RoomLedger Move-In Checklist: Download a Record Before You Move In
Move-in day is more than taking a few photos. Walls, floors, appliances, meter readings, keys and signatures may all matter later. RoomLedger helps organize photos, notes, inventory and meter readings into a dated property record. Downloading the report before you leave gives you an independent copy that you can open offline.
Prepare the property record
Create a property name that you can recognize without exposing more of the address than necessary. List the areas in a fixed order: entrance, living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, balcony and utility spaces. Bring a charged phone, a light and, when useful, a ruler. Know where the electricity, gas or water meters are located. Keep the landlord or agent's inventory separately so you can compare documents rather than relying on memory.
Follow the same route for every room
Start each room with a wide photograph, then take close-ups of scratches, dampness, stains, broken fittings, appliances, serial numbers and locks. Add a note that says exactly where an issue is, such as “left side of the window frame,” rather than “window damaged.” Record the meter reading, the unit and a clear photo of the dial or display. Count keys, access cards, remotes and other handover items, and note who received them.
If the landlord, manager or witness is present, record questions and disagreements in the notes. Do not edit a photo to remove a mark or change its date. Keep the original files and use consistent filenames if several people are documenting the same property.
Download and verify before leaving
Use PDF when you need a readable overview, CSV when you need to filter rooms or items, and ZIP when you need the original photos and documents together. Open the downloaded package on the device you will use later. Check the last page, close-ups, dates, times and the property label. If a photo is cropped or a page is missing, recreate the export while you still have access to the property.
Keep a dated copy and note when the inspection was completed and who had access to the record. Send defects to the landlord or manager within the timeframe in the lease, and keep the message with your copy. See RoomLedger, and use the RoomLedger move-out checklist later to compare the same rooms and assets.
RoomLedger organizes evidence; it does not decide legal responsibility, prove a deposit claim or replace a required official inventory. Follow the lease and local rules, report issues promptly and obtain legal advice if a dispute develops.
Note: This is an evidence-organizing workflow, not legal advice or a guarantee of a dispute outcome.