Documenting damage

I get a lot of phone calls from tenants who have moved out of an apartment, only to lose their security deposit because their former landlord claims the apartment was wrecked. There is often little I can do to help, since it will be the tenant’s word against the landlord, and the landlord may even have pictures.There’s no reason why this has to happen, though. These days, nearly everyone has a digital camera. And if not, a disposable camera is a dirt cheap purchase at any grocery or convenience store. If you have several hundred dollars sitting in a security deposit earning 6% interest, it pays to take ten minutes to walk through your apartment and take copious pictures or even a videotape of its condition.

Then, if your landlord tries to claim you wrecked the place, you have proof to the contrary. As a matter of fact, I would do the same thing when you move in. After all, your lease probably contains a clause that the apartment was perfect when you got there. Don’t let your landlord improve the place on your dime!