What does a home security assessment include?
We look at the parts of your home that a burglar tests first: the doors, the frames around them, the locks and who has keys. The visit ends with a written list, ranked from most urgent to nice-to-have, so you can fix the biggest gaps first.
| What we check | Common weak point we find | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Front and back doors | Deadbolt only half thrown because the strike hole is misaligned | Adjust the strike so the bolt goes in all the way |
| Door frames | Strike plate held with short screws that only reach the trim | Heavy strike plate with long screws into the wall framing |
| Hinges | Exposed hinge pins on an outward-swinging door | Security hinges or hinge studs |
| Sliding patio doors | Latch lifts out with a little force | Secondary lock or bar in the track |
| Side, basement and garage doors | Cheap knob lock with no deadbolt | Add a proper deadbolt |
| Keys | Nobody knows how many copies are out there | Rekey and start fresh with a known number of keys |
We don't install or sell alarms or cameras, so we won't try to sell you a monitoring plan. The assessment covers the physical side: doors, locks, frames and keys.
Is a security assessment different from a security upgrade?
Yes. The assessment is the check-up. The upgrade is the work. On an assessment we look, test and write down what we find. You keep the list and can act on it whenever you're ready, with us or with anyone else.
If you already know what you want, like a stronger deadbolt or a reinforced strike, skip the assessment and book security upgrades directly. If you're not sure where your home is weakest, start here.
Try this tonight: lock your front door, then push and pull it hard. If the door rattles or moves more than a few millimetres, the bolt isn't sitting deep in the strike. That's one of the cheapest fixes on any list.
Need security assessments now? A real person answers 24/7.
Call (647) 367-8113Who books a security assessment?
Most people call us after something has shaken them, or right before a big change:
- After a break-in on your street, or at your own place
- When you buy a house and don't know the history of the locks
- Before renting out a basement apartment, so each unit has its own secure door
- Small shops and offices with a rear door onto a laneway or shared hallway
- Older relatives living alone who want doors that are easy to lock and hard to force
For a small business, we also look at who holds keys and what happens when someone leaves. If key control is the main problem, a master key system may be on your list.
Do you do home vulnerability assessments in North York?
Yes. We cover all of North York, along with the rest of the City of Toronto. North York has a big mix of homes, from postwar bungalows and backsplits with side doors at the driveway to newer infill houses and the condo towers along Yonge Street. Each one has different weak spots.
- Bungalows and backsplits: side doors and basement doors often have older, lighter hardware than the front door
- Townhouses: the door from the garage into the house is easy to forget
- Condo units: the lock on your unit door is usually yours, while the lobby, garage and fobs belong to the building
See our North York service area page for more on how we cover the area.
How much does a security assessment cost in Toronto?
It depends on the size of the property and the number of doors. A condo unit with one entry door is a quick visit. A detached house with a side door, basement entrance and garage, or a shop with front and rear doors, takes longer. The price is confirmed with you before we book the visit, and there's no call-out fee.
If you decide to have us fix anything on the list, we'll price each item separately so you can pick and choose.
What happens when you call?
Book a time
Tell us the type of property, how many outside doors it has, and anything that worries you, like a recent break-in nearby.
Walk-through
We check every outside door, frame, hinge and lock, test how each one closes and locks, and ask who has keys.
Written list
You get a written list of weak points, ranked from most urgent, with a plain-English fix for each one.
Your call
Fix things yourself, hire us for some or all of it, or keep the list for later. No pressure either way.
Page reviewed October 2026 by the LocksmithGT team.