Photograph the whole outdoor layout
Take wide photos of the front yard, back yard, courtyard, balcony, driveway, garage, carport, shed, storage cage, clothesline, bins, fences, gates, paths, garden beds, and outdoor taps. If a balcony or courtyard has drainage, photograph the drain and surrounding surface.
Wide photos help show whether a lawn was patchy at entry, a fence was already leaning, or a garden bed was already sparse.
Document condition that changes with weather
Outdoor condition changes with rain, heat, shade, pets, pests, and seasons. Record dead patches, weeds, cracked pavers, poor drainage, broken irrigation, missing plants, damaged screens, rust, and existing rubbish.
If the property has water restrictions, unusable outdoor taps, broken irrigation, or drainage problems, report them in writing. Otherwise a garden issue may be treated as simple neglect later.
Keep receipts for paid work
If you pay for mowing, gardening, rubbish removal, pressure cleaning, pest treatment, or repairs you were approved to arrange, keep the receipt and photograph the finished result. Store it with the outdoor photos.
A receipt proves work happened. Photos prove what the area looked like after the work.
Do the exit record after final tidy
Outdoor exit photos should be taken after mowing, sweeping, bin removal, and final tidy where possible. Include the same angles you used at entry, plus close-ups of anything likely to be questioned.
If weather prevents a perfect result, note it factually. Evidence should explain the condition, not pretend the weather did not happen.
Sources
Article written 2026-06-26