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What should I be checking during a move-in walkthrough?

movingrentinghome maintenance
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Atanas_R
Joined:
04.05.2024
Posts: 1862
Topic Starter
06.03.2025 21:37
I am getting the keys to my first apartment next week and I am terrified of missing something important that I might be held liable for later. I plan on taking photos of everything, but I am not sure if there are specific things I should be testing or looking for beyond just obvious damage. Should I be running every faucet and testing every outlet, or is that overkill? I really don't want to lose my security deposit over pre-existing issues that I didn't document properly. Any advice on what to include in my move-in checklist would be greatly appreciated.
12 replies in this topic
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redoven
Joined:
23.09.2022
Posts: 667
28.03.2025 02:47
Definitely not overkill! Test every single outlet with a phone charger or a cheap outlet tester. You don't want to find out a plug doesn't work after you've already moved your heavy furniture in.
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Bobi_J
Joined:
14.12.2021
Posts: 73
05.04.2025 19:12
In reply to a previous post
Take photos of the inside of the oven and the fridge too. People always forget those, and that's exactly where landlords try to claim cleaning fees.
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chicho_savet
Joined:
21.12.2024
Posts: 766
31.05.2025 06:55
Don't forget the baseboards and the inside of the closets. I once got charged for a 'damaged' wall that was actually just a scuff behind a door I never looked behind.
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Alisa_K
Joined:
02.02.2023
Posts: 1941
25.06.2025 10:55
In reply to a previous post
I second the advice about the faucets. Run them all at the same time to check for water pressure issues and look under the sinks for any signs of past leaks or mold.
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Leni_C
Joined:
20.03.2024
Posts: 390
08.08.2025 23:59
Is it really worth testing every single outlet? Seems like a waste of time unless the apartment looks like a total dump.
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Simeon_W
Joined:
19.06.2020
Posts: 1335
11.08.2025 07:21
In reply to a previous post
To the person who asked if it's a waste of time: yes, it is absolutely worth it. My last landlord tried to pin a faulty breaker on me because I didn't test it during move-in. Better safe than sorry.
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ObiknovenChovek
Joined:
22.11.2020
Posts: 2489
18.09.2025 08:43
Check the window screens! If they are ripped, point it out immediately. Those things are surprisingly expensive to replace and they will definitely take it out of your deposit.
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Leon_M
Joined:
30.06.2023
Posts: 1582
09.11.2025 11:30
In reply to a previous post
Great tips here. I'd add: open and close every single window. Sometimes they are painted shut or the tracks are completely busted.
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Alisa_K
Joined:
13.06.2021
Posts: 1980
20.01.2026 18:02
Whatever you do, make sure you email the list of issues to the landlord within 24 hours of getting the keys. A paper trail is your best friend if they try to pull anything later.
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Iggy_R
Joined:
13.06.2025
Posts: 1638
25.01.2026 21:24
In reply to a previous post
That's solid advice. I always send a follow-up email saying 'As discussed during our walkthrough, here are the items I noted...' so they can't claim they never saw it.
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Viktoria_S
Joined:
23.05.2021
Posts: 1895
15.03.2026 12:16
Check the carpets for stains! If you see any, take a close-up photo with a coin or a ruler next to it for scale. It proves you didn't cause it.
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Oliviya_T
Joined:
03.11.2022
Posts: 82
29.03.2026 07:09
In reply to a previous post
Honestly, just film a video walk-through while narrating what you see. It's way faster than taking 50 individual photos and you can't miss anything that way.

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