Tygart Media · Security Deposit Guides · Before you leave
QUICK ANSWEROriginally published at deposits.tygartmedia.com · Reviewed October 4, 2026
The short answer: photograph everything, twice: once at move-in and once at move-out. Every room from multiple angles, close-ups of any existing damage, inside the oven and fridge, under sinks, the carpet up close, and the walls. Shoot video too — a slow walkthrough with the date stated out loud. Save your move-in condition checklist if you signed one, keep every message with the landlord, and photograph your forwarding-address notice. Tenants with timestamped photos win deposit disputes; tenants without them argue from memory against a landlord with an itemized list.
The move-in set (do this on day one, or as soon as you can)
- Every room, wide shots from two corners. Overlap the angles so nothing is cropped out.
- Close-ups of every existing flaw — scuffs, nail holes, carpet stains, chips, cracks. If it’s already there, prove it.
- Appliances inside and out: oven, fridge, dishwasher, microwave.
- Fill out the move-in checklist if the landlord provides one — in detail, not “okay.” Keep a copy or photograph it.
- Make sure timestamps are on. Phone photos carry date metadata; screenshots of it help. A newspaper in frame is old-school but works.
The move-out set (the day you leave, after cleaning)
- Repeat the whole move-in set — same rooms, same angles. The before/after comparison is the evidence.
- Video walkthrough. One continuous slow video, stating the date and address out loud, opening closets and appliances. Harder to fake, easy for a judge to watch.
- The clean unit. Photograph after you’ve cleaned — this is your answer to any cleaning charge. Fighting cleaning charges →
- Meters and keys. Final utility readings and a photo of the keys you returned, with the date.
Paperwork to keep
- The signed lease (deposit amount, cleaning clauses, notice terms).
- Your forwarding address notice — and proof you sent it. In many states the landlord’s return clock doesn’t start without it. How the deadline works →
- Every message with the landlord, especially about repairs or condition.
- Receipts for any cleaning or repairs you paid for.
Editor's Note
Do a walkthrough if you can get one Some states give tenants the right to request a pre-move-out inspection. If your landlord offers a final walkthrough, take it — and bring your phone. A landlord who points at “damage” on camera has a much harder time inventing new damage later.
If you’re reading this after you already moved out
All is not lost. Pull together what you have: any photos from during the tenancy, messages with the landlord, your lease, the forwarding-address notice. And remember — the landlord still owes you the itemized list on time, and a missing list is usually a violation regardless of your photos. What a missing itemized list means →
Disclaimer
Informational only — not legal advice.
Security-deposit rules are state law, and they differ a lot from one state to the next. Check your state’s tenant-rights resources or talk to a local tenant-rights organization or attorney before acting. Nothing on this site creates an attorney-client relationship.
The photo checklist
| Photograph | Why |
|---|---|
| Every room, wide shots | Establishes overall condition |
| Close-ups of any existing damage | Proves it was already there |
| Appliances inside and out | Cleaning disputes start here |
| Meters and thermostats | Final readings prevent phantom utility bills |
| The timestamp | Make sure date metadata is on — it is your evidence backbone |
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