What to photograph when you move into an apartment

The best time to protect your deposit is before you carry in a single box. Once furniture is in place, scuffs and stains get hidden, and it becomes hard to show what was already there. Set aside 20 to 30 minutes with good light and an empty apartment.

Before you start

• Turn on every light and open the blinds. Dark photos hide damage.
• Make sure your phone saves the date and time with each photo (it does by default).
• Start each room with a wide shot from the doorway, then move in for close-ups.
• Photograph damage twice: one close-up, and one wider shot that shows where it is in the room.

Every room

• The whole room from the doorway, then from the opposite corner
• Floors and baseboards, up close: scratches, stains, dents, carpet wear
• Walls: nail holes, scuffs, patched or mismatched paint
• Windows, screens, and blinds (broken slats and torn screens are common deductions)
• Doors, locks, and door frames
• Light fixtures, outlets, and switch plates
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Kitchen

• Inside the oven, stovetop and burners, and under the range hood
• Inside the fridge and freezer, including shelves and door seals
• Inside the dishwasher and microwave
• Countertops (burns, cuts, chips) and the sink
• Under the sink: look for leaks or water damage
• Cabinet doors, drawers, and the inside of cabinets

Bathroom

• Tub or shower, grout, and the caulk around the edges
• Toilet, sink, and vanity, including under the sink
• Mirror and medicine cabinet
• Ceiling and corners: water stains or mold
• Exhaust fan

Bedrooms, closets, and the rest

• Inside every closet, including shelves and closet doors
• Heating and cooling: radiators, vents, window AC units
• Washer and dryer, if the unit has them
• Balcony, patio, or any outdoor space that's part of your lease
• Keys you were given, and any meters if you pay utilities

After you take the photos

• Email the photos (or a link to them) to your landlord or property manager the same week. The email itself is a dated record that they received them.
• Ask your landlord to agree, in writing, that the photos show the apartment's condition on move-in day. A landlord's sign-off is one of the strongest things you can have.
• If your landlord gave you a move-in condition checklist, fill it in, note anything they missed, and keep a copy.
• Back the photos up somewhere besides your phone.

Some states require landlords to give tenants a written statement of the apartment's condition at move-in. If you get one, fill it in, add anything missing, and keep a copy.

At move-out

Take the same photos again, from the same angles, after you've cleaned and moved everything out. Matching before-and-after shots make it easy to see what changed and what didn't.