Before you startA lease that is ending, and photographs from move-in and move-out. Without the move-in set this is only an opinion.
1
Start from the lease, not the unit
Selecting the lease is what ties the deposit, the dates and the tenant to the reconciliation. The deposit figure comes from the lease rather than from anything you type.
It also fixes the deadline. Most states give you a specific number of days after move-out to return the balance with an itemisation, and it is counted from the end of the tenancy.
2
Give it both sets of photographs
Move-in and move-out together. The comparison is the entire point, and it is what separates damage from the wear a tenant is not liable for.
Analyze discrepancies produces the itemised list with a price against each line, which you then edit.
Worth knowingReturn the undisputed portion on time even if one line is contested. In several states a late return forfeits your right to deduct at all, sometimes with a penalty on top.
Where to go next
- InspectionsThe structured walkthrough that produces these photographs.
- ComplianceThe deadline clock for the state the property is in.