Pre-move-out inspection
Also called: initial inspection, pre-inspection, preliminary walkthrough, move-out walkthrough, pre-vacate inspection
A walkthrough with the landlord or manager one to two weeks before move-out, in which they list what they'd deduct for so the tenant can fix it first. A right in some states (California requires it be offered) and a reasonable request everywhere; it turns a surprise deduction into a to-do list.
The final walkthrough happens after the keys are back, when nothing can be changed; the deposit statement arrives weeks later. A pre-move-out inspection moves the landlord’s list forward to a point where the tenant can act on it. The landlord walks the unit — still furnished, usually — and writes down what they see as beyond normal wear: the scuffed hallway, the stained carpet in the bedroom, the oven, the nail holes, a broken blind. The tenant then cleans, repairs or replaces those items before the final inspection, and anything on the list that’s fixed can’t be deducted for.
California’s Civil Code makes it a formal right: the landlord must notify the tenant of the option, conduct it in the two weeks before the end of tenancy if requested, and provide an itemized statement of proposed deductions at the time, which the tenant can remedy. A handful of other states have similar provisions; in the rest it’s a courtesy most landlords and property managers grant when asked in writing, because it reduces disputes for them too.
Ask for it two to three weeks out, in writing, and take notes and photos during it. Then use the list to decide the cleaning question: a short list of specific items is a Saturday’s work; a long one on a large deposit is a reason to hire a move-out clean and carpet service and keep the receipts. Either way, the final photos before handing over keys are still the record.