Move-In Checklist Generator

Create a personalized, printable move-in checklist in under five minutes. Add rooms, drag tasks, and export a PDF or shareable list—perfect for apartments, dorms, or whole houses.

Moving boxes stacked in a bright apartment foyer during daylight

How to Use This Generator

Step 1: Click “Add Room,” type a name (Kitchen, Bedroom 1, Basement), and hit OK.
Step 2: For each room, add specific tasks—“Photograph appliance serial numbers” or “Test outlet with phone charger.”
Step 3: Drag tasks to reorder. The list autosaves in your browser, so accidental refreshes won’t erase your work.
Step 4: When finished, click “Print / Save PDF” to open your system print dialog or “Copy to Clipboard” to paste the list into email, Google Docs, or group chat.
Step 5: On mobile, tap your browser menu and choose “Add to Home Screen” to reopen the checklist like an app throughout move-in week.

Move-In Checklist Best Practices

Room-by-Room Essentials

A customizable list lets you think like an inspector. For the kitchen, check stove burners, verify fridge temperature, and document countertop chips. In bathrooms, photograph grout and run the fan for noise levels. Living rooms need outlet tests and smoke-alarm checks. For a deeper predefined list, open our comprehensive checklist guide or brush up on privacy rights before installing smart cameras.

Pro pointer: Label photos by room and task—“Bedroom1_window_lock.jpg”—so you can retrieve them instantly if a dispute arises.

Safety & Utility Turn-On Tasks

Locate the main water shut-off valve, breaker panel, and gas meter on day one. Flip each breaker to verify labeling accuracy; mis-labels can slow emergency repairs. Confirm heat, A/C, and water heater function within 24 hours so you have time to request repairs. For utility-responsibility rules, see our utility responsibilities guide.

Paperwork & Photos That Protect Your Deposit

Michigan’s Security Deposit Act gives tenants seven days to return the landlord’s blank inventory checklist. Use this generator to fill that form faster, then attach timestamped photos. Courts love organized tenants: judges routinely side with renters who can produce a PDF of signed checklists, emailed within the statutory window. Review our full security deposit guide for final-day refund timelines.

First-Night Survival Kit

The first 12 hours in a new place set the tone. Pack a clear tote with trash bags, toilet paper, box cutter, phone charger, basic toolkit, cleaning wipes, snacks, bottled water, and sleeping gear. Avoid late-night store runs that derail unpacking momentum. We’ll soon expand this into a renter’s insurance guide so your essentials are covered from hour one.

Commonly Forgotten Items & Their Consequences
ItemWhy It Matters
AAA BatteriesSmoke alarms chirp at 2 a.m. without fresh ones.
PlungerClogs on day one create embarrassing maintenance calls.
Measuring TapeEnsures furniture fits without wall dents.
Power StripAvoids overloading hidden wall outlets.
DoorstopKeeps doors open while moving bulky items.
Zip-Top BagsStore mounting screws and tiny parts you remove.
Painter’s TapeLabel boxes and mark wall art placement.
FlashlightInspect dark crawl spaces and breaker panel.
Vacuum BagsNew floors collect debris fast during move-in.
Extra Phone ChargerOne always disappears under packing paper.

Digital vs. Paper Checklists

Twenty years ago the gold standard for documenting move-in condition was a yellow carbon-copy form and a disposable camera. Today, smartphones have flipped the script. A digital checklist lives in the cloud, so you never misplace it during the chaos of unpacking. Photos embed geo-location and time stamps—metadata that courts view as more trustworthy than handwritten notes. You can also attach video walkthroughs, appliance manuals, and receipts in one folder and share a read-only link with your landlord in seconds.

Paper still has its place. Some property managers insist on ink signatures for their files, and older judges appreciate tangible exhibits they can flip through. A hybrid approach works best: generate the list online, print a copy for in-person signatures, then scan it back into your cloud folder. That gives you the speed of digital plus the familiarity of paper. Whichever route you choose, keep at least two backups—one in email and one in a cloud drive—to guard against phone loss or hard-drive failure.

Top 5 Move-In Mistakes

  1. Skipping the Inventory Deadline. Michigan law gives you seven days to return the signed checklist. Miss it and you lose leverage on deposit disputes.
  2. Taking Photos Without Context. Close-ups are useless alone; always include a wide shot to show location and size of damage.
  3. Forgetting Utility Readings. A blurry meter photo could cost hundreds in rollover charges. Snap clear images and email them to the provider immediately.
  4. Assuming Verbal Promises Are Binding. If management says, “We’ll fix the screen next week,” add it to your checklist and get a date in writing.
  5. Storing Evidence on One Device. Phones break. Email yourself the checklist or save it in a cloud folder the same day you create it.

Avoid these pitfalls and your future self—standing in small-claims court or negotiating a renewal—will thank you.

Comparing Inventory Forms vs. Custom Lists

Michigan landlords must provide a blank inventory checklist at move-in; most are generic two-page documents with checkboxes for walls, floors, and appliances. While legally sufficient, these forms fail to capture quirks like a loose patio rail or a stained dresser top in furnished units. A custom list generated by this tool lets you add unlimited items—each with its own photo and comment field—so nothing slips through the cracks.

Still, an inventory form carries statutory weight. Judges recognize it instantly, and landlords are accustomed to its format. The winning strategy: fill out the landlord’s form and attach your custom list as an exhibit. Below is a quick comparison.

Inventory Form vs. Custom List at a Glance
FeatureInventory FormCustom List
Statutory RecognitionHighMedium
Detail LevelBasicUnlimited
Photo IntegrationNoYes
Ease of SharingPaper Hand-offLink or PDF Email
Judge FamiliarityHighGrowing

Frequently Asked Questions

Aim for wall-to-wall coverage in each room, shooting from all four corners and low/high angles. Include close-ups of existing damage and one wide shot with today’s date visible (phone lock screen or newspaper). Metadata and context prove authenticity in court.

Technically no, but coverage begins only after policy activation. A single moving-truck accident or plumbing leak could wipe out thousands in belongings. Most policies cost under $15 per month and cover off-premises theft during the move.

Essentials: all-purpose cleaner, glass spray, microfiber cloths, paper towels, trash bags, toilet bowl brush, and a broom. Wiping surfaces before unpacking prevents contaminants from past tenants sticking to your items.

After finalizing rooms and tasks, click “Copy to Clipboard” and paste the CSV into a shared Google Sheet or group chat. Each person can print their portion or check tasks on their phone.

Michigan law requires landlord permission. Ask in writing; many landlords will re-key at cost. Never replace locks unilaterally—doing so may violate lease terms and the entry-rights statute.

Once you have added rooms and tasks, click “Print / Save PDF” to generate a single document that combines every item. Email the PDF as an attachment or upload it to your tenant portal if one exists. Because the file is read-only, landlords can acknowledge receipt without editing your notes. For tech-averse landlords, print two copies, sign both, and ask for a countersignature. Scan the signed copy back into your cloud folder for safekeeping.

Treat the checklist like a living contract. If a roommate disputes an entry—say, who caused a carpet stain—add a parenthetical note such as “Roommate disputes; see photos folder.” Attach supporting photos for transparency. Encourage roommates to initial contested items so the disagreement is documented. Courts appreciate clarity and will weigh photographic evidence heavily when deciding deposit deductions.

Yes. The generator remains editable in your browser even after you print. Make changes, re-print, and label the new version “Updated” with the date. Then email the revised PDF to everyone involved. Keeping version numbers and dates prevents confusion over which copy is authoritative if a dispute arises months later.

This generator offers general guidance, not legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for advice on your specific situation.