How to document apartment damage before move-in

Start with the highest-risk areas: entry hardware, windows, walls, floors, bathrooms, and kitchen appliances. Those are the places most likely to create a dispute later.

Take wide photos first, then close-ups that show the issue clearly. Add written notes for anything a photo could be ambiguous about, such as whether a lock sticks or an outlet is dead.

Keep a dated checklist and export the final record so you are not relying on memory months later.