Who Does Home Safety Assessments?

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.

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 home safety hazards but also assess security risks—including things that might make your home seem like an easy target for burglars.

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.

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.

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.

• What Is a Home Safety Evaluation and How Do I Do One?
• What Are Some General Home Safety Tips?
• Do Home Security Systems Deter Crime?
• What Basic Steps Can I Take to Prevent My House from Being Burgled?