New Homeowner Security Checklist

1. Why the first week matters

Move-in week is a security transition. The seller, their cleaners, the real estate agent, past tenants, and contractors who renovated before settlement may all have held keys or codes. Garage remotes left in cars, alarm panels with unchanged PINs, and spare keys under pots are common handover oversights — not because anyone is untrustworthy, but because access history is rarely documented completely.

Trades may still be scheduled for final fixes. Neighbours may have keys for watering plants. Smart lock apps may still be linked to the previous owner's account. Addressing these unknowns early — before you establish new habits and before boxes block access to side gates and meter boxes — is far simpler than discovering a gap months later.

2. First-week timeline

Spread tasks across the first seven days so security keeps pace with unpacking. Adjust for settlement timing, strata move-in rules, and whether builders are still on site.

• Day 1 — rekey or change external lock cylinders; collect all keys from the agent; reset garage remotes and opener PINs; walk the boundary.
• Days 2–3 — reset alarm master and user codes; test every door and ground-floor window; list who may still hold keys or codes.
• Days 4–5 — check side gates, shed padlocks, roller door locks; walk the property after dark to review outdoor lighting.
• End of week 1 — confirm trades access has ended; remove or relocate any spare keys found; note hardware upgrades to schedule.

3. Entry point review

Before buying locks or cameras, walk the property as an outsider would. Start at the street, follow every driveway and side path, and note each door and reachable window — front, rear, laundry, garage entry, and sliding patio openings. This walk is the foundation for every other move-in action.

On each route, ask: Could someone reach this opening without passing a locked gate or door? Note latch-only doors, windows that do not lock, glass within arm's reach of a lock, and areas hidden from the street at night. You are building a handover inventory — what works today, what needs a locksmith this week, and what can wait until after you have unpacked.

4. Prioritising upgrades

Not everything must happen on day one, but some move-in actions are cheap, fast, and hard to undo if delayed. Use effort versus urgency to decide what belongs in week one versus the first month:

5. Locks, keys, and access control

Book a locksmith for moving day or the day after settlement if possible. Rekeying external cylinders is often enough when lock bodies are sound; replace hardware that is worn, misaligned, or latch-only on main entries. Ask the seller or agent for every key they hold — front, rear, garage, shed, mailbox, and security screen — and ask directly who else may have copies.

Search for spare keys the previous owner may have hidden: under mats, in meter boxes, on door frames, in garden pots, or inside an unlocked garage. Remove them or rekey so those locations no longer work. During the move itself, avoid leaving keys in obvious places while doors are propped open for furniture.

Reset smart lock and intercom accounts tied to the previous owner. Deregister their phones from app-controlled locks and change any temporary codes trades may have used. If the property is strata-managed, confirm building entry separately — your unit door still needs its own rekey.

If contractors or trades are still on site after settlement, agree a firm date when their keys, lockbox codes, or gate access will end. A shared builder's code or open side gate during renovation is normal temporarily — but invalidate those access routes as soon as work finishes.

6. Outbuildings, garage, and perimeter

Garage remotes are easy to overlook. Clear all programmed remotes from the opener, set a new PIN if the unit has a keypad, and issue fresh remotes only to your household. A remote left in a previous owner's car can open your garage from the street. Check the manual release cord is not reachable from outside and that the internal garage-to-house door locks with a deadlock, not just a latch.

Walk side gates and fence lines. Gates left unlatched during move-in become the default path for weeks. Confirm latches, padlocks, and self-closing hinges work. Note fence gaps or stored bins that shorten the route to a rear door.

Review outdoor lighting after dark on days four or five. Bulbs may be blown, timers may still reflect the previous owner's schedule, and motion sensors may point the wrong way. Side paths and rear yards are often unlit while the front porch works — fix that before assuming the property is "well lit."

Check sheds and outbuildings for spare keys, ladders leaning against walls, and tools that could assist entry to the main house. Trim planting that blocks sightlines from neighbours if overgrowth came with the property.

7. From checklist to action plan

By the end of week one you should know: who holds keys, whether codes and remotes are yours alone, which entries lock properly, and where lighting and gates need attention. Turn that into a short action list — locksmith booked, alarm reprogrammed, two side gate latches adjusted, one motion light replaced — rather than a vague plan to "improve security later."

If you want a structured record of what you found — lock types, window access, lighting gaps — the free Home Security Planning assessment can capture it in one pass and suggest longer-term upgrades. It is optional after the move-in essentials above; rekeying, code changes, and the property walk come first.

8. Frequently asked questions