Deposits & inspections
The final walk-through, and why you should be there
The walk-through is the one moment where a disagreement is cheap to fix. After it, everything becomes a letter.
Attend the walk-through in person if you can. Being present lets you address a flagged item immediately, ask what standard is being applied, and get the handover date confirmed in writing rather than assumed.
Being there changes the tone
An inspection done alone produces a list. An inspection done together produces a conversation. Many flagged items are things you can resolve on the spot, and an item resolved standing in the room never becomes a deduction.
What to bring
- Your move-in photos, if you have them
- The cleaning invoice
- Every key, fob, remote and mail key, handed over together
- A phone with storage free for photos
- Your forwarding address in writing
If something gets flagged
Ask what the standard is and whether you can address it before they arrange a vendor. A tenant who offers to fix something is in a very different position from one disputing a bill afterwards.
Get the date confirmed
The date you vacated starts the clock on everything else. Get it in writing, even as a text message, before you leave.
General information for renters, not legal advice. Illinois references are to the Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710).
Related
- What landlords actually check on a walk-throughThe order most landlords and property managers follow on an inspection, and the specific items that generate deductions.
- Illinois security deposit law, in plain EnglishWhat Illinois law requires of your landlord: the 30-day itemized statement, the five-or-more-units threshold, and what happens when they miss the deadline.
Need a move-out clean booked?
Tell us the address, the unit size, and your walk-through date. You get a fixed quote back, not a callback to schedule a callback.