Apartment Move-In Inspection Checklist: Room by Room

An apartment move-in inspection records the home’s condition before your belongings cover walls, floors and cabinets. Walk through each room, take clear photos, note anything damaged or not working, and send the report through management’s requested channel. Confirm the submission deadline in your lease or move-in instructions, then keep a copy.

Before the moving truck arrives

Keep your phone charged and bring a flashlight, measuring tape and your move-in instructions. You do not need to diagnose a plumbing problem or know the name of every appliance part. A clear description of what you see is more useful than a guess about what caused it.

This guide is for renters preparing to move into an apartment in South Salt Lake, including Blair Street Apartments. It is a practical documentation checklist, not a professional inspection, a lease amendment or legal advice. Ask management which condition form to use and how to report urgent problems before you start.

Still deciding on a home? Start with what to bring to an apartment tour. A tour helps you choose; a move-in inspection records the condition of the actual apartment you receive.

What should you confirm before collecting keys?

• Confirm the apartment number, lease-start date and authorized key-collection time. Do not assume you can enter early.
• Ask for the condition-report form, submission deadline and confirmation process. Save the instructions.
• Confirm how to submit maintenance requests and how urgent or after-hours issues are handled.
• Check which utilities must be active in your name before arrival.
• Arrange time to inspect before furniture blocks access to walls, outlets and cabinets.

Use the utilities and insurance guide to check Blair Street’s published information, and review the practical South Salt Lake moving guide for the wider moving-day plan. Ask the leasing team to confirm anything specific to your apartment.

Room-by-room apartment inspection checklist

Work in one direction around each room so you do not miss a wall or cabinet. For each item, write “checked,” describe an issue, or mark “not tested” with the reason. A blank space is harder to interpret later. Only operate equipment you can use safely and are authorized to test.

Entry, doors and windows

• Check the entry door, handle and lock from inside and outside while keeping your keys with you. Report a door that will not secure.
• Look at door frames, interior doors, window glass, screens and visible seals. Record cracks, tears or missing pieces.
• Open and close accessible windows where safe. Do not force a stuck window or remove a safety device.
• Count the keys, fobs or other access devices provided and confirm what each one opens. Do not include access codes in photos.

Living areas and bedrooms

• Photograph each room from the doorway, then capture close-ups of marks, chips, stains or damaged flooring.
• Look behind open doors and inside closets. Check shelves, closet doors and visible baseboards.
• Try ordinary light switches and note missing covers or damaged fixtures without touching exposed wiring.
• Check accessible outlets visually. Leave electrical testing, repairs and panel work to qualified personnel.

Kitchen and appliances

• Check counters, cabinet faces, drawers and shelves for damage or leftover items.
• Look inside the refrigerator and freezer. Note cleanliness, broken shelves and whether the appliance appears to be cooling; ask about anything you cannot verify.
• Run the faucet briefly if water service is on. Watch drainage and look for visible drips beneath the sink without moving plumbing.
• Ask how to test the range, dishwasher or other supplied appliances safely. Do not run unfamiliar equipment or leave it operating unattended.

Bathroom and water

• Look at the sink, tub or shower, toilet, tile and visible caulking. Record chips, stains and loose fittings.
• Check faucets and flush the toilet if water service is active. Note slow drainage, a running toilet or visible leaks.
• Check the bathroom fan if present. Report persistent dampness, a musty smell or suspected mold rather than covering it with paint or attempting repairs.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s mold and moisture guide explains that moisture control is central to preventing mold. If you find a leak or suspected mold in a rental, document the location and contact management promptly. A photo cannot establish the cause or identify a substance; describe the observation rather than diagnosing it. The EPA source is linked below.

Heating, cooling and safety equipment

• Locate the thermostat and ask how the installed system works. Record anything you could not safely test or that depends on seasonal conditions.
• Ask management to demonstrate smoke-alarm testing according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not disconnect, cover or remove an alarm.
• Identify exits and keep them clear of boxes. Ask where to find the building’s emergency instructions.
• If you see exposed wiring, smell gas, or encounter another immediate hazard, stop the inspection and move to safety. Contact emergency services or the appropriate utility from a safe location; do not rely on a routine maintenance message.

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends testing smoke alarms monthly and following the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions. Its smoke-alarm guidance is linked below. Ask management who handles testing and maintenance at your rental; this checklist does not assign responsibilities under your lease.

How should you photograph existing damage?

Take a wide photo to show where the issue is, then a close-up that makes the detail visible. For example, pair a full kitchen-counter photo with a close-up of the chipped corner. Use clear file names such as “kitchen-counter-corner” and keep the original files with their date information.

A short video can help show a dripping faucet or a drawer that will not close, but it should supplement written notes rather than replace them. Avoid photographing identification, account information, access codes, neighbors or other people’s belongings. Keep your records in a private folder, not a public review or social post.

Copy-and-use condition report template

Copy these fields into your notes or management’s required form. Repeat the issue fields for each observation. This is a personal record template, not a submission form; nothing is sent to Blair Street from this article.

• Inspection date and apartment identifier: ______
• Room and exact location: ______
• Observed condition, without guessing the cause: ______
• Wide photo, close-up or video file name: ______
• Checked or not tested, and why: ______
• Date reported and reporting channel: ______
• Confirmation or maintenance request number: ______
• Follow-up received and any unresolved item: ______

Example: “Kitchen, lower cabinet to the right of the sink: the drawer does not close flush. Photos kitchen-wide and kitchen-drawer-closeup. Reported through the requested channel on move-in day; awaiting confirmation.” That gives management something specific to investigate without claiming a cause you cannot verify.

What happens after you finish the walkthrough?

Send the report by the deadline in your lease or move-in instructions and request confirmation that it was received. A condition report and a repair request may be separate processes, so ask whether you need to submit both. Keep the original photos, your report and the response together.

Check the contact and after-hours help guide for Blair Street’s published contact instructions. Do not assume an email or ordinary contact form is monitored for emergencies.

Keep inspection notes separate from your moving budget. The apartment move-in cost guide and fees and pet policy page explain where to check published charges; documenting a mark or reporting a repair does not itself establish who pays for it.

Moving from out of town? Verify the contact first

The Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers copy real rental listings and substitute their own contact details. Use contact information you independently verify on the property’s official site, and confirm unexpected payment instructions before sending money. A video tour alone does not prove that a person is authorized to rent the home. See the FTC’s rental-listing scam guide below.

Move-in inspection questions

Should I inspect before or after unpacking?

Before unpacking, when possible. Empty rooms make floors, walls and cabinets easier to see and photograph. Follow your authorized entry time and the reporting deadline in your move-in instructions.

Should I record small scratches?

Yes. Record visible pre-existing marks clearly and proportionately, even when you are not requesting a repair. A wide photo plus a close-up is usually more useful than several unlabeled photos.

What if an appliance cannot be tested?

Mark it “not tested,” explain why and ask management how to follow up. Do not label it working just because it looks clean, and do not operate it if doing so could be unsafe.

Does an inspection guarantee my deposit will be returned?

No. A condition record can help document what you observed, but it does not guarantee a deposit outcome or replace your lease and applicable law. Keep records and seek qualified advice if a dispute arises.

Is this the same as renters insurance?

No. A move-in condition report records the apartment’s condition. Insurance addresses covered risks under a policy’s terms. Read the LLI versus renters insurance guide to understand why these are separate questions.

What is the next step at Blair Street?

Before moving, confirm your apartment-specific instructions with the leasing team. If you are still choosing a home, explore Blair Street floor plans and current availability, then arrange a tour. An inspection checklist helps you arrive prepared; it does not replace seeing the apartment or reviewing the lease.