Glossary
Move-in inspection
A dated, ideally photographed record of a rental's condition on move-in day, used to protect your deposit later.
A move-in inspection is a walkthrough, documented in writing and with photos or video, of exactly what condition a rental unit is in before you bring any belongings inside. Many leases include a printed checklist for this, but even without one, doing your own dated documentation is worth the twenty minutes it takes.
The goal is creating a clear reference point that separates pre-existing wear from anything that happens during your lease. Scuffed baseboards, a stained section of carpet, or a loose cabinet hinge that's photographed and timestamped on day one can't later be blamed on you when you move out, which is exactly the kind of dispute security deposits get contested over.
The most useful approach is close-up photos of anything already imperfect, wide shots of every room for overall condition, and a written note of anything the landlord should already know about, sent to them in writing so there's a timestamped record on both sides. Skipping this step is one of the most common and most avoidable reasons renters lose part of their deposit.