Making an apartment inspection checklist should be one of the first things you do when you decide to move. Moving into a new rental can be exciting, but it’s easy to overlook flaws in the new digs upon your arrival, simply because you’re caught up in the move. By making a rental inspection checklist, you can make sure you’re looking over your new home closely for any damage or concerns, not only so your landlord can fix it immediately, but so you won’t be at fault later. Ahead, learn all the ins and outs of making an apartment rental checklist.
An apartment inspection checklist is important to keep you focused when you move in. In the stress and excitement of moving in, it’s easy to overlook things or just get caught up in putting all your things away in your new home. If you make your checklist ahead of time, you can inspect each aspect of your rental as you start to put your home in order.
An apartment inspection checklist also will help you spot anything you need to talk to the landlord about immediately. If you can get your landlord to do this walkthrough with you, that’s even better because then they’ll know any concerns right off the bat.
With this printable rental walkthrough checklist — that we recommend you take with you to your new apartment — you’ll be able to efficiently explore your new rental property from the outside in. We’ll outline each piece of the apartment inspection checklist and explain what to look for as you go.
Before you move in, put together your apartment inspection checklist. Better yet, print the one we’ve provided. Familiarize yourself with all the things we’ve suggested you look at so you can be efficient when you get to your new place. Also, be prepared with your phone or a camera so you can document any problems you find. It’s also not a bad idea to start a file, either in hard copy or on your computer, with this information. That way, you’ll have it all in one place and can reference it again when you move out — because you’ll want to make it clear if there was any damage when you moved in (especially if it doesn’t get fixed while you live there).
A rental checklist is really important when you’re about to move into a new home, and it’s often neglected. Print out the provided apartment inspection checklist and take it with you to the new place, and document everything you see. Share any problems with your landlord immediately — but hopefully, there won’t be any, and you can relax in your new place!
How do I document issues I see in my apartment walkthrough?
Take photos or videos of any issues you see in your apartment during a walkthrough and notify the landlord immediately with the evidence.
Who do I notify if I see any issues during my apartment walkthrough?
Tell either your landlord, the superintendent, or the owner of the property. Any of these people will be able to help you or tell you who to talk to.
Should I bring the landlord on the walkthrough?
If your landlord has the time and is willing, it’s a great idea to bring them along. Still document any issues, though, just in case a problem comes up after the fact.
Hedy Phillips is a freelance lifestyle writer based in New York. She writes on a variety of topics, including home decor trends and tips for traveling. Her bylines have appeared in a number of publications, including POPSUGAR, Hunker, Cosmopolitan, and more.
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