Free template
Move-in and move-out checklist
Walk every room with your tenant at move-in, sign it, and walk it again at move-out. It's the record your security deposit decisions stand on. Pick the rooms, then print it or fill it in here. Nothing you type here is sent or saved.
Move-in and move-out condition
Write G (good), W (normal wear), C (needs cleaning), or D (damaged), and what you see.
Entry and living room
- Front door, lock, and deadbolt
- Walls and ceiling
- Floor or carpet
- Windows, screens, and blinds
- Lights, switches, and outlets
- Closet
Kitchen
- Walls and ceiling
- Floor
- Cabinets and drawers
- Countertops
- Sink, faucet, and disposal
- Stove and oven
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave and vent hood
- Lights and outlets
Bathroom
- Walls and ceiling
- Floor
- Toilet
- Tub or shower, and caulk
- Sink, faucet, and vanity
- Mirror and medicine cabinet
- Exhaust fan
- Towel bars and fixtures
Bedroom 1
- Door and lock
- Walls and ceiling
- Floor or carpet
- Windows, screens, and blinds
- Closet and doors
- Lights and outlets
Bedroom 2
- Door and lock
- Walls and ceiling
- Floor or carpet
- Windows, screens, and blinds
- Closet and doors
- Lights and outlets
Hallways and stairs
- Walls and ceiling
- Floor or carpet
- Railings
- Lights
Laundry
- Washer
- Dryer and vent
- Floor
- Hookups and drain
Outside
- Siding and paint
- Porch, deck, and steps
- Yard and landscaping
- Fence and gates
- Trash bins
- Exterior lights
Keys, meters, and safety
- Keys and remotes handed over
- Electric meter reading
- Gas meter reading
- Water meter reading
- Smoke detectors tested
- Carbon monoxide detectors tested
Move-in: tenant, signature and date
Move-in: landlord, signature and date
Move-out: tenant, signature and date
Move-out: landlord, signature and date
Keep it with the lease, room by room
In Fixer Upper House each lease has a move-in and a move-out walk, with photos tagged by room. At move-out it flags every room that got worse past normal wear, right next to the deposit, and prints the itemized deposit statement for your tenant.
14 days free. No credit card.
Questions
Why do a move-in checklist?
It's the record of what the place looked like before the tenant lived there. At move-out you walk the same rooms again, and anything that got worse past normal wear is what a deposit deduction can point to. Without it, it's your word against theirs. Some states require a written move-in condition statement; check yours.
What's normal wear and tear?
The slow wear of living in a place: light scuffs, small nail holes, faded paint, carpet worn along a walking path, loose door handles. Damage is beyond that: holes in walls, burns, pet stains, broken blinds or fixtures, missing items. Normal wear isn't charged to the deposit.
Should the tenant sign it?
Yes. Walk it together, have both of you sign and date it at move-in, and give the tenant a copy. Do the same at move-out. Take dated photos of every room both times.
How long do I have to return the deposit?
It depends on the state, often 14 to 30 days after move-out, and many states require an itemized list of anything you keep. Look up your state's rule before move-out day.