Lease dictionary
Walkthrough (move-in/move-out inspection)
The documented inspection that decides who pays for what when you leave.
A walkthrough is a joint inspection of the unit's condition - once at move-in, once at move-out. The move-in record (checklist plus dated photos) is the baseline; the move-out comparison against it decides deposit deductions.
Several states require landlords to offer a pre-move-out inspection so you can fix issues before they become deductions. Use it.
Watch out
Do a move-in walkthrough even if the landlord doesn't offer one - send your dated photos and notes by email so the timestamp is on the record.
See it in action
The Move-out documentation kit puts this term to work for you.