On a computer? Scan with your iPhone camera.Detailed guide
What should an apartment inspection checklist include?
An apartment inspection checklist should identify the property and inspection stage, then cover every room in the same order: entry, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, fixtures, appliances, utilities, and any supplied items. Record what is visibly present with an overview photo, a closer detail when needed, and a plain note naming the exact location and condition. Keep the landlord's required form, messages, repair requests, and proof of delivery with the record. Use a separate checklist for move-in and move-out so the two stages can be compared. The lease and local law determine deadlines and legal effect; a personal checklist does not replace an official inspection form.
Need a stage-specific workflow? Use the move-in inspection checklist before unpacking, the move-out checklist before returning keys, or the rental condition report template when you need a room-by-room handoff document.
Apartment inspection list at a glance
A practical apartment inspection list follows the same order every time so nothing is skipped. Use the interactive checklist above for all 24 checks; this shorter list shows the main areas.
- Property, unit, inspection stage, and required form
- Entry door, locks, keys, fobs, and shared access
- Walls, ceilings, floors, baseboards, doors, and windows
- Lights, outlets, vents, alarms, and supplied fixtures
- Kitchen cabinets, counters, sink, plumbing, and appliances
- Bathroom surfaces, toilet, shower, ventilation, and storage
- Laundry, utilities, balcony, parking, and assigned storage
- Photos, notes, repair notice, completed form, and delivery record
What should you prepare before the walkthrough?
- Find the lease, landlord checklist, and any inspection deadline.
- Charge your phone and make sure the camera lens is clean.
- Walk through while the apartment is empty and well lit.
- Use stable room names that you can repeat at move-out.
- Record urgent maintenance or safety concerns through the required channel.
A condition record and a repair request serve different purposes. Photographing a leak documents what you observed; it does not notify the landlord unless you also use the notice method required by the lease or local rules.
Room-by-room apartment inspection checklist
Entry and shared access
- Door, frame, locks, keys, fobs, intercom, and doorbell
- Visible marks, gaps, damaged hardware, or access problems
- Meter readings or supplied parking and storage items, when applicable
Every room
- One overview from the doorway plus each wall, ceiling, and floor
- Windows, screens, blinds, doors, handles, outlets, and built-in lights
- Existing scratches, stains, holes, cracks, moisture, or missing parts
Kitchen, bathroom, and laundry
- Cabinets, counters, sinks, faucets, drains, caulk, and visible plumbing
- Appliance exterior, shelves, controls, and observed operation
- Toilet, tub or shower, ventilation, mirrors, and supplied accessories
- Washer, dryer, hoses, lint area, and utility connections when provided
Do not create a hazard to obtain a photo. Avoid moving heavy appliances, opening electrical equipment, touching suspected mold, or entering an unsafe area. Record the visible concern and use the appropriate maintenance or emergency process.
How should inspection photos and notes be written?
Use observable language: room, object or surface, exact location, visible condition, and approximate extent. For example, “Bedroom 1, west wall beside window: two vertical paint scratches, each about 3 inches.” Avoid guessing who caused an issue or whether it violates a legal standard. Pair an overview with a detail image so another person can understand both location and appearance.
At move-out, repeat the same room names and broad camera angles. That makes the two records easier to review than unrelated photos from a camera roll. See the dedicated move-in checklist and move-out checklist for stage-specific steps.
What should you do after the apartment inspection?
- Complete and retain the landlord-provided form when one exists.
- Send the condition record through the required communication channel.
- Keep proof of delivery, inspection appointments, repairs, and key return.
- Export a readable report and keep a second copy somewhere you control.
A useful handoff identifies what was attached and when it was sent. Keep the original message rather than relying only on a screenshot. USAGov provides a starting point for finding state-specific tenant resources, while HUD publishes inspection-related forms and guidance for its housing programs.
What DwellStamp can and cannot do
DwellStamp can organize user-selected move-in and move-out media by room and stage, keep the working record on the iPhone, and export an English PDF plus a preserved-media ZIP. It does not inspect or verify a property, establish when or where a photo was taken, replace a required landlord form, provide legal advice, notarize files, or guarantee acceptance by another party.
Ready to create the matched move-in record?
Start with the stage-specific checklist, then reuse the same room names and views when you document move-out.