Single-family home rental checklist: What to look for during your tour

Many landlords will conduct two rental walkthroughs during your lease term. One occurs before you officially sign the lease; the other occurs before you move out.

As a renter of a single-family home, knowing what to look for helps you evaluate the property’s condition in real time instead of relying solely on listing photos, virtual tools or other online resources. Recording pre-existing issues is also important to prove that you didn’t damage the property during your lease. The second walkthrough occurs before you move out. During this process, gather footage to compare with the footage from your first walkthrough.

Use this checklist to guide you through a single-family rental walkthrough:

Gather footage and document any issues you encounter. A phone camera will suffice, although you'll need one with high resolution — between 1080p and 4K — to display each issue clearly in a video clip or photograph. Low-resolution photos and video clips can make it challenging to discern detailed elements, such as paint chips or scratches. A camera isn't the only tool you need. A notepad is helpful in describing issues in detail for later review.

Pro tip: After snapping a photo or recording a video, describe the issue in detail, jot down the timestamp from your phone's camera, and store your notes for future reference. Recording the exact day and time you noticed an issue could save you from liability down the line.

Review and make note of the following details:

• Take a picture of the shingles. Look for damaged or missing shingles and record them for your records.
  
• Look for clogged gutters. Gather footage of evidence indicating clogged gutters and describe what you see. Is water overflowing from the gutters? Are there water stains on the side of the home from the overflow?

• Start with the lawn. Look for any signs of discoloration, holes or low spots — a sunken area of grass where water collects.
  
• Look at the trees, shrubs and plants. They should be freshly planted, healthy and free of damage.  
  
• Check the irrigation system and sprinkler heads. Ensure they are operational and inspect for damage, such as dents or bent components.

• Look for noticeable signs of damage. Examples may include chipped or damaged glass, rotten or dilapidated wood frames, etc.
  
• Check out the exterior window and door caulking. Caulk is used to seal windows and doors. Proper caulking prevents cold air from entering your home and heat or air conditioning from escaping. Ensure the sealant is in place and undamaged.  

• Look for missing or damaged siding. It's the material that protects your home from the elements. When you touch the exterior wall of your home, you're touching the siding.
  
• Look for signs of paint wear. Common indicators include chips, faded spots and peeling on your siding.

Begin your interior review with the front room before proceeding to the rest of the house. Here are the major things you should look for:

• Look for common carpet defects. Check for tears, loose spots, stains and visible seams.
  
• Look for common hardwood defects. Check for apparent damage, such as dents, holes, worn spots, buckling and large gaps.
  
• Look for damaged tiles. Follow the same procedure that you used to review hardwood floors.  

• Test out the appliances. Be sure to check the microwave, oven, stove burners, dishwasher, garbage disposal, washer and dryer. 
  
• Test out the fixtures. These are permanent elements of your kitchen, not appliances: the sink, faucet, light fixtures, cabinets and other permanent elements. 
  
• Take a look at the plumbing work under the kitchen sink. Make note of damaged or leaking pipes, for example.  

• Test out the fixtures. Inspect the faucet, sink, toilet, tub, shower head and lights.

• Grab footage of the empty spaces. You can do this before walking into the room, in most cases. It’s your best chance of catching any issues before adding furniture and other elements.
  
• Open all closet doors. Note any noticeable damage to the wall, floor, shelves and clothing rods.

Pro tip: Keep an eye out for commonly missed issues, such as hidden mold, water damage or pest infestations. If you don't notice any obvious signs, ask the landlord or property manager for maintenance records, or consider calling local service providers in the area.