A move-in checklist works best before furniture, rugs, cleaners, and boxes cover the small details. Photograph rooms, surfaces, appliances, furniture, inventory, and existing issues while the apartment condition is still easy to see.

Photograph each room consistently

  • Start with wide shots from the doorway before boxes or furniture block walls, floors, outlets, windows, and doors.
  • Capture closets, cabinets, appliances, fixtures, laundry areas, exterior spaces, and shared rooms when they are part of the lease.
  • Use the same room names and order you expect to use at move-out so the record is easier to compare.

Capture existing issues clearly

  • Photograph scuffs, chips, stains, cracks, swelling under sinks, missing screens, broken blinds, appliance dents, and loose fixtures.
  • Add short notes that explain what the photo shows, such as "chip on lower freezer drawer" or "brown stain near bedroom vent."
  • Record maintenance items that need attention during the stay, especially leaks, appliance failures, or safety concerns.

Check inventory and shared spaces

  • Record supplied furniture, remotes, keys, fobs, window screens, mailbox keys, appliances, mattress covers, and other items listed with the apartment.
  • Photograph shared kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, balconies, storage areas, and entryways before roommates or other residents change the scene.
  • Note counts and locations for items that may be easy to confuse later, such as chairs, shelves, remotes, lamps, and parking passes.

Build a move-out comparison baseline

  • Save the move-in baseline in one property record instead of leaving photos scattered in the camera roll.
  • Attach timestamps, room context, and notes to each photo or room section.
  • Use the same baseline again during move-out, deposit review, or a later condition question.

Package the record before it gets stale

  • Review each room before the first week of living in the apartment changes the scene.
  • Add missing labels for rooms, closets, cabinets, appliances, keys, remotes, furniture, and exterior spaces.
  • Share the report link or PDF with the person who needs the move-in baseline before move-out questions come up.
Use this guide as documentation support, not legal advice. Local rules, lease terms, platform policies, and professional guidance may affect how a record should be used.