Moving house
Plan the photos to take before handing back keys
Photos taken right before you hand back the keys give you a dated record of how you left the place. Plan the shots in advance: each room, the appliances, fixtures, known damage and meter readings. Your lease defines what you're actually responsible for.
A text to start with
I'm moving out of a one-bedroom rental on [date] and want a photo plan before I return the keys. The rooms are a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room and a small balcony. My move-in report noted a scratched counter and a stained carpet. Give me a shot list in walking order, including the inside of appliances, under the sinks, and the electric and water meters. Tell me how to name the files so they're easy to find later.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.A shot list that holds up
A useful list pairs a wide shot of each room with close-ups of anything noted at move-in, so you can show the same spots again. It should include the inside of the oven, fridge and cabinets, which are easy to skip once you're tired. Meter photos need legible readings and a recorded date. Files named by room and date, such as kitchen-oven-2025-06-30, are much easier to find than a camera roll of untitled images. Cleaning standards and deposit rules differ by lease and location, so a shot list can't tell you what counts as damage. Your lease and move-in report can.
Match the list to your lease
Pull out your lease and move-in report and mark any condition clauses you'll want to document. Add those spots to the list, then try one room as a test round to see how long it takes. Keep the finished photos in private storage and share them only if a question about the deposit comes up.