Apartment Walkthrough and Move-In Checklist

What a good one includes

• A granular, room-by-room grid that covers walls, floors, ceilings, baseboards, and windows individually.
• Specific testing prompts for every appliance, outlet, light fixture, faucet, and toilet to verify functional working order.
• A dedicated column or section to log corresponding photo file names or video timestamps for every noted defect.
• Clearly defined signature lines and date fields for both the tenant and the landlord or property manager to validate the findings.
• An inventory section to document the receipt and condition of all keys, fobs, garage openers, and safety devices like smoke alarms.
• An action item section outlining which noted damages the landlord agrees to repair immediately, complete with agreed-upon target dates.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Conducting the walkthrough alone and failing to get the landlord’s written acknowledgment or counter-signature on the finalized document.
• Overlooking functional or hidden spots like the inside of the oven, under-sink plumbing, window locks, and individual electrical outlets.
• Writing vague descriptions like 'scratch on floor' without taking a close-up, timestamped photo next to a coin or ruler for scale.
• Rushing to move heavy furniture into the apartment before completing the walkthrough, which blocks access and makes it impossible to inspect the floors and walls accurately.

Frequently asked questions