Home Safety Checklist

Simple adjustments to increase physical safety inside the home.

Home Safety Checklist

Doors & locks

Use this list to review entrances, exits, and how doors are used in day‑to‑day routines.

• List every entry point:
  • Front door
  • Back door
  • Garage entry
  • Patio or balcony doors
  • Basement doors
• Check the condition of each door:
  • Opens and closes smoothly
  • Locks align and latch fully
  • Door frame is not loose or damaged
  • Peephole or viewer (if present) is clear
• Review locks:
  • Note what type of lock is on each door (knob lock, deadbolt, chain, slide lock, other)
  • Check who has keys or access codes
  • Identify any shared keys, hidden keys, or smart locks controlled by someone else
  • Notice if any locks can be controlled remotely (phone apps, keypads, building systems)
• Interior doors:
  • Identify doors that lock from the inside (bedrooms, bathrooms, office, storage)
  • Check whether there is another way to open those locks from the outside
  • Note any rooms where a door could be blocked or jammed
• Entry rules and routines:
  • Note who typically answers the door
  • Identify any people who come in without knocking (family, landlord, maintenance)
  • Check lease or building policies about keys, lock changes, and landlord entry

Rooms & routes

Map out spaces and possible paths through the home.

• Sketch or list each room:
  • Entrances and exits for each room
  • Windows that open and are reachable
  • Connecting hallways and stairways
• Identify lower‑risk spaces:
  • Rooms with more than one way in or out
  • Rooms without objects that could easily become hazards
  • Spaces where others might see or hear from outside
• Identify higher‑risk spaces:
  • Rooms with only one exit
  • Small enclosed areas (closets, storage rooms)
  • Rooms with tools, heavy objects, or sharp items
  • Basements, attics, or areas with poor visibility
• Plan basic movement options:
  • Note at least two ways to move from bedroom to exit, where possible
  • Identify where hallways or doors could be blocked
  • Check if furniture blocks any quick paths to doors or windows
• Shared or common areas:
  • Note where people usually gather (living room, kitchen, entryway)
  • Consider how easy it is to move from these areas to an exit
  • Mark any doors that commonly stay locked or blocked

Lighting & visibility

Review how well you can see and be seen inside and around the home.

• Indoor lighting:
  • Check that hallways and stairs have working lights
  • Confirm bedroom and bathroom lights can be turned on quickly
  • Note any light switches in hard‑to‑reach or hidden spots
  • Consider where a small plug‑in or battery light could help if the power goes out
• Outdoor and entry lighting:
  • Check if there is light at the front door, back door, and any side or garage doors
  • Note any motion‑sensor or timed lights and where they are
  • Identify dark areas around the home that may be hard to see at night
• Window visibility:
  • Note which windows allow people to see inside common areas
  • Check which windows you can open easily if needed
  • Review curtains or blinds: which windows are normally covered or uncovered
• Access to light at night:
  • Identify where light switches are relative to bed or main resting areas
  • Consider the path to the bathroom or kitchen in the dark
  • Note where a small flashlight or night‑light could be kept

Noise control

Notice how sound moves through the home and what can be heard from outside.

• Sound inside the home:
  • Identify thin walls or doors where sound carries easily
  • Notice where raised voices can be heard from other rooms
  • Check if stairs or floors creak loudly in certain spots
• Sound to the outside:
  • Test how much indoor sound can be heard from:
    • Hallways or shared building corridors
    • Outside doors and windows
    • Neighboring units (if in an apartment)
  • Identify neighbors or nearby locations more likely to hear noise
• Background noise:
  • Note regular building or neighborhood noise patterns (traffic, trains, loud music, etc.)
  • Identify when noise is typically higher or lower (time of day, weekends, nights)
  • Consider if low‑volume background noise (TV, fan, white noise) is commonly used in the home
• Technology and sound:
  • List any devices with microphones in the home:
    • Smart speakers
    • Smart TVs
    • Baby monitors or intercoms
    • Security cameras with audio
  • Note who controls the accounts or apps connected to these devices

Exit planning

Outline potential ways to leave the home or move to a safer space if needed.

• Primary exits:
  • Identify the main door you usually use to leave
  • Note whether this door can be locked or unlocked from the inside without a key
  • Check for any obstacles near this exit (shoes, boxes, furniture)
• Backup exits:
  • List secondary doors that could be used to leave quickly
  • Note any windows that could be used in an emergency (especially on ground level)
  • Consider how to open window locks or latches and whether they are painted shut or stuck
• Routes from bedrooms:
  • For each bedroom, note at least one route to:
    • The nearest door to the outside
    • A safer room or space in the home
  • Check for items that could slow movement along these routes
  • Note how long it typically takes to move from sleeping area to exit
• Building and neighborhood layout:
  • If in an apartment or shared building:
    • Locate stairwells and emergency exits
    • Note where building exits lead outside
    • Identify any security doors or gates and how they open
  • If in a house:
    • Note paths from doors to the street or sidewalk
    • Identify any gates, fences, or locked areas in the yard
• Key items and information:
  • Decide where important items are usually kept, such as identification and essential medications
  • Note where any spare keys, access cards, or codes are stored
  • List one or more nearby locations you are familiar with, such as stores, workplaces, or public buildings

Recommended Articles

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