Moving into your Gainesville apartment can be an exciting new experience. But before you begin moving in your furniture and decorating your new home, it’s important to make your Move-In Condition Report your first priority. When you move into your new apartment, the leasing office will provide you with a Move-In Condition Report, or what we like to call a “Not My Fault Report.” You will be given a time limit to fill out this form and return it to the office with any damages or issues you may find in your new Gainesville apartment.
This report’s first purpose is to protect you as The Renter, so it’s important to note or write down anything you may find! Following the tips below will ensure that you can return your report back to the office and rest easy knowing that you thoroughly checked your apartment and will not be charged for any previous damage.
7 Tips for Filling Out Your Move-In Condition Report
- Keep your condition report for the maximum allowed amount of time. This will give you plenty of time to ensure that everything is working properly and look for any damages you might not have noticed before.
- Get there early! This report is a lot easier to fill out in an empty apartment. Pick up your keys a day before you schedule your movers or arrive to your apartment early so you can finish the report while the apartment is still empty. You’ll be able to fill out the report with limited distractions so you’ll be less likely to miss any small damages you may have overlooked otherwise.
- Check every single window and door. Thoroughly examine the cabinets, front and back doors, and every window screen. Don’t forget to lock and unlock every window to ensure that they’re all working properly. Additionally, be sure to look for any damage on the walls where doors open. Damages can be very common in these areas so it’s extremely important not to overlook even the smallest mark or scuff.
- Make sure all appliances are in working order. Keeping the report for the maximum amount of time allows you to cook dinner and do a load of laundry before you hand in the report, ensuring that any issues with your appliances are noted and on record.
- Highlight any items on the report that need maintenance’s attention so that the office can submit work orders. If any of your appliances aren’t working properly, just make a note of it and maintenance should be by soon to fix any issues you may be having.
- When in doubt, just report it! Not sure if a stain is significant enough? Note it on the report anyways. It’s much better to be safe rather than sorry. There is no limit to how much you can put on the report, so making note of any stain, mark, or scuff will ensure that you’re not charged for the damages later.
- When you return the report, have a person in the office sign off on it with the date and time and retain a copy for your records. Once this is finished, congratulations! You’ve officially finished your Move-In Condition Report like a pro.
This is a guest blog post from the team at Swamp Rentals, a local Gainesville apartment guide that helps renters connect with apartments that meet their lifestyle and budget.
