I signed a lease tonight with a tenant (happy dance time, I'm full!)

The tenant asked for a copy of the move in photos that I took of the apartment. I never had a tenant ask that before.

I came home and told my wife about this and she said that I need to start offer them for sale to tenants as an option at move in.

Cha-Ching. This will become a part of the move-in options.

I will offer a cd copy for $25 and printed copies for $35!

I photograph everything. Stand in all 4 corners of the rooms and aim top half and bottom half to capture ceilings and floors. Close up of all fixtures and appliances. Close up of any damage that isn't fixed. Dented baseboard heater for example. Fridge knuckle dents. I try to get a pic of the tenant in the photo without appearing to be a creeper. Haha.

They could, but I don't know if they're that smart. This guy

should've figured that out on his own being as smart as he is, but didn't.

Ken, I've never provided them before nor have I had a tenant ask for a copy.

I never had anyone ask for them.

And in court the tenant will bend what you say.

"I ask to see the move in pic's and the LL said I had to pay first."

Not worth trying to explaining it to the judge.

I have never had a tenant ask for a set of the move-in pictures, so I don't hear the cash register ringing on this one!

I have provided move-in/move-out pictures a couple of times to the tenant as part of court proceedings -- I am required to provide my trial exhibits to the other side before we are called for trial. I make three albums displaying the photos -- I mount the corresponding before- and after- photos on facing pages in an album, so the judge can see the dramatic differences. Same room, same angle, dramatically different condition!

NE,

I like your wife! Tell her to keep these ideas coming!

TMI in some cases is no good (even for 25 or 35.00). Write your list attach to move in paperwork.

Regarding proof of date....

Before I take a video and pictures, I go around the whole house and put pieces of blue tape beside everything that I know is wrong w the house and then, starting w a copy of that days paper, I film while doing a walk through of the whole house in an uncut video. My first no cut video is for me, as a reminder what the problems were if they should move out, hopefully, years later. After removing the tape, I do a second walk through, starting w the days newspaper and do a long slow walk/filming throughout the whole house. I have a GoPro, which has a wide angle shot. I, as stated above, hold the camera above my head, from the corners of each room. I then repeat the process w the camera on my phone. I repeat the process after move out. Typically I would use the stills and have them printed at Walmart before court.

I think it may not have been popular because tenants don't normally get those. But if you offer them, and it's kind of a novelty service thing, I think they might order those. That way, you are on the same page as far as damages. I would have you and them both sign and date all of the pictures.

Do what sounds like the right price for your inconvenience which is for their convenience. If you think there is interest, offer it.

@katrina

I don't know if selling them is such a good customer service thing.

Well, I'll skip giving them to them at all before I give them to them for free.

You know what really gets me after being on this web site for several years-- your documenting this and that. You send a bill and then that's it. No follow thru. No going after the damages or collection or court or judgments or garnishment. It's smoke.

Sure I take empty pictures for future listing use!

The newspaper "with today's date on it proves NOTHING.

Even the best tenant might not remember five years ago when her friend's kid came and tagged the wall behind the sofa with a sharpie. Or that the stove she brought in went caput and she asked for a backup stove from you that she never replaced.( But wants to take because she thinks it's hers) Most people are visual, not everyone finds reading the movein form enjoyable much less be able to make sense of it. If a wall has a scratch from a showing and they write "scratched" it doesn't say how scratched. Pictures speak louder. I'd rather the tenant see how they moved in, so they can fix it the damage THEY did.

My goal- not to have miscommunication with the tenant in the first place. I'd love to return the full deposit, rerent my place, and my extenant tells all their friends how they got their deposit back and neither one of us ends up in court. Isnt this the WIN-WIN?? I don't think it's a waste of time in the least. I'd rather take shots of my tenant on good terms than look at their angry face in court. If you're taking pictures for yourself anyway, why not just make a little $$ while you're at it???

NE,

Please ask your wife to generate more money making ideas! Keep 'em coming! I want to hear them ALL!

The written move IN inspection, signed by the residents and backed with 100+ photos is MORE important than the lease.

I simply use the date imprint built into the camera.

For court I show the BEFORE pic for every damage pic.

Every res now has a great camera on their phone and LOVE to take pix of problems at your house. They WILL bring those to court. WE must have better proof.

MY judge will not look at a video.

One of the best things a LL can do is to fix all those problems BEFORE move in so there is nothing for the res to complain about. Saves arguments and helps the home rent faster. There should not be anything to write on the inspection other than a big checkmark for each room.

Perhaps we should begin including some BEFORE pix in the Move OUT Packet they get before vacating. Set expectations.

BRAD

Most famous quote from disgusting skip out type tenant:

"it was like that when i moved in" 2nd is "the place was dirty when i moved in".

Liars court....RIGHT ON! I produced the check-in sheet and anything that is not listed on the check-in sheet but appears in my photos of their move out usually gets me by.

Wear and tear means different things to different people, so does cleanliness, but fortunately the Commissioners in Wisconsin know the difference. I've heard it too "it was like that when I moved in" or even better "I lived there for 4 years" or "I have kids" what do you expect?

Check in sheet tells the story.

I've been sued twice by tenants. Once over mini blinds...laughable, and once over the tenant disputing the use of the security deposit. Maybe I could've gone without the photos, but I believe they helped in the best possible way.

The details...Both x-tenants were able to sue as indigents, and I easily won both times.

It bothers me deeply that our system is set up, in the case of my x-tenants, for the ease of nuisance suits but expensive hurdles are placed in my way for minimal resolve.

I agree with Ken. Just give em. Rather than having your people feel like you nickel and dining them, it has the benefit of letting em know there's a record of the condition. A very thorough record.

Doesn't everyone have a phone now a days? I believe the tenant is sending you a signal instead. They might be sending you a don't tread on me message - so your response might be taken as an additional tax on them instead of the message of I listen and I care.

All I'm saying is that all "today's paper" proves is that the day the picture was taken was that day, or any day after.

MYOB "Tell me your history in collecting on damages and lets talk $"

I have collected over $120K over the last 10 years from judgments in L-T suits. Some has been wage garnishment and some has been tenant trying to clean credit report. We just finished collecting on one big one last week. In PA, we are allowed to charge 6% interest from the date the judgment is recorded. Getting judgments recorded is definitely a plan!