The move-out inspection checklist that survives a deposit dispute

A move-out inspection has one job: produce a record that holds up when the deposit is disputed. That means it has to be consistent (same items every time), evidenced (dated photos on anything you'll deduct for), and compared against the move-in. Here's the checklist we recommend, why each item is there, and how to run it in under 30 minutes.

Before you walk

• Pull the move-in report. If it doesn't exist, you have no baseline — document everything anyway; you'll want it next time.
• Bring the lease's cleaning/damage terms. What counts as "normal wear" versus tenant damage is defined there and by state law, not by how you feel in the moment.
• Charge your phone. The report is your phone today.

The checklist (by room)

Entry & living

• Entry door, frame, lock and deadbolt (operate them)
• Walls, ceiling and paint — nail holes are normal wear in most states; large patches, unapproved colors and gouges are not
• Flooring — note scratches deeper than the finish, stains, pet damage; photograph with something for scale
• Windows, screens, blinds — torn screens and broken slats are the most common deductions
• Outlets and switches — every plate present, nothing cracked

Kitchen

• Range and hood — every burner ignites, oven heats, hood light and fan run; photograph the interior of the oven
• Refrigerator — clean, gasket intact, cooling (38–40 °F)
• Sink, faucet, disposal — runs, drains, no leak under the cabinet (open it and look)
• Cabinets, drawers, counters — doors aligned, no missing pulls, no burns on counters
• Dishwasher — runs a short cycle if you can spare the time; at least check the door seal and filter

Bathroom(s)

• Toilet — flushes, doesn't run, seat intact
• Tub/shower — drains, no cracks, caulk line clean
• Caulk & grout — mildew that wipes off is cleaning; missing grout is repair
• Vanity, mirror, exhaust fan

Bedrooms

• Walls, ceiling, closet doors on track, window and screen, blinds

Systems & safety

• HVAC filter (photograph the date/condition), thermostat working
• Water heater area — no rust streaks or standing water
• Smoke and CO detectors present and beeping on test
• GFCI outlets trip and reset

Exterior (if applicable)

• Patio/balcony, storage, garage door, keys and remotes returned

Rating, not essays

Rate each item Good / Fair / Poor / N/A and only write a note when the rating is Fair or Poor. "Poor — burner 2 no ignition, oven interior heavy grease" is worth more than three paragraphs. Every note on a Fair/Poor item should have a photo.

Photos that hold up

• One wide shot of each room, then close-ups of every issue.
• Timestamped automatically (Walkpoint does this; if you use your camera roll, keep the metadata).
• Include a reference in close-ups: a hand, a tape, a coin. "Scratch" without scale loses arguments.

The comparison is the deliverable

Line up move-in and move-out item by item. Anything that went from Good to Fair/Poor is your deduction list; anything that was already Fair at move-in is not. Send the tenant the comparison, not just the move-out — that's what ends the argument.

In Walkpoint: start a Move-out from the completed Move-in, rate as you walk, tap Complete. The comparison PDF and the deduction-ready action list are generated for you.