Buying a Property? Your First 30 Days of Security

Closing day is a major milestone, whether you have purchased a multi-family community, office building, retail center or mixed-use property. But the first 30 days after closing can set the tone for tenant safety, operational continuity and long-term asset value.

Security systems are often inherited with the building, along with their unknowns: outdated cameras, inactive alarm accounts, former vendors, unreturned key fobs and access control records that no one can explain. A practical security review helps new owners and investors address immediate risks while building a scalable plan for the future.

At Trust Security & Solutions, we help Minneapolis-area property owners make the transition with confidence. Our certified technicians provide tailored physical security and life-safety solutions, including cloud-based door access control, security surveillance systems, alarm and intrusion systems, video intercoms and building automation systems.

Days 1–7: Establish Control of the Property

Your first priority is understanding who can enter the property and how. This is particularly important in apartment buildings, condos, commercial properties and facilities with multiple tenants or vendors.

Audit access credentials and physical keys

• Request all access control records, key fob lists, mobile credential lists and master-key documentation.
• Deactivate former employee, contractor, tenant and vendor credentials immediately when their access is no longer needed.
• Identify shared PINs, unmanaged keys and doors that may have been left on an “always unlocked” schedule.
• Confirm administrative control of the access control system, including passwords, user accounts and cloud-based control subscriptions.
• Determine whether high-risk spaces, such as mechanical rooms, server rooms, rooftop access, leasing offices and package rooms, have restricted access.

If the current system cannot provide clear activity reports or rapid credential changes, it may be time to upgrade to cloud-based door access control. A modern system allows authorized managers to add, remove and monitor access from virtually anywhere, without waiting for a technician to rekey every door.

Days 8–14: Inspect Cameras, Alarms and Entry Systems

A security camera mounted on a wall does not necessarily mean you have reliable security surveillance. You need to know whether it works, what it records, how long footage is retained and who can retrieve it when an incident occurs.

Review your surveillance and intrusion coverage

• Walk the site and compare camera locations with actual risk areas: entrances, exits, parking areas, loading docks, elevators, mailrooms, corridors and trash enclosures.
• Verify that cameras provide usable images during the day and at night, not just a general view of the area.
• Test recording playback and confirm retention periods meet your property’s operational and insurance needs.
• Check whether cameras are monitored through a secure remote platform and whether the system has been maintained.
• Test alarm and intrusion devices, including door contacts, motion detectors, glass-break sensors, panic buttons and notification settings.
• Confirm the active alarm monitoring account and escalation contacts.

For many commercial and multi-family buyers, 24/7 alarm and video verification delivers meaningful peace of mind. Verified events can help reduce false alarms, improve response decisions and give property teams better information when something happens after hours.

Days 15–21: Test Every Entry Experience

Your building’s entrances affect security, tenant satisfaction and daily operations. Test them from the perspective of a resident, visitor, delivery driver, employee and emergency responder.

• Test exterior doors, garage entries, gates, vestibules and emergency exits.
• Check that door hardware closes and latches correctly and that propped-door alerts are working where applicable.
• Test video intercom systems for audio clarity, video quality and remote release functionality.
• Review digital telephone directories for outdated names, inaccurate call routing or difficult visitor instructions.
• Evaluate whether mobile credentials could improve convenience for residents, staff and approved vendors.

Small improvements can make an immediate difference. A reliable video intercom, properly configured directory and mobile access option can reduce unmanaged entry while giving tenants a more convenient experience.

Days 22–30: Prioritize Upgrades by Risk and Return

Not every security improvement needs to happen at once. The right plan balances urgent vulnerabilities, budget realities and the property’s long-term goals.

Start with the highest-priority issues

• Uncontrolled keys, active credentials belonging to former occupants or unknown access administrators
• Nonfunctioning cameras at main entrances, parking areas or other high-incident locations
• Inactive, unreliable or unmonitored intrusion alarms
• Broken access hardware, unsecured rear doors or weakly managed vendor entrances
• Intercom and directory systems that prevent residents or guests from communicating safely at entry points

Then develop a phased security upgrade plan. Scalable solutions can allow you to modernize one building, entrance or high-risk area first, then expand as budgets and renovation schedules permit. Integrating cloud-based access control, surveillance, alarms and building automation systems can also give management teams a clearer, more efficient view of their property.

Start Strong With a Local Security Partner

New ownership brings plenty of moving parts. Your security partner should simplify the process, not add more uncertainty. Trust Security & Solutions has more than 30 years of Midwest experience serving businesses, multi-tenant buildings, schools and homeowners’ associations. As a woman-owned Minneapolis security provider, we understand the importance of responsive service, clear recommendations and solutions built around your property—not a one-size-fits-all package.

From same-day response and certified technicians to 24/7 alarm and video verification, our team can help you assess your inherited systems and create a practical path forward.

Customer satisfaction is not only our promise, it’s our guarantee.