Dorm room check-in: how to avoid damage charges at move-out

Many schools give you a room condition form to fill out when you arrive, often with a short deadline. Fill it out, and take your own dated photos too. Forms get lost and checkboxes don't show how big a stain was.

Before you unpack

• The whole room from the doorway and from the window
• Mattress, both sides (lift the sheets if it came made)
• Desk, chair, dresser, and wardrobe, with drawers and doors open
• Walls: holes, tape marks, scuffs, and paint
• Floor or carpet, windows, screens, and blinds
• Door, lock, and the ID card or key you were given
• Shared spaces if your suite has them: bathroom, common room, kitchenette

At check-out

• Repeat the same angles after you've cleaned and moved everything out
• Remove all tape and hooks, and photograph the walls after
• Return your key and keep proof of when you did

Check your school's housing rules for the check-in form deadline and how to appeal a charge. This is general information, not legal advice.