A home security audit is a structured, in-person inspection of every way someone could enter a property, followed by a written report that ranks the weaknesses by priority. An independent audit in Toronto takes one to two hours on-site and starts at $590.
Home Security Consultants is an independent home security audit service for Toronto and the GTA, run by Julian Herzberg, a former Sergeant in the Toronto Police Service Auxiliary Program. We sell no products and install no equipment, so the report has no upsell built into it.
Break-in risk is not even across the city. Toronto Police recorded 6,092 break-ins in 2025 — about 190 for every 100,000 residents — and the rate ranged from under 35 to more than 700 per 100,000 depending on the neighbourhood. An independent home security audit is about your specific property, not a city average.
Here is what an independent home security audit includes, in the order it usually happens.
The exterior walk-around
The audit starts outside, because that is where a burglar starts. The goal is to see the property the way someone looking for a way in would see it, not the way you see it after living there for years.
This covers the approach to the house, the sightlines from the street and neighbouring homes, and the spots where someone could work on a door or window unseen. Tall fencing and dense landscaping cut both ways: they feel private, and they also hide an intruder. Lighting is checked here too, including which areas go dark after sunset and whether motion lighting covers the routes someone would actually use.
What a home security audit checks on doors and locks
When a door is forced, the lock is rarely the weak part — the frame is. A deadbolt is only as strong as the wood it throws into, so the audit checks the door frame, the strike plate, the screws holding it, and the hinges.
This covers the front door, side and back doors, the door from the garage into the house, and any patio or sliding doors. Sliding doors get separate attention, because the common failure is lifting the panel out of the track rather than defeating the lock.
Windows and ground-floor access
Ground-floor and basement windows are checked for their latches, their height off the ground, and whether they sit behind cover where someone could take their time. The audit notes which windows are realistic entry points and which are not, so you are not paying to protect a window no one could reach.
Existing alarms, cameras, and habits
If you already have an alarm or cameras, the audit assesses placement and coverage, not brand. A camera at the wrong angle, or an alarm with a long entry delay on the most-used door, is common. The review also covers everyday habits that affect risk: spare keys, garage remotes left in cars, and routines that are easy to read from outside.
What you get: a report that tells you what to skip
The deliverable is a written report listing the specific weaknesses found at your property, ranked by priority, with plain recommendations you can act on using any contractor or product you choose.
This is where an independent audit differs from a free one. A company that sells alarms, cameras, or door hardware will find reasons you need its products. The audit’s job is the opposite: to tell you the few things that matter at your home, including the fixes that cost nothing, and what you can safely ignore. It often saves you more than it costs by stopping you from buying what you do not need. You can see what an audit costs or how it works in your area on the Toronto audit page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a home security audit take?
One to two hours on-site for most homes. Larger properties or homes with extensive rear-yard access take longer.
Do I have to buy anything afterward?
No. The fee covers the assessment and the written report. The report often tells you what not to spend money on, not just what to fix.
Is an audit useful if I already have an alarm?
Yes. An alarm detects entry; an audit identifies the weak points that make entry likely in the first place, so the alarm covers the right things.
Book your home security audit
A home security audit gives you a clear, prioritized picture of where your home is exposed — and what you can leave alone — before someone else finds out for you.
We audit homes across the Greater Toronto Area, including North York, Vaughan, and Markham.
To book in Toronto or anywhere in the GTA, call 647-614-7682 or use the contact page.