Move-In Checklist: Protect Yourself Before You Unpack

Steady Adulting

October 13, 2026

By Clara Valenti & Guillermo Santos

As much as we want to believe we have everything under control when we move—Yes! I finally moved out of my parents’ house, my ex’s place, my friend’s spare room, or wherever else I was staying!—we can never be too careful about making sure everything is documented correctly when we enter a new rental.

Moving is exciting. It is also distracting.

You are thinking about boxes, furniture, electricity, internet, changing your address, finding your coffee maker, and figuring out which box contains the shower curtain.

Meanwhile, there may be a small stain on the ceiling that you barely notice.

Three months later, that stain is bigger.

And suddenly you are wondering:

Was that there when I moved in?

The same thing can happen with a dripping sink, a dishwasher that does not work quite right, a crack in a wall, a dent in an appliance, a damaged cabinet, or possible traces of miniature furry friends hiding somewhere they should not be.

Was that already there?

Did it happen afterward?

Was the landlord supposed to fix it?

Were you?

This is why your move-in inspection matters.

Before You Move Anything In, Document Everything

Before bringing in furniture, boxes, clothing, food, or other belongings, walk through the entire property.

Take dated photographs and, when useful, video.

Photograph:

• Walls

• Ceilings

• Floors

• Carpets

• Windows

• Doors

• Cabinets

• Closets

• Appliances

• Plumbing fixtures

• Countertops

• Bathrooms

• Outdoor spaces

• Garages and storage areas

Do not photograph only major damage.

Take pictures of the little things too:

• A crack

• A dent

• A scratch

• A carpet stain

• A chipped tile

• A nail hole

• Peeling paint

• A water mark

• A damaged screen

• A cabinet hole

• A loose door handle

If there is ever a disagreement when you move out, a dated picture is considerably more useful than:

“I swear it was like that when I moved in.”

The landlord may remember:

“It was in perfect condition when I rented it.”

Memories differ.

Pictures help.

Look Up, Down, Under, and Inside

Do not limit your inspection to whatever is visible from the middle of the room.

Look at the ceilings.

Are there stains, discoloration, cracks, sagging areas, bubbling paint, or possible signs of a leak?

Look at the walls.

Was a new layer of paint applied? Does anything look as though it may have been painted over rather than repaired? Are there cracks, holes, stains, moisture, or soft areas?

Check windows and doors.

Do they open, close, and lock correctly? Are the screens intact? Is there water damage around the frames? Are there large gaps?

Walk the floors.

Are tiles cracked? Are boards loose? Does an area feel soft? Is the carpet stained, torn, damp, or odorous?

And open the cabinets.

A kitchen can look beautiful until you open the cabinet beneath the sink and find water damage, warped wood, holes around plumbing lines, or evidence that something small and furry has visited before you.

Ask About the Carpets and Paint

If the property has carpet, ask whether it was cleaned before you moved in.

If appropriate, ask when it was cleaned and whether professional cleaning was performed.

Document stains, burns, tears, odors, loose edges, pet damage, or worn areas before putting furniture over them.

Similarly, ask whether the unit was repainted.

Fresh paint is wonderful—but you still want to inspect what is underneath and around it.

Look for:

• Bubbling

• Peeling

• Uneven patches

• Water stains

• Moisture

• Cracks

• Poorly repaired holes

Also find out what you are permitted to do to the walls yourself. Can you use nails? Anchors? Repaint? What must be restored before you move out?

Test the Kitchen

Do not assume an appliance works because it is sitting there.

Test what you reasonably can.

Check:

• Refrigerator

• Freezer

• Stove

• Oven

• Dishwasher

• Microwave

• Garbage disposal

• Sink

• Faucet

Run the water and look underneath the sink while it drains.

Is anything leaking?

Is there old water damage?

Are there holes inside the cabinets?

Is the wood swollen?

Do you see pest droppings, traps, or other signs of infestation?

Check the refrigerator water line and dishwasher connections if they are visible and accessible.

A tiny leak today can become a much larger problem later.

Inspect the Bathroom

Check the toilet.

Does it rock?

Does it run continuously?

Does it flush and refill properly?

Is there moisture around the base?

Check the tub, shower, and sink for leaks and drainage.

Look closely at tile, grout, and caulk.

Cracked tiles, missing grout, deteriorated caulk, soft flooring, and water stains may indicate a current or previous moisture problem.

Turn on the exhaust fan.

Run the hot and cold water.

Check the water pressure.

These are much easier problems to address before you have unpacked your entire bathroom.

Know What Kind of Water and Sewer System You Have

Do not assume every property operates the same way.

Find out whether you have:

• Municipal water and sewer

• Municipal water with septic

• A private well and septic

• A shared well

• A shared septic system

• Another private or community arrangement

If there is a well, septic system, water softener, filter, pump, or treatment system, ask:

• When was it last serviced?

• How often does it need service?

• Who is responsible for routine maintenance?

• Who pays for repairs?

• Who replaces filters?

• Who supplies water-softener salt?

• When was well water last tested?

• When was the septic tank last pumped?

• Who handles an emergency?

And most importantly:

Get the responsibility in writing.

Know Exactly What Comes With the Rental

Make a list of everything supplied with the property.

That may include:

• Appliances

• Washer and dryer

• Furniture

• Window coverings

• Ceiling fans

• Shelving

• Parking

• Storage

• Garage access

• Gate remotes

• Mailbox keys

• Community amenities

• Yard or patio space

Document the condition of those items.

Also determine what is:

• Private

• Shared

• Included in rent

• Paid separately

• Maintained by you

• Maintained by the landlord

For example, is water included?

Trash?

Internet?

Pest control?

Lawn care?

Pool maintenance?

Parking?

Laundry?

Do not wait for the first bill to discover the answer.

Know Who Is Responsible for What

Rental agreements should make responsibilities clear.

Find out who handles:

• Appliance repairs

• Plumbing

• Electrical problems

• HVAC repairs

• Air filters

• Pest control

• Lawn maintenance

• Pool maintenance

• Broken screens

• Water filters

• Septic service

• Well maintenance

• Drain clogs

• Shared areas

• Emergency repairs

A vague statement such as:

“Don’t worry, we take care of that.”

is not nearly as useful as having it documented.

If Something Will Be Fixed Later, Get It on Paper

Sometimes a tenant needs to move in before every cosmetic repair or cleaning task has been completed.

That can happen.

As a former landlord, there were occasions when tenants needed one of our properties quickly and we agreed on an alternative arrangement.

In one situation, the tenants themselves offered to complete certain agreed-upon repairs in exchange for having part of the first month’s rent waived.

That arrangement worked for us.

But the important part is:

GET IT ON PAPER.

If the tenant will perform agreed work in exchange for a rent reduction, document:

• Exactly what work will be done

• What the landlord will still repair

• How much rent is being reduced

• Whether materials are included

• When the work will be completed

• What condition is expected afterward

Take pictures before and after.

Keep receipts.

And make the payment record clear.

For example, a payment memo could read:

“50% first-month rent paid; 50% waived pursuant to written repair agreement.”

Do not casually take responsibility for major plumbing, electrical, structural, roofing, mold remediation, or other specialized work. Those matters may require professionals and may be governed by the lease or local law.

Pets? Say So.

If you have pets, disclose them before signing.

Some landlords do not permit pets.

Others permit them but may require:

• Pet rent

• A pet deposit

• A one-time fee

• Size or breed restrictions

• Limits on the number of animals

Do not assume the landlord will be fine with discovering your pet after you move in.

The same applies if your pet situation changes later.

Smoking? Disclose That Too.

Some properties prohibit smoking entirely.

Others restrict smoking to outdoor areas.

Smoke odor and residue can remain on walls, ceilings, carpets, cabinets, and other surfaces and may require substantial cleaning, sealing, or repainting.

If anyone living in the property smokes, understand the rental agreement's rules before moving in.

Roommates Need to Be Clear Too

If several adults are renting the property, find out exactly how the rent arrangement works.

Does each roommate pay the landlord separately?

Or does one tenant collect everyone's portion and submit the entire rent?

More importantly, what happens if one roommate does not pay?

Your private agreement to pay “your third” may not necessarily match the responsibility described in the lease.

Make sure you understand what you are actually agreeing to.

If a Roommate Leaves, Do Not Quietly Replace Them

Suppose one roommate moves out and you find someone else who wants the room.

Tell the landlord.

Do not assume that because there are still three people living in a three-person apartment, nothing has changed.

The landlord may need to:

• Approve the new resident

• Perform screening

• Add the person to the lease

• Remove the former resident

• Update emergency information

• Update parking records

• Issue new keys or access credentials

It is the landlord's property. The landlord should know who is actually living there.

Also determine what happens financially when someone leaves.

Is the landlord responsible for finding another renter?

Are the remaining tenants responsible?

Can they choose a replacement?

Does the departing roommate remain financially responsible until formally released?

These are questions worth answering before anyone starts packing.

Guests Are Different From Undisclosed Residents

A friend staying Friday night is one thing.

Someone staying for several weeks—or effectively moving in—is another.

Check the rental agreement for:

• Guest limits

• Maximum consecutive nights

• Monthly guest limits

• Notice requirements

• Approval requirements

This may sound unnecessarily strict until you look at it from the property owner's perspective.

We once discovered that a tenant had an additional husband, wife, and child living in one of our units whom we did not know about.

That is no longer simply having a guest.

It changes who is actually occupying the property.

Keep Vehicle Information Current

If the property has assigned parking, shared parking, street restrictions, an HOA, or towing enforcement, make sure the landlord or property manager knows which vehicles belong to residents.

Depending on the property, provide:

• Make

• Model

• Color

• License plate

• Parking permit information

This can prevent unnecessary problems.

Suppose the driveway is being resurfaced and a tenant temporarily parks on the street.

If someone questions the vehicle, the landlord can say:

“Yes, that belongs to my tenant. They are temporarily parking there because the driveway is being repaired.”

If the landlord has no idea whose vehicle it is, that conversation may go very differently.

Update the information when residents or vehicles change.

Understand the Rent Due Date

Do not merely know how much rent you owe.

Know:

• The due date

• How payment must be made

• Where payment goes

• Whether there is a grace period

• When late charges begin

• How late charges are calculated

In some of our rental agreements, the amount due increased if rent was submitted after the fifth of the month.

That does not mean every rental agreement works that way.

Read yours.

Do not assume.

Finally: Clean Before You Unpack

After documenting the property's original condition, clean before bringing in all of your belongings.

It is much easier to clean:

• Empty cabinets

• Empty closets

• Bare floors

• An empty refrigerator

• An empty bathroom

than to clean around boxes and furniture.

Just make sure you photograph the original condition first.

Otherwise, you may accidentally clean away the evidence of something that was present before you arrived.

Before the First Box Comes Through the Door

Know what you are renting.

Know what comes with it.

Know what condition it is in.

Know who is responsible for what.

Know who is permitted to live there.

Know when and how rent must be paid.

And keep records.

Moving into a new home should be the beginning of something—not the beginning of an argument six months later about who broke the dishwasher.

Inspect it. Photograph it. Write it down. Keep a copy.