DIY InventoryA check-out inspection records the property’s condition at the end of a tenancy. On its own it says little; compared with the check-in, it shows exactly what has changed.
Start from the check-in report
Go through the property in the same order as the check-in, with the same rooms and items. For each item, look at how it was recorded at the check-in, then record how it is now. DIY Inventory does this for you: start the check-out from the check-in report and every item shows its earlier condition and photo.
What to compare
- Condition: has it gone from good to fair, or fair to poor?
- New marks or damage: stains, holes, chips, burns, broken parts.
- Cleanliness: is it as clean as it was at the start?
- Working order: appliances, doors, windows, fittings.
- Missing items and the keys returned.
- Meter readings at the end.
Be fair about wear
Things wear with normal use, and an older carpet will look older at the end. Record what you see accurately, and keep normal wear separate from damage. See fair wear and tear vs damage.
Photograph the changes side by side
For each item that has changed, a photo from the check-in next to one from the check-out is the clearest evidence there is. DIY Inventory adds a “Changes since the check-in” section to the report, with meter readings then and now and side-by-side photos of anything that got worse.
Get it signed
Send the report to the other party to check and sign. Comments on individual items are better raised now than in a dispute later.
Updated 22 October 2026