A move-in inspection is most useful when it is systematic, readable and completed before furniture or boxes hide fixed surfaces. This checklist helps you create a record another person can understand months later.
Before you start
Photograph the property while it is empty or as clear as possible. Clean the camera lens, keep original files, and capture one wide overview before close-ups in every room. Include the date and address in the rental record rather than adding text over the image.
Room-by-room checklist
- Entrance, doors, locks and keys
- Walls, ceilings, skirting boards and flooring
- Windows, frames, blinds and curtains
- Lights, sockets, switches and fixed fittings
- Cabinets, worktops, sinks and taps
- Appliances supplied with the rental
- Bathroom fixtures, seals, ventilation and signs of moisture
- Meters, alarms, balcony, garden and storage areas
Capture context, not only damage
Take a wide photo from the doorway, then work clockwise. For an existing mark, add one medium-distance photo showing its location and one close-up showing detail. Record the room and a short factual note.
Finish the record
Review each room for missing areas. Keep later additions separate so the original move-in record remains understandable. RentSeal lets you seal the completed inspection and add later evidence as a timestamped addendum.
Prefer to tick it off on your phone? Use our move-in checklist. When you leave, repeat the same photos with our move-out checklist.