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Move-in photos for your security deposit

October 13, 2026 · First Apartment Kit

Your security deposit is money you already paid. The best way to protect it is simple: show, with dates, what the place looked like when you got the keys — before boxes, furniture, or a scrubbing sponge change anything.

You do not need fancy equipment. A phone camera, daylight, and a calm walk room by room are enough. Do this before you unpack. Once your stuff is in, it is harder to prove a scratch was already there.

Deposit rules vary by state and city. This is a practical household tip, not legal advice. When something is unclear, ask your landlord in writing or check a local tenant resource.

Why dated photos matter before boxes land

Move-in day is loud. Friends help. Delivery drivers knock. It is easy to skip the photo walk and swear you will do it tomorrow. Tomorrow the walls have your shelves on them and the fridge has your leftovers.

Dated photos create a before picture. If a later dispute comes up about a stain, a broken screen, or a dented appliance, you can point to what was already wrong on day one. Many landlords are fair when the record is clear. Clear records also help you stay calm at move-out — you are not relying on memory from a year ago.

Our first week with the keys guide puts photos early in the order for a reason: empty rooms are easier to document than lived-in ones.

What to photograph

Think “whole unit, then close-ups.” Walk every room the same way so you do not miss a closet or hall.

• Every room from at least two corners — living room, bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, hallways, closets, balcony or patio if you have one
• Walls, floors, ceilings, baseboards, and trim — especially corners and high-traffic spots
• Appliances outside and inside: fridge, freezer shelves, oven, stovetop, dishwasher, washer/dryer if included, microwave
• Cabinets and drawers open and closed; under-sink areas for leaks or stains
• Windows, screens, blinds, and locks
• Bathroom fixtures: sink, tub or shower, toilet base, caulk lines, exhaust fan, mirror
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors if present (note whether they look working — do not take them apart)
• Utility meters or shutoffs if they are visible in the unit
• Keys, fobs, remotes, and lock hardware you were given
• Parking spot number, mailbox number, and any labeled storage unit
• Any existing damage: scratches, holes, stains, chips, missing pieces, water marks, pest evidence, or worn carpet

When you see damage, take a wide shot that shows where it is in the room, then a close-up. One blurry corner photo is not as helpful as two clear ones.

How to shoot so the photos hold up later

• Use daylight when you can. Open blinds. Turn on overhead lights if the room is dark.
• Use flash only when you need it — dark closets, under sinks — and check that the flash did not wash out the detail you care about.
• Start wide, then move in. A room overview plus close-ups of problem spots beats a pile of random zoomed shots.
• Keep the phone steady. Tap to focus on the scratch or stain.
• Leave the files unedited. No filters, no crop that removes context. Originals are easier to trust.
• If it helps you sleep, photograph a newspaper date or a screenshot of your phone’s date and time in the same session — then keep shooting. Many phones already embed date metadata in the file; do not delete the originals.

You do not need a video of every inch. A thorough photo set is usually enough. A short walk-through video can be a bonus if you want one, but still take still photos of anything damaged.

How to store the set so you can find it in a year

Photos stuck in a random camera roll get lost. Give the set a home the same day.

• Create a phone album named with the address and move-in date (example: 412 Oak Apt 3B — 2026-10-13)
• Upload the full set to a cloud folder you control (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox — whatever you already use)
• Email yourself a zip or a shared link with the subject line “Move-in photos — [address] — [date]”
• Keep the originals. Do not rely only on compressed chat uploads

If a roommate shares the lease, agree that one person owns the master folder and the other has a copy. Two copies beat one phone that dies.

Walk-through and condition form tips

Ask whether there is a written move-in condition form. Fill it out carefully. Write down anything the landlord or manager says they will fix, and ask for that promise in writing — email or text is fine.

If they walk the unit with you, bring your phone and photograph as you go. If they are not available for a joint walk-through, do your own photo walk the same day you get keys, then send a short note: you completed move-in photos and listed the issues you found. Attach or link the list. Keep their reply.

Before you signed, it helped to ask about deposits and walk-throughs up front — see questions to ask a landlord before signing a lease.

At move-out: use the same angles

When your lease ends, pull up the move-in album first. Clean the unit to the standard your lease describes, then photograph again from similar angles. Matching shots make comparisons obvious.

Our moving out for the first time checklist covers the broader leave-behind list. The photo set is the deposit-specific piece: before and after, labeled, stored where you can find both.

Hand in keys only after you have your move-out photos and any required forms. Ask how and when the deposit will be returned, and keep that answer with your lease file.

Printable checklist: move-in photo walk

Print this or copy it into your notes. Check each one off before the boxes win.

• ☐ Album named with address + date
• ☐ Every room — two corner overviews
• ☐ Walls, floors, ceilings, baseboards
• ☐ Closets, hallways, balcony/patio
• ☐ Appliances outside + inside
• ☐ Cabinets, drawers, under sinks
• ☐ Windows, screens, blinds, locks
• ☐ Bathroom fixtures + caulk lines
• ☐ Smoke / CO detectors if present
• ☐ Keys, fobs, remotes, lock hardware
• ☐ Parking / mailbox / storage numbers
• ☐ Close-ups of all existing damage
• ☐ Cloud copy + email-to-self backup
• ☐ Condition form filled (if provided)
• ☐ Promised fixes noted in writing
• ☐ Short note to landlord with issue list

Fifteen quiet minutes with a phone can save weeks of stress later. Empty rooms tell the truth. Photograph them while they still are.

Not legal advice. Security deposit and move-in rules vary by state and city — check your local rules, or ask a local tenant resource or qualified professional when something is unclear.