There are two general types of home safety assessments: a general assessment of all facets of safely living in a home, and a safety and accessibility assessment geared toward individuals with limited abilities and mobility.
General home safety assessments are often performed by insurance agents or security consultants. Safety and accessibility assessments are typically conducted by licensed occupational therapists.
What Is a General Home Safety and Security Assessment?
A home safety assessment pinpoints potential safety and security issues. These are common things you might look for.
- Properly functioning door locks
- Adequate front door lighting
- Properly functioning smoke alarms
- Secure stair handrails
A general home safety assessment might be done by insurance agents when you’re attempting to get homeowners insurance. You can also have one done by a qualified security consultant who can not only look for safety issues but also assess security risks.
Any consultant who you hire to perform a home safety evaluation should be certified in their field, and you’ll want to have a grasp of general home safety beforehand. This way, you will know if the person is being forthright or attempting to scam you.
What Is a Safety and Accessibility Assessment?
A safety and accessibility assessment reviews a home for possible fall risks and makes sure it is accessible and convenient for anyone who has impaired vision, who uses a wheelchair, or who may be at greater risk of injuring themselves. This type of home safety assessment is typically conducted by a licensed occupational therapist.
Can I Perform My Own Home Safety Assessment?
You can use our detailed home assessment checklist to do your own general home safety assessment. This home evaluation checklist walks you through the process room by room, pointing out potential safety and security risks and providing advice on correcting any issues. When conducting a safety assessment, always use a checklist like this that is put together by someone who knows what they’re doing—this may seem obvious in hindsight, but it is easy to overlook when you’re walking through and conducting the evaluation.
You can also do a safety evaluation for accessibility yourself, as they’re very similar to general home evaluations. However, due to the potentially greater risk, it may be better to have a qualified professional perform this assessment for you so you can be sure all bases are covered.
If you don’t hire a professional, use our comprehensive home safety checklist to conduct your own home safety assessment. And, as always, review our home safety and security resources if you have any further questions.
