How to do a move-in inspection as a small landlord.

Move-in is the baseline. Walk the unit, photograph what is already worn, count the keys, and get a signed condition record before anyone unpacks.

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Why it fails later

Move-out arguments start on move-in day, when nobody wrote it down.

You remember the scuff by the fridge, but there is no photo dated to move-in day.
Keys, fobs, and garage remotes went out in a text. Nobody wrote down how many.
At move-out you argue about a stain that might have been there. The file cannot settle it.

A usable baseline

Four steps before the keys change hands.

Step 1

Walk the unit room by room

Same order every time: entry, kitchen, baths, bedrooms, exterior if you have it. A few doors still need a written condition report. A casual look is not a record.

Step 2

Photograph existing wear the same day

Floors, walls, appliances, and anything already damaged. Timestamped photos on the unit beat a memory six months later when the deposit is in play.

Step 3

Count keys, fobs, and meters

How many keys left the office, what the meter read, and whether a remote was issued. That list belongs on the inspection, not in a notes app you will not open at move-out.

Step 4

Get the condition signed before they move in

Both of you look at the same report. A signature on move-in day is the baseline. A walkthrough with no file is just a conversation you will not remember.

In Rentway

The photos, the notes, and the signature sit on the unit.

Rentway is property-management software for landlords and managers. A move-in inspection is a condition record on the property, not a camera roll and not tenant-ops branding.

Move-in inspections attached to the unit and lease

Photos and notes on the same condition report

Key, fob, and meter counts you can find at move-out

A signed baseline instead of a remembered walkthrough

FAQ

Do I need this if I only have a few units?: Yes, if you will ever compare move-out photos to what the unit looked like on day one. A few doors still produce deposit questions. The inspection is the baseline, not extra paperwork for volume.
Can I try Rentway first?: Yes. Rentway is a 14-day free trial with no card required. Live plans are on the pricing page.

Start the lease with a baseline you can find.

Try Rentway for 14 days with no card required and keep the move-in inspection on the unit, not in a camera roll.

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