Deposits & inspections
How to photograph a unit so the photos count
Photos win deposit arguments. Bad photos lose them, and most people take bad photos.
Photograph every room wide, then close on each appliance interior, cabinet, bathroom fixture and floor. Shoot with the lights on, keep the original files with their timestamps, and take the same shots on move-in day if you still can.
Shoot wide, then close
One wide shot per room establishes the state of the place. Then close-ups of what gets charged for: inside the oven, inside the fridge, inside cabinets, the shower and grout, the exhaust fan, baseboards, window tracks, and the floor in each room.
Lights on, blinds open
A dim photo of a clean room proves nothing. Turn on every light and open the blinds. If a landlord later claims a stain, you want a photo bright enough to show there was not one.
Keep the originals
Do not let the only copy go through a messaging app that strips metadata and compresses the file. The embedded timestamp is much of what makes a photo evidence rather than a picture. Keep originals and share copies.
Do it twice
The same set on move-in day and move-out day is the strongest position, because it shows the difference rather than only the ending state. If you are reading this on the way out, you still have the more important half.
General information for renters, not legal advice. Illinois references are to the Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710).
Related
- What to do when a deposit deduction is wrongA calm, documented sequence for challenging an unfair deduction in Illinois, and when small claims is worth the trouble.
- The final walk-through, and why you should be thereWhy attending changes the outcome, what to bring, and how to handle an item flagged in front of you.
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