Home Safety Annual Review

A yearly safety review is the grown-up version of “I’ll get to it later.” Once a year you walk the entire property, look for the stuff that can hurt people or cost you money, and fix it on purpose instead of after an emergency.

Use this as your master pass, then lean on more focused lists like Seasonal Home Safety Checklist, Monthly Home Safety Checklist, and Home Inventory Checklist for deeper follow-up.

1. Exterior Structure and Roof

[ ] Walk the exterior and look for cracks, loose siding, damaged trim, or gaps around windows and doors.
[ ] Check the roof visually for missing, curled, or damaged shingles.
[ ] Inspect gutters and downspouts for clogs, sagging, or leaks.
[ ] Confirm water drains away from the foundation, not toward it.

2. Doors, Windows, and Security

[ ] Verify all exterior doors close smoothly and latch without force.
[ ] Check deadbolts, strike plates, and hinges for looseness.
[ ] Test window locks and make sure they open and close fully.
[ ] Confirm house numbers are visible from the street, day and night.

3. Fire Protection and Alarms

[ ] Test every smoke alarm and CO detector.
[ ] Replace batteries or long-expired units as needed.
[ ] Verify fire extinguishers are accessible, charged, and not expired. See Fire Extinguisher Types and Uses.
[ ] Review and practice your fire escape plan with everyone in the home.

4. Electrical System and Lighting

[ ] Test GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, garage, and exterior locations.
[ ] Check for warm outlets, flickering lights, or frequently tripped breakers.
[ ] Replace damaged cords and remove daisy-chained power strips.
[ ] Walk the property at night to spot burned-out bulbs or dark blind spots.

5. Plumbing, Water, and Leaks

[ ] Inspect under sinks, around toilets, and near appliances for leaks or stains.
[ ] Check water heater area for corrosion, moisture, or drips.
[ ] Test all shutoff valves—main water, toilets, sinks, and exterior spigots.
[ ] Look for signs of mold or musty smells in bathrooms, basements, and closets.

6. Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation

[ ] Replace or clean HVAC filters.
[ ] Run both heat and AC briefly to confirm they still work.
[ ] Vacuum vents and return grills to clear dust buildup.
[ ] Check clearances around furnaces, water heaters, and space heaters.

7. Fall Hazards and Walkways

[ ] Inspect indoor and outdoor steps for cracks, wobble, or missing handrails.
[ ] Fix lifted edges in walkways, patios, or flooring transitions.
[ ] Remove or secure loose rugs and runners.
[ ] Clear clutter from hallways, stairs, and main paths. For a deeper pass, use the Fall Hazard Checklist.

8. Emergency Plans, Kits, and Contacts

[ ] Verify emergency kits are stocked and not expired.
[ ] Update printed emergency contacts and family phone lists.
[ ] Review your meeting points and communication plan for fires or disasters.
[ ] Check flashlights and power banks and replace dead batteries.

9. Documents, Insurance, and Inventory

[ ] Gather key documents—policies, IDs, titles, medical info—and confirm they’re stored safely; see Insurance Document Checklist.
[ ] Update your home inventory with new purchases; use the Home Inventory Checklist.
[ ] Review home insurance coverage, deductibles, and exclusions.
[ ] Store digital backups of critical documents offsite or in the cloud.

10. Schedule, Notes, and Follow-Through

[ ] Pick a recurring month for this review and stick to it.
[ ] Write down all issues found with rough deadlines to fix them.
[ ] Prioritize anything related to fire, water leaks, and electrical problems first.
[ ] Use your Monthly Home Safety Checklist to keep things from piling up between annual reviews.

A yearly home safety review isn’t about perfection—it’s about making sure the big stuff gets handled on purpose at least once a year. Do this walk-through, fix the worst problems first, and your risk of ugly surprises drops fast.