Your move-in walkthrough, room by room

A walkthrough before you move in records the condition of the place on the day you got it. It is also your chance to ask for repairs before you unpack. Walk through with the landlord or the landlord's agent if you can. Write down what you see room by room, and take photos as you go. At the end, ask that you both sign the checklist to show you agree with it.

Before you start

• Book the walkthrough before you move in
• Take photos before your things go inAn empty room shows the floors and walls that furniture and rugs would cover.

Kitchen

• Check the floor, walls and ceilingLook for cracks, holes, and dry or wet spots that point to a leak.
• Run the stove, oven and range hood
• Check that the refrigerator keeps food cold
• Run the sink and the garbage disposalWatch for leaks under the sink and for rusty, discolored or bad-smelling water.
• Check the counters, windows, doors and lights

Bathroom

• Run the shower and tubCheck the walls, the door and the tracks.
• Flush the toilet and run each faucetNote leaks, weak hot water or discolored water.
• Check the sink, vanity and medicine cabinetNote chips, cracks and doors that don't close.
• Look for mold and water damageStaining or a moldy smell can mean mold, even where you can't see it.

Every other room

• Check the flooring in each room
• Open and shut each window and doorNote any that don't open all the way or don't shut securely.
• Test the lights and outletsNote a fixture that doesn't work or a room short of outlets.
• Open the closetsCheck the doors and the tracks.
• Run the heat and the air conditioningNote the filter's condition too.
• Look for chipping paintA building from before 1978 is more likely to have lead-based paint, and its chips and dust are a hazard to a child who swallows them.
• Look for pestsDroppings, insects or other signs of rodents go on the list.
• Note dirt and debris left behind
• Walk the patio, deck and yardNote the planted areas, the fencing and the ground cover, and whether there are enough trash cans.

When you finish

Send the landlord your list of anything that needs a repair, and ask when it will be done. Get any promised repair confirmed in writing. Report a leak or a moisture problem right away, since damp materials dried within 24 to 48 hours usually don't grow mold.

Make your notes and take your photos even if the landlord doesn't walk through with you. Date-stamped photos show when each one was taken. Keep the notes and the photos together in one folder.