By MarKeith McDonald, owner of Nuvii Smart Home · Indiana alarm license LAC-000541 · Published October 13, 2026 · Updated October 21, 2026
The keys are yours. Before the boxes fill the hallway, take a walk through the house with one question in mind: what protection is actually here, and what needs attention?
During home-security installations, we've encountered homes with no smoke detectors at all. In others, smoke detectors were missing from important locations or were past their replacement date. We've seen these problems most often in older homes, including homes that had already been inspected before the sale.
That's why we include smoke detector checks in our assessment. When you're moving into a home in Indianapolis, start with locks and access codes, fire safety and the equipment already installed. This checklist will help you work through those checks and decide where you need help.
1 Start with the smoke detectors
Walk through the entire home, including the basement. Look for empty smoke detector mounting plates as well as smoke detectors that are still in place. A freshly painted room can still have an outdated smoke detector on the ceiling.
Indiana's residential fire-safety checklist calls for a smoke detector inside every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level, including the basement. Use that as a starting point for your walkthrough. Confirm the placement and installation requirements for your particular home with your local fire department or building official.
For each smoke detector, check the label for its manufacture date or replacement date and follow its testing instructions. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends replacing smoke detectors 10 years after they were made and testing them monthly. Follow the manufacturer's directions if replacement is required sooner.
Want detectors that alert a monitoring center, not just beep? See monitored smoke, CO and water sensors. Use each smoke detector's test button as directed. If a smoke detector does not respond, follow the manufacturer's troubleshooting instructions promptly or get help from a qualified professional. A successful button test does not extend a smoke detector's replacement date. Have a qualified electrician install smoke detectors that connect to your home's electrical wiring.
An older home deserves a careful look, but check a newly built home too. Learn where the smoke detectors are and how to maintain them before your first night.
2 Check carbon monoxide protection
Identify fuel-burning equipment, such as a gas furnace, water heater or fireplace. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas you cannot see or smell, and fuel-burning appliances can be a source. The Consumer Product Safety Commission explains the risks.
Check whether the home has carbon monoxide detectors or combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Read the label to confirm what each detector is designed to detect.
Federal safety guidance recommends carbon monoxide detectors on every level and outside each separate sleeping area. Follow the device instructions and applicable local requirements. Check replacement dates and testing instructions for the carbon monoxide detectors too.
Identifying gas appliances during a security assessment does not replace an appliance inspection or gas-leak test by a qualified professional.
3 Take control of keys and access codes
Once you have possession, arrange to rekey or replace exterior locks. Ask for every garage remote and find out how to remove old keypad codes and paired devices using the manufacturer's instructions.
Smart locks, cameras and video doorbells need attention as well. Confirm that the previous owner has removed their access and completed any required account transfer. Create your own account and unique password. Where available, turn on extra sign-in protection, such as a verification code in addition to your password.
Replacing old keypad locks? See our smart lock and garage installation page. Before relying on a smart device, make sure you can control it yourself. Keep track of any temporary access you give movers or contractors so you can remove it when the work is done.
4 Walk every door and window
Count exterior doors and accessible windows, including the door between an attached garage and the home. Check that they close and lock properly. Note damaged locks or frames for repair.
Then look at the security equipment already there. Which doors and windows have sensors? Where are cameras pointed? When a security sensor is triggered, does the system sound a siren, send a phone notification or alert a monitoring center?
Bring those questions to your assessment. A camera view, a sensor that detects an opening and a device that detects broken glass serve different purposes. Ask your installer to explain the coverage proposed for each part of the home, including its limits.
In a two-story home, include both floors in the walkthrough. Bedroom locations, stairs and accessible upper windows all belong in the conversation.
5 Find out what equipment can stay
A security keypad on the wall does not tell you whether the security system is active, connected to a monitoring center or compatible with a new service.
Before paying to replace everything, have the existing equipment identified. Reuse depends on its model, condition, account status and compatibility. Get a clear explanation of what can stay, what needs replacing and why.
If you're considering ADT, our guide to buying through a local ADT Authorized Dealer explains how Nuvii's installation service fits with ADT equipment, monitoring and monthly billing.
6 Plan installation around possession and internet setup
You can discuss an assessment before closing. Confirm access and possession before agreeing to an installation date, especially if closing could move.
Tell your installer when internet service will be active. Ask which security features require internet, what battery or cellular backup is included, and what still works during a power or internet outage. The answers depend on the equipment and service you choose. If the home's old alarm runs through a phone line, read our landline alarm guide. Monitored alarms in Indianapolis also need an alarm permit; see do I need an alarm permit in Indianapolis?
Before the appointment ends, ask your installer to show you how to use and test the security system and manage each household member's access. Everyone who will use the security system should know how to operate it.
7 Make an escape plan for this home
Your family may know the old house by heart. Walk through the exits in this one together.
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends identifying two ways out of every room, keeping exits clear, choosing an outdoor meeting place and practicing with everyone in the home. Plan who will help anyone who needs assistance.
Keep moving boxes away from escape routes. This is one part of getting settled that should happen before the unpacking is finished.
What Nuvii checks during your free assessment
Nuvii includes a home security and safety assessment at no charge. We explain the walkthrough first, then review the home in sections.
We count doors and windows to understand entry points, review existing fire protection, and identify gas sources and their locations. We look for missing smoke detectors, check the dates on existing smoke detectors, and use each smoke detector's test button to check its response.
After the walkthrough, we explain the gaps we find and present three bundled package options to help address them. Ask us what each option includes, which gaps would still need attention, and what you would pay upfront and monthly.
The assessment helps you understand your home's protection needs. It is not a formal building-code inspection or a guarantee that every hazard has been identified.
If you're moving into a home in Indianapolis, contact Nuvii to arrange your free assessment. Tell us your expected move-in date and what equipment is already in the home so we can discuss the next step.