Move-In Inspections: The Simple Checklist That Saves You Thousands

By Solutions Property Management — Sat Jul 11 2026

A proper move-in inspection is the single best insurance policy against damage disputes. Here's the checklist we actually use.

The move-in inspection is boring and takes 45 minutes. It also decides who wins the argument at the end of the tenancy.

**Do it with the tenant present**

Both parties walk through together. Both sign the report. Both get a copy. If a tenant refuses to participate, note that on the form and complete it yourself with a witness.

**Photograph everything**

Every wall in every room. Every appliance. Every floor. Under sinks. Inside closets. The furnace. The hot water tank. The exterior of every door. Take 100 photos. They cost you nothing and win cases.

**The checklist**

For each room:

• Walls: marks, holes, paint condition
• Ceiling: stains, cracks
• Floor: scratches, stains, level
• Windows: cracks, screens, hardware
• Doors: hinges, hardware, seal
• Electrical: outlets working, switches working, fixtures

For the kitchen and bathrooms, add:

• Faucets, drains, water pressure
• Appliance condition and function
• Caulking, grout
• Cabinet interiors and hardware

For systems:

• Furnace age and last service
• Water heater age
• Smoke and CO alarms tested with tenant
• Water shutoff located and shown
• Electrical panel located

**What the report protects**

• Damage disputes at move-out ("that was there when I moved in")
• LTB claims for damage (the report is your evidence)
• Insurance claims (documentation of pre-existing conditions)

Every tenancy that ends peacefully — and most do — makes this feel like overkill. Every tenancy that ends badly makes it the best 45 minutes you ever spent.