Apartment Ratings :: Question - How do you protect yourself with the move-in/move-out inspection?

How do you protect yourself with the move-in/move-out inspection?

by scio in Legal, WA

Asked 199 days ago

3 Total Answers

I suspect that the apartment is charging for the same damages over and over again

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3 Total Answers

Answer by tonestar on Mar 26, 2008 at 2:10PM

The most important thing you can do is be VERY detailed on the inspection. Make sure you get a copy of it with you signature and the manager's. You can also take pictures of pre-existing damage and provide them to the leasing office (keep some for yourself as well). I cannot stress how important it is to be detailed. It could save you hundreds of dollars down the road.

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Comment by scio on Mar 26, 2008 at 5:32PM

What if the apartment manager WON'T let you put anything on the detailed list, loses the copy of the detailed inspection you provided at a later date (which the manager refused to sign) and never provided an immediate copy of the walk through. Small claims court was of no use as the judge didn't even hear my side of the story...at all...only that the apartment paperwork "looked in order". Should I try to go through the same small claims court again (located across the street from the apartment complex) or get a lawyer to take the case up a notch?

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Comment by tonestar on Mar 26, 2008 at 5:52PM

I didn't realize that you had already moved out. If the manager wouldn't let you be detailed I would have made my own list, sent a copy to the manager, sent a copy to her corporate office and maybe even had it notarized. The fact that they were so unwilling to fill out a proper inspection is a MAJOR red flag. The courts are not "in on it" with the apartments. The fact is they had the paperwork and you didn't. I really feel for you in this situation but I think you are out of gas on this one. How much are they trying to charge you?

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Answer by scio on Mar 27, 2008 at 9:55AM

I'm only out less than a hundred dollars. There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with that apartment when we moved out. Basically they kept the 400 dollar deposit and then some. That's what makes me mad. I've NEVER had a deposit kept before because I always return the property in BETTER condition than when I moved in. Well, lesson learned. I won't give money to a lawyer to fight this one....I'll just hope the EXCELLENT information you have provided on this site will prevent further scams.
Thanks for your reponses :-) I will try to fall back on the portion of the Lord's prayer to "forgive us our debts as we forgive those who debt against us". I just have a hard time forgiving their debt when I know it is unjustified.

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Comment by f15actace on Jun 29, 2008 at 10:59AM

"reep what you sow" thier $400 gain is going to bring them $400 of pain, and then some. What you've learned-priceless.

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Answer by f15actace on Jun 29, 2008 at 11:04AM

Jackpot! As a Ex-maintenance person for an undisclosed property manag. co. I have seen it, however they sometimes aren't aware of it, & ignorance is bliss.

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