Security tips for new homeowners

When you get the keys to a new home, you also inherit everything the previous owner, their contractors, their dog walker and their relatives could open. Most of it is invisible. Here is what we would do in the first two weeks, roughly in order.

Day one: assume every code is known

• Rekey or replace exterior locks. You do not know how many copies of the old key exist. Rekeying is usually cheaper than new hardware and keeps the existing handles.
• Reset the garage door opener. Clear all paired remotes and keypads using the "learn" button on the motor unit, then re-pair only the remotes you have. Change the exterior keypad code.
• Change any keypad or smart lock codes. If the smart lock is tied to the seller's app account, do a factory reset and set it up under your own account.

Inherited smart devices

Thermostats, doorbells, cameras, lights and garage controllers are often still linked to the seller's account after closing. That means the seller may still be able to see your doorbell camera or change your heat.

• Make a list of every connected device you can find.
• Ask the seller, through your agent if needed, to remove each one from their account.
• If that does not happen, factory reset the device and set it up fresh. Every manufacturer publishes reset instructions.

The existing alarm system

If the house came with an alarm panel, you need the installer or master code to change user codes, and you need to know whether it was monitored and by whom. Do not assume it is protecting you. An unmonitored panel with an expired communicator may just beep. Find out what it is, then decide whether to take it over, upgrade it or replace it.

Smoke and CO alarms

• Count them. Ontario requires a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside sleeping areas.
• Check the date on the back of each. Replace any over 10 years old.
• If the home has a gas furnace, fireplace or attached garage, confirm CO alarms are outside sleeping areas and on every storey. The every-storey rule took effect January 1, 2026, so many resale homes are not yet compliant. Our smoke and CO guide explains the rules.

Know your shut-offs

Security is also about damage you can stop. Before you need them, find and label:

• the main water shut-off valve,
• the electrical panel, with each breaker labelled,
• the gas meter shut-off (only to be used if you smell gas and it is safe to do so; call your gas utility),
• the outdoor hose bib shut-offs, which should be closed and drained before the first freeze.

Wi-Fi and accounts

• Change the default admin password on your new router, not just the Wi-Fi password.
• Put cameras and smart devices on a separate guest or IoT network if your router supports it.
• Turn on two-step verification for every app that controls a lock, camera or alarm. Get Cyber Safe has a good walkthrough.

Walk the outside at night

Your first week is the best time to see the house the way a stranger does. After dark, walk around it and ask: which doors are dark? Which windows are hidden by fences or shrubs? Can you see the back door from the street, or from anywhere? Write down what you notice. Motion lights on the dark sides of the house are often the cheapest, most effective fix.

Insurance and records

• Walk through each room recording a video of your belongings. Store it outside the house, in a cloud account.
• Ask your insurer whether a monitored alarm or water leak sensors affect your premium; some insurers offer a discount, but it varies.
• Keep receipts for big purchases in one folder.

Meet the neighbours

It is not a security device, but it is the most reliable one. Neighbours who know your car and your schedule notice when something is off, and they will tell you.

When you are ready to look at the whole picture, take our Home Safety Score. It takes about two minutes and you see your result right away.

More guides

• What to do after a break-in in Ontario
• Home safety checklist for aging parents
• Smoke and CO alarm rules in Ontario

This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.