Move in/Move out video to document conditions?

[Ben Kirchner]

Do landlords here do a thorough video upon a tennant move in?  Something to document the conditions of the property before the tennant moved in, to compare to the conditions when the tennant moves out?  I think it's a great thing to do, as many things may be missed in photos.  I plan on doing this when renting out my home, and just want to make sure I'm covering all grounds.  

In landlords experience, have you done this and missed any areas?  Or have you noticed areas that are most commonly damaged that you would want make sure to monitor the condition of in the beginning?

Thanks

[Nathan Gesner]

I use photos or video to record condition before occupancy and after vacancy. If a Tenant moves out and I suspect they will try to fight my charges, I take photos and video. I upload it to my YouTube channel but keep it private. Once I finish cleaning and maintenance, I send them a form showing the charges and I include a link to the private video which demonstrates I have proof to support my charges. Since starting this process, I have not had one single person fight the charges.

Video is not as easy as it sounds. If you want to do it right, get some decent equipment and train yourself. Videos do not have to be an hour long! There is a Property Manager named Todd Breen that has been using video for about 20 years and he's truly an expert. He has a very simple, FREE training course that will really help you get the right equipment and avoid making rookie mistakes. This is 100% with no strings attached. You don't even have to sign up for a mailing list! 

Select "Free Training" on the right side of the menu. The first series is for marketing videos. The second series is for inspection videos. I highly recommend watching both sets.

Virtually Incredible video training: CLICK HERE