Move-out documentation kit
Record your rental's condition at move-out, room by room, to protect your deposit
First, the basics.
Walk through room by room. Tap a condition, snap a photo.
Photos stay on your device. Never uploaded.
The deposit email comes three weeks later. $450 for carpet cleaning. $300 for “wall damage.”
You remember that wall. It was fine. Wasn't it?
Without photos, it's your memory against their invoice.
The invoice usually wins. Not because it's right, but because it's written down.
Fifteen minutes with your phone, the day you leave. That's the whole trick.
Four habits
01
Wide first
One shot from each doorway, so the whole room is on record.
02
Then close
Anything worn, scuffed or stained, up close, with something for scale.
03
Keep the timestamp
Photos on your phone carry the date. Don't strip it.
04
Do it twice
Same shots at move-in and move-out. Before and after wins arguments.
Next: get your deposit back →
Good to know
Why document when I move out?+
Photos and notes are your proof of the condition you left it in. Without them, it's your word against an invoice.
Are my photos uploaded?+
No. They stay on your device. They only leave it inside the report you choose to print or save.
Can they charge me for normal wear and tear?+
Generally no. Deposits cover damage and unpaid rent, not the ordinary aging of a home.
What do I do with the report?+
Save it, and send a copy with your forwarding address. If the deposit comes back short, it's your evidence.