Start with the boring wide shots
Take a wide photo of each wall, floor, ceiling, window, door, cupboard, built-in, fixture, and outdoor area before close-ups. Wide shots make the close-up damage photos easier to place later.
For every room, capture the same rough path: entry point, left wall, centre, right wall, floor, ceiling, fittings, storage, and anything already marked or not working.
Photograph condition, not just damage
Property managers often photograph obvious marks and skip the areas that look fine. That leaves a weak baseline. Clean carpets, working blinds, intact screens, dry cupboards, and undamaged walls are useful records too.
If a room is newly painted, professionally cleaned, freshly repaired, or missing an item, add a short note next to the photo. The note should say what a later reviewer needs to know, not how much effort went into the job.
Capture safety and service items separately
Keep separate photos for smoke alarms, safety switches, visible electrical hazards, water stains, mould-prone corners, appliance model plates, keys, remotes, bins, meters, and manuals left at the property.
These details are easy to miss during a handover, but they often become separate admin threads later.
Make tenant review easier
The report should be easy for the renter to check. Use plain room names, clear photo captions, and a consistent order. If the renter sends corrections or extra photos, keep them with the original report instead of burying them in email.
A calm entry record helps both sides. It reduces guesswork at exit and gives owners a cleaner view of what was actually handed over.
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Article written 2026-07-02