Smart home security technology has never been more accessible — but accessible doesn't always mean properly set up. Many homeowners have devices installed but haven't verified that they're actually working the way they should, that alerts are configured correctly, or that coverage doesn't have gaps that matter.
Use this checklist to evaluate where your property stands and identify anything worth addressing.
Cameras and Video Coverage
Walk the perimeter of your property and identify every entry point — front door, back door, side entries, garage, and any gates. Then check whether each one is covered by a camera with a clear, unobstructed view. Overgrown shrubs, new outdoor furniture, and seasonal changes can all introduce blind spots that weren't there when the cameras were first installed.
Open your camera app and verify that each camera is online and showing a current live feed. Check that motion alerts are enabled and test one — walk through the camera's field of view and confirm that you receive the alert on your phone within a reasonable time. If the alert takes more than 30 seconds or doesn't arrive at all, something in the notification chain needs attention.
If your cameras record to cloud storage, confirm that your subscription is active and that footage is actually being saved. It's easy to assume this is working until you need to review footage and find that it isn't.
Smart Locks and Access Control
Review every access code currently programmed into your smart lock. Remove any codes that belong to people who no longer need access — previous housekeepers, contractors from completed jobs, or guests who haven't returned. Most homeowners are surprised how many active codes accumulate over time.
Check the battery level on every smart lock. Cold weather and frequent use both drain batteries faster than expected. If any lock is below 20%, replace the batteries now rather than waiting for a low-battery alert at an inconvenient moment.
Test the lock's remote functionality. From inside the house — or from outside on your phone — verify that you can lock and unlock remotely and that the app reflects the correct current state. A lock that shows "locked" in the app but isn't actually locked is a configuration problem worth fixing.
Network Security
Your smart home is only as secure as your network. Check that your router firmware is up to date — manufacturers release security patches regularly, and an outdated router is a known vulnerability. If you haven't changed your Wi-Fi password in more than a year, change it now and update your devices.
If your router supports it, put your smart home devices on a separate network segment or VLAN from your computers and phones. This limits the blast radius if any smart device is ever compromised — a poorly secured camera can't be used as a stepping stone to your laptop.
Verify that your smart home devices are running current firmware. Most update automatically, but some require manual confirmation. Check the settings in each device's app and apply any pending updates.
Leak and Environment Sensors
If you have water leak sensors installed, test each one. Most have a test button, or you can briefly touch the sensor contacts with a damp cloth. Confirm that the alert reaches your phone. Check that the sensors are still positioned correctly — under sinks, near the water heater, around the washing machine — and that nothing has shifted them out of place.
If you have a temperature sensor or your smart thermostat monitors temperature, confirm that you have an alert configured for temperatures below a safe threshold. In Collingwood and Blue Mountains, a furnace failure in January can lead to frozen pipes within hours. An alert at 12°C gives you time to act.
Lighting and Presence
If you use smart lighting schedules to simulate occupancy when the property is empty, review those schedules. Lighting that turns on and off at exactly the same time every day looks more mechanical than human. Vary the timing slightly, or use a randomization feature if your platform supports it.
Check that any motion-activated exterior lighting is functioning correctly and that the motion zones are calibrated — not so sensitive that passing cars trigger them constantly, but sensitive enough to cover the area you intend.
When to Call for a Professional Review
If you work through this checklist and find multiple gaps — cameras offline, locks with outdated codes, no leak sensors in high-risk areas — it may be more efficient to have a professional assess the full system and address everything in a single visit rather than troubleshooting piece by piece.
The Tech Butler offers smart home security reviews and installations across Collingwood, Blue Mountains, and Wasaga Beach. If your system needs attention, we can help you get it back to where it should be.