How To Do A Move-In Walkthrough And Document Everything

Move-In Walkthrough Checklist

How To Do a Move-In Walkthrough

Conducting a proper inspection depends on the type of home you rent. In other words, there's a difference in how you handle a home compared to an apartment. Here are the best policies and what to do for each.

Apartment Inspection

Apartment walkthroughs usually happen on the day you pick up your keys, and the property manager often walks through the unit with you. Follow these steps for a smooth process:

1. Ask the property manager for their official apartment move-in inspection checklist.
2. Walk through each room together and point out any blemishes.
3. Take clear photos and a video of any damage to create a solid visual record.
4. Write down every detail on the form.
5. Sign the document and ask the manager for a copy.

If the manager cannot join you, complete the form yourself, take plenty of pictures, and return everything to the leasing office right away.

House Inspection

Renting a house usually means you have more ground to cover. You're also more likely to do the inspection alone. Here is how to handle a house walkthrough:

1. Walk the entire exterior to look for damaged siding or landscaping issues.
2. Test garage doors and exterior lighting.
3. Check the basement or attic for signs of pests or water leaks.
4. Document the condition of major systems like the water heater.
5. Take detailed photos and videos of every room, making sure to capture any pre-existing damage you spot.

Email your notes and photos to your private landlord as soon as you finish.

What to Check During a Move-In Walkthrough

It is not enough to just walk around and look at your home. In order to get the most out of your documentation, you need to know what to look for and how to record it properly. Having a structured plan ensures you do not miss hidden issues that could become your financial responsibility later. Here are a few pro tips for documenting your space:

• Take a video walking through the entire empty unit before bringing in boxes.
• Take close-up photos of any damage next to a coin or other item to show scale.
• Save all files in a dedicated digital folder and email a copy to yourself for a time-stamped record.

Room-by-Room Walkthrough Checklist

Living Rooms and Common Areas

Your living room sees a lot of foot traffic, so it's important to pay attention to the surfaces and fixtures here.

• Test every set of blinds to ensure they open and close.
• Look for carpet snags or deep scratches on hardwood floors.
• Check the walls for nail holes left by the previous renter.
• Turn on the ceiling fan to make sure it runs quietly and is level.
• Take wide photos of the floors and close-up shots of any torn window screens.

Kitchen

The kitchen holds the most expensive items in your rental and ones you tend to use every day, so make sure you test everything thoroughly.

• Turn on all stove burners and check the oven light.
• Open the fridge and freezer to confirm they feel cold.
• Run the dishwasher through a quick rinse cycle.
• Look under the sink for signs of water drips or mold.
• Open and close every cabinet door and drawer.

Make sure you check the easier-to-miss details, like any cracked shelves inside the refrigerator or chips on the countertops, as well.

Bathroom

Water damage can cause other issues and is sometimes temporarily hidden by landlords with paint, so inspect the bathroom carefully.

• Flush the toilet and wait to see if it stops running.
• Turn on the shower and sink to check the water pressure and temperature.
• Watch the drains to ensure the water goes down quickly.
• Look for missing grout or cracked tiles in the shower.
• Turn on the exhaust fan.

If you do find damage, make sure you photograph any mold spots, rust on fixtures, or cracks in the mirror.

Electrical and Safety Systems

A safe home requires working electricity and functioning alarms, so it's especially important you take the time to see if all the safety features and wiring in your home are working well.

• Plug a small phone charger into every wall outlet.
• Flip every light switch on and off.
• Press the test button on all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Locate the breaker box and verify that all switches look intact.

Make sure you record any exposed wires, loose outlet covers, or missing detector units. These are also major problems you'll want to solve as soon as possible, so pull your landlord into the loop or get a professional to fix the issue.

HVAC and Climate Control Systems

Even if the weather isn't extreme yet, you'll want to be prepared for summer and winter, so check the heating and cooling systems.

• Turn on the heater and feel the vents for warm air.
• Switch to the air conditioner and verify it blows cold air.
• Locate the air filter and check if it needs replacing.
• Test the thermostat buttons to ensure the screen works.

Take a picture of the current air filter if it looks dirty, so your landlord can provide a new one.

Doors, Locks, and Security

Your safety matters most, so one of the first things you should do is inspect all entry points to confirm your home is secure.

• Lock and unlock the front door from both the inside and outside.
• Test the deadbolt to ensure it slides smoothly into the frame.
• Check sliding glass doors to make sure they latch securely.
• Ensure all interior doors close without scraping the floor.

Document any loose door handles, missing weather stripping, or sticky locks. Much like electrical and security problems, these are ones you want to bring up to your landlord or get an expert to fix as soon as you can.

Walls, Floors, and Ceilings

Look up, down, and all around to spot structural wear and tear. These may seem like small or superficial issues, but they're often the ones that can snowball into issues later, or cause you to lose your security deposit.

• Scan the ceilings for brown water spots or peeling paint.
• Check baseboards for scuff marks or pet damage.
• Look for large cracks or bubbling drywall.
• Check tile floors for cracked pieces or missing grout.

Take photos of any existing wall anchors, large dents, or carpet stains before you place your furniture over them.

Entryways and External Areas

Do not forget the spaces just outside your front door! They're easy to miss, but they can become problems the same as the more obvious spots.

• Check the balcony or patio for loose railings or cracked concrete.
• Test the doorbell and any exterior porch lights.
• Inspect your assigned parking space for oil stains.
• Ensure your mailbox locks correctly, and you have the right key.

Photograph any trash left behind by the previous tenant or damage to shared hallway walls.

5 Common Move-In Walkthrough Mistakes to Avoid

Missing details on your walkthrough can cost you hundreds of dollars when you eventually move out. If you cannot prove that a broken blind or a stained carpet was already there, your landlord will likely deduct the repair costs directly from your security deposit. Here are five frequent mistakes to avoid so you can protect your wallet:

1. Rushing through the inspection because you feel eager to unpack.
2. Forgetting to test the appliances and plumbing fixtures.
3. Relying only on the landlord's notes instead of taking your own timestamped photos.
4. Failing to report minor damages like small scratches or nail holes.
5. Waiting too long to turn in the completed checklist.

How To Protect Yourself from Damage Disputes

You should always keep a personal copy of your signed inspection form and back up your photos to a cloud drive. That way, if your landlord later disagrees with your findings, you can present your time-stamped visual evidence. Review your local tenant rights on the official U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website to understand your legal protections.