the doors and windows. 

Check the locks to make sure they’re working properly, and consider adding extra support to keep your home safe from unwanted visitors while you’re away. 

Smart Lighting and Home Automation

You can use smart lighting and home automation to make it look like someone is at home when you’re away. Smart plugs and timers allow you to control your lights, TVs, or other electronic devices from a distance. Doing this in different ways and at different times can create the impression that someone is home, which can discourage break-ins.

🛍️ Recommended Product: Smart Plug

Want to upgrade your vacation preparations? Consider getting a smart plug that you can control remotely. 

This handy device lets you control and automate your electronic devices with handy features like timers and energy monitoring. 

It’s not just convenient but also helps keep your home safe and energy-efficient. By integrating this smart technology into your home security, you can make your home look occupied and deter potential break-ins.

Wemo WiFi Smart Plug

• Features:
  • Timer function for scheduling on/off cycles.
  • Energy monitoring provides insights into power usage.
  • Control devices from anywhere using Apple HomeKit, the Apple Home App on iPhone & iPad, or Siri.
  • Compatible with voice assistants for convenient voice control.
  • Thread technology allows smart home products to connect faster and more reliably than ever. The Wemo Smart Plug with Thread also supports Bluetooth if the device doesn’t support Thread.
• Price: $29.99
• 🛒 Purchase Here

💡 Don’t forget the home security camera!

You should get a home security system along with the smart plug. 

But don’t worry, you don’t need to spend a fortune on it. Just download a home security camera app on two phones – one that you on basic and another one that you can leave at home as a camera. 

The process is super easy – download the home security app on both phones and pair them up. Place the phone that will work as a camera on a stand (you can use anything to keep it steady, like a flower pot). Then, you can start keeping tabs on your house. Even if you’re not at home, you’ll be able to see what’s going on!

Here is your step-by-step guide on the home security camera app.

June: Emergency Considerations and Evacuation Plan

Emergency Kit with Essential Supplies

It’s super important to have an emergency kit packed with all the essential supplies you need to survive unforeseen situations. 

Make sure you’ve got some first aid supplies, non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, batteries, and any necessary meds. 

You should also check and update your emergency kit regularly to make sure it’s in tip-top shape.

Create an emergency plan with your family for what you’ll do if you need to evacuate. Make sure everyone knows where to meet up and how to get in touch if you get separated. That way, you can all stay safe and connected during an emergency.

🛍️ Recommended Product: Emergency Kit

Prepare for unexpected events, especially emergencies. A comprehensive emergency kit is essential to help you tackle different emergency situations. 

An emergency kit should contain all the necessary supplies that you may need:

• Non-perishable food: minimum three-day to one-week supply, with a manual can opener
• Water: four liters per person per day for drinking and sanitation
• Phone charger, power bank, or inverter
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• Battery-powered or hand-crank flashlight
• Extra batteries
• First-aid kit and medications
• Personal toiletries and items, such as an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses
• Copies of important documents, such as insurance papers and identification
• Cash in small bills
• Garbage bags and moist towelettes for personal sanitation
• Seasonal clothing, sturdy footwear, and an emergency blanket
• Dust masks
• Whistle
• Help/OK Sign (PDF): Display the appropriate side outward in your window during a disaster.

July: Outdoor Lighting and Landscaping for Security

Motion-Activated Outdoor Lights

Outdoor lights that turn on when they sense motion can help make your property safer. You can put them near doors, walkways, and dark spots to discourage anyone from trying to break in. The sudden light can scare them off and make it easier to see outside at night.

🛍️ Recommended Product: Motion-Activated Outdoor Lights

If you want to beef up your home security, consider getting motion sensor lights for your outdoor spaces. They’re very helpful because not only do they boost visibility, but they also scare off any unwanted visitors by switching on when they detect motion. 

You can adjust the sensitivity to suit your needs, and they’re built to withstand different weather conditions. 

Installing them is a piece of cake, so you won’t have to worry about any complicated setups.

LEONLITE COB LED Security Light

• Features:
  • Equipped with a superior motion sensor, the security light features a highly sensitive 180° detection angle and 70ft long detection distance.
  • Equipped with triple operation modes – manual control of the light, mode allows the light to detect ambient luminous intensity and motion, and the third lighting up at dawn and lighting off at dusk.
  • A waterproof rating protects the outdoor flood lights against even harsh weather conditions.
  • An outstanding lifespan of 50,000 hours can effectively reduce the frequency of replacing fixtures.
  • 86.7% energy and cost savings by replacing your 150W halogen fixture with our 20W LED motion light, saving $715 during its long lifespan.
• Price: $59.99
• 🛒 Purchase Here

Eliminate Potential Hiding Spots

Triming any overgrown plants, bushes, or trees can help stop unwanted visitors from hiding around your property. By keeping up with your yard work, you’ll be able to see more clearly and increase your overall security.

August: Indoor and Outdoor Maintenance Tasks

Damaged Windows or Doors

Check your windows and doors regularly for any damage or wear and tear. If you notice any cracks in the glass, damaged frames, or locks that don’t work, get them fixed as soon as possible. This will help keep your home secure and structurally sound.

Outdoor Security Equipment

It’s super important to keep your outdoor security equipment, like cameras and motion sensors, in good working condition. Just give them a regular cleaning, check all the connections, and swap out any parts that aren’t working right. That way, you can count on them to do their job when you need.

September: Update and Review Your Home Insurance

Home Insurance

Make sure your home insurance policies are up-to-date and accurate. 

Check that your coverage is enough for your home and property, especially if you’ve made any changes like renovations or bought new valuable items. 

Don’t forget to check that your home’s coverage aligns with its current market value. 

Also, check your coverage for personal belongings, like jewelry or artwork. 

Lastly, make sure your liability coverage gives you enough protection.

🛍️ Recommended Product: Home Inventory Software

Home Inventory Software is a powerful tool that helps you keep a digital inventory of your stuff. It’s perfect for your home insurance review, making it easy to document your belongings accurately. 

With cool features like cloud storage, barcode scanning, and photo attachments, the software makes it easy to manage your inventory. 

Plus, having a complete record of your assets can be a lifesaver if something unexpected happens.

Itemtopia

• Features:
  • Capture images, receipts, notes, warranties, and more, all linked to the desired item or location.
  • Create spaces (e.g., your „home“), add items, create groups for similar items, and use item categories to classify them – and even add custom fields to collect specific information on certain things.
  • There are four unique ways to add items: scan barcodes, detailed item information, multiple items with summary info, and snap photos.
  • Sharable with other users.
• Price: $7.99+
• 🛒 Purchase Here

October: Halloween Home Security Tips

Secure House

Halloween, a time of fun and celebration, is just around the corner, so it’s important to put the safety of your home first. Follow these home security tips for Halloween to ensure a safe and spooktacular time.

Our 8 Halloween home security tips will keep your house safe on Halloween. 

It’s really important to make sure you’ve got the following covered:

• Use motion-activated lights and well-placed lanterns.
• Illuminate entry points and dark corners.
• Keep walkways and steps clean.
• Check handrails are sturdy and in good condition.
• Create a safe path for visitors.
• Check locks, deadbolts, and hinges.
• Use smart doorbells and security cameras.
• Well-light paths, porches, and entryways.
• Use indoor light timers.
• Keep pets in a comfy, quiet space.
• Check who is at your door.
• Report unusual activity.
• Keep travel plans private.
• Have an emergency plan.

💡 If you want to make sure your home is safe and ready for Halloween, check out our Halloween home security tips. It’s got all the info you need to make your place as secure as possible.

November: Cybersecurity Check for Smart Home Devices

Update Firmware and Software for Smart Home Devices

Make sure you keep all your smart home devices updated with the latest firmware and software.

Manufacturers release updates to fix security issues and improve performance, so ensuring every device in your smart home system runs the latest software versions is important.

To secure your smart home, keep these tips in mind:

1. Use strong passwords and encryption to protect your network and devices.
2. Keep software and firmware up-to-date and audit device permissions regularly.
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication and limit data collection.
4. Invest in reputable devices with end-to-end encryption and review app permissions.
5. Stay informed about advances in cybersecurity and adapt to emerging threats.

💡 Don’t worry about your home cyber security any more!

There are 3 common cybersecurity threats that can risk your home cyber security, but I have listed 35 ways to prevent them. Check out 35 ways to keep you cyber-safe from sneaky hackers and data breaches, and also keep your privacy protected.

December: Preparing To Secure Home For The Holidays

As we enjoy the holidays, you need to keep your homes safe. You must be proactive with all the travel, decorations, and potential burglaries. Being watchful can make a big difference in ensuring a safe and happy holiday season. 

Don’t let the festive season put your home at risk. Protect your home with these 22 crucial safety tips that are specifically tailored for the holiday season:

1. Install sturdy locks and deadbolts.
2. Use window locks and reinforce sliding doors.
3. Conduct a thorough check before leaving home.
4. Ensure adequate outdoor lighting to deter burglars.
5. Use interior lighting timers to create the illusion of an inhabited house.
6. Install a comprehensive home security system.
7. Activate alarms and surveillance cameras for added protection.
8. Avoid overloading outlets with holiday decorations.
9. Use power strips with surge protection.
10. Check lights for frayed wires and damaged sockets.
11. Replace any faulty bulbs promptly.
12. Keep candles in stable holders away from flammable materials.
13. Never leave candles unattended.
14. Choose flame-resistant or flame-retardant decorations.
15. Keep decorations away from heat sources.
16. Traveling Home Safety: Lock all doors and windows.
17. Traveling Home Safety: Set alarms.
18. Traveling Home Safety: Inform a trusted neighbor.
19. Traveling Home Safety: Don’t post your travel plans on the internet.
20. Traveling Home Safety: Share vacation updates privately.
21. Traveling Home Safety: Provide a key to a neighbor or friend for emergency situations.
22. Traveling Home Safety: Share your travel itinerary and contact information.

💡 If you want to make sure your home is safe and ready for the Holidays, check out our home safety tips for the Holidays. It has all the necessary information to make your home as secure as possible.

Conclusion

Protecting your home is quite a task and needs a lot of effort. But don’t worry. We have got you covered with our ultimate home security checklist that offers year-round protection for your home. 

We know how overwhelming it can be to keep your home secure. That’s why we’ve broken it down into 12 monthly tasks. This way, you won’t feel lost and can take it one step at a time.

Our home security checklist covers everything:

1. January: Testing Alarms and Updating Emergency Contacts
2. February: Ensuring Indoor Security
3. March: Changing Passwords and Reviewing Smart Home Security Settings
4. April: Exterior Security Check
5. May: Ready Your Home for Vacation
6. June: Emergency Considerations and Evacuation Plan
7. July: Outdoor Lighting and Landscaping for Security
8. August: Indoor and Outdoor Maintenance Tasks
9. September: Update and Review Your Home Insurance
10. October: Halloween Home Security Tips
11. November: Cybersecurity Check for Smart Home Devices
12. December: Preparing To Secure Home For The Holidays

Don’t forget to take a look at our budget-friendly list of recommended products that’ll help you beef up your home security:

• Smart smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector
• Home Security Camera
• Password Manager
• Smart Doorbell with Camera
• Smart Plug
• Emergency Kit
• Motion-Activated Outdoor Lights
• Home Inventory Software

Don’t spend more than necessary on home security helpers. With our checklist, you’ll need no more than a $500 budget for the whole year!

No matter when you stumble upon this article, it’s never too late to begin making your home safer. So, why not start your home security checklist today?

FAQ: Home Security Checklist