Money Hacks

Every year before we moved into a dorm room in college, we went over a comprehensive inventory list with our resident assistant. We checked to make sure everything was present and in working order. If, at the end of the year, we left the room damaged, we were charged for repairs.

This same principle can be used to your advantage of you rent your home or apartment. Most rental properties require a security deposit to protect against tenants leaving a building with damage. But not every landlord requires a pre-move-in inventory.

A quick-and-easy way to protect yourself against the loss of your security deposit is to thoroughly document your rental before you move in and after you move out. Bring a friend and a digital camera. (A video camera is better. If possible, bring the landlord too.) Move from room-to-room photographing and documenting everything. If there are any major problems, put them in writing and have your landlord sign to acknowledge the situation.

These precautions aren’t foolproof, but they can help bolster your case if a dispute does arise.

More information here and here.