If You Read Nothing Else, Read This…
- Complete your inspection before moving furniture and belongings into the apartment.
- Take photos and videos of every room, and test lights, outlets, locks, appliances, plumbing, and other features.
- Report existing damage within any required timeframe and keep a copy of everything you submit.
Before You Unpack, Inspect
Move-in day is hectic. There are boxes everywhere, furniture to assemble, and a long list of things you'd probably rather be doing than inspecting walls and cabinets. But before you start unpacking, take some time to walk through the apartment.
Your goal is simple: create a record of exactly what the apartment looked like when you received it. If there's already a scratch across the floor, a stain on the carpet, or a dent in an appliance, you want documentation showing it was there before you moved in. That record could become incredibly important when you eventually move out.
Start With the Big Picture, Then Look Closer
Begin by documenting the overall condition of each room. Take wide photos and slowly record a video as you walk through the apartment, capturing floors, walls, ceilings, doors, windows, countertops, appliances, and other major features.
Then look closer for scratches, stains, holes, chipped paint, cracked tiles, damaged blinds, water marks, dents, or anything else that looks worn or damaged. When you find something, take a wider photo showing where it's located and a close-up showing the issue clearly. Don't assume something is too small to document.
Pay attention to easy-to-miss areas too. Look inside cabinets and closets, underneath sinks, behind doors, around bathroom fixtures, and inside appliances. If you have a balcony, patio, garage, or storage area, document those spaces as well.
Don't Just Look. Test Everything.
A good move-in inspection isn't only visual. Turn on the lights, test switches and outlets, open and close windows, and lock and unlock doors. Run faucets and check underneath sinks for leaks. If appliances are included, make sure they're working as expected.
Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and report anything that appears missing, damaged, or nonfunctional. The goal isn't to become a home inspector. It's to identify obvious problems while you still have a clear starting point for the apartment.
Also keep track of the keys, key fobs, parking passes, garage remotes, or other access devices you receive. You may be expected to return them when you move out.
Report What You Find
Photos and videos are valuable, but documenting a problem isn't necessarily the same as reporting it. Check your lease and move-in materials for instructions on reporting existing damage and whether there's a deadline for doing so.
When reporting an issue, be specific about what you found and where it's located. If you discover something that requires repair, such as a leaking pipe, broken lock, or malfunctioning appliance, submit it through your property's maintenance process as well.
Most importantly, keep copies of your photos, videos, inspection forms, maintenance requests, and related communication somewhere you'll still be able to access at move-out.
The Bottom Line
A move-in inspection doesn't have to take all day, but the documentation you create can matter throughout your entire lease. Before unpacking, walk through every room, photograph the apartment, test what you can, document existing damage, report problems on time, and save everything.
You'll probably hope you never need those records. But if a question comes up at move-out, you'll be glad you have them.