Free New Mexico Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist
The same room-by-room form for the move-in and the move-out walk-through. Rate every room, record utility meters, attach photos, and download a signable multi-page PDF. Documenting condition is how you protect the deposit under N.M. Stat. §47-8-18 (30-day return).
A New Mexico move-in / move-out checklist is a written, room-by-room record of a rental unit’s condition at the start of the tenancy and again at the end. You use the same form twice: once at move-in to set the baseline, once at move-out to compare. Under N.M. Stat. §47-8-18, the landlord must return the deposit or deliver an itemized written statement of deductions within 30 days of the tenancy ending, and the checklist — paired with date-stamped photos — is the evidence that separates deductible damage from non-deductible wear and tear. Build yours below, and keep it four years.
New Mexico Deposit & Documentation at a Glance
Governing Statute
N.M. Stat. §47-8-18
Deposit Return
30 Days + Itemized
Deposit Cap
1 Month (term under 1 yr)
Keep Records
4 Years Min
The Two-Pillar Documentation Standard
A defensible New Mexico deposit deduction needs two pieces of evidence: (1) this written room-by-room checklist signed by both parties, and (2) date-stamped photographs of the same items at the same time. The checklist alone is often challenged, and photos without written descriptions are ambiguous — but together they are very hard to dispute. Always do both, at move-in and at move-out.
How to Run a New Mexico Move-In and Move-Out Inspection
1. Inspect at move-in
On the day the tenant takes possession, walk the unit room by room, rate every surface, appliance, and fixture, photograph everything, and have both parties sign. This baseline is what the whole tenancy is measured against.
2. File the signed baseline
Keep the signed move-in checklist and photos together and give the tenant a copy. This record is what later proves a condition was pre-existing rather than tenant-caused.
3. Offer a pre-move-out walk-through
A week or two before move-out, offer a joint walk-through so the tenant can see and cure problems. New Mexico does not require it, but it removes most disputes before they start.
4. Do the final move-out inspection
After the keys are returned and the unit is empty, repeat the walk-through on the same form and compare each item to its move-in rating to separate ordinary wear and tear from chargeable damage.
5. Record utility meter readings
Read and photograph the electric, gas, and water meters at both move-in and move-out so final usage is attributed to the correct party and never billed to the next tenant.
6. Separate wear and tear from damage
Charge the deposit only for damage beyond ordinary use. Under §47-8-18, normal wear and tear can never be deducted, so document both the move-in and move-out condition to prove the difference.
7. Return the deposit within thirty days
Deliver the itemized written statement of deductions and the balance within 30 days of termination or the tenant’s departure, whichever is later, and keep the checklist, photos, and receipts at least four years.
Build Your New Mexico Checklist
Complete the fields below to generate a printable, room-by-room New Mexico move-in / move-out inspection checklist as a multi-page PDF. Use the same form for both walk-throughs — choose the inspection type, rate each item, and describe any Poor-rated item precisely in the notes. Conduct each walk-through with the tenant present when possible and pair it with date-stamped photos. If you are also placing a new renter, start with thorough tenant screening and solid move-in condition documentation.
1. Parties & Tenancy
2. Property
3. Room-by-Room Condition
For each item choose Good (no defects), Fair (minor wear), Poor (visible damage), or N/A (not present). Describe every Poor-rated item in the notes below and photograph it.
4. Photo Documentation
Date-stamped photos are the second pillar of any defensible deposit claim. Photograph each room, each Poor-rated item, and each utility meter. Retain the photos at least four years in a dated cloud backup.
5. Signatures
Both parties should sign and retain a copy. A tenant signature acknowledges the accuracy of the inspection findings; it is not a waiver of legal rights.
Move-In vs. Move-Out: One Form, Two Walk-Throughs
The move-in / move-out checklist is a single document used at two moments. At move-in, on the day the tenant takes possession, it establishes the baseline: the condition every item was in before the tenant ever used it. At move-out, after the keys are returned and the unit is empty, you repeat the identical walk-through and compare each item to its move-in rating. The gap between the two ratings — and nothing else — is what can be charged to the security deposit. A condition that was already Poor at move-in cannot be billed to a departing tenant, which is exactly why the baseline matters so much.
New Mexico does not require a formal pre-move-out inspection the way California does, but offering an interim walk-through a week or two before the tenant leaves is a proven way to cut disputes. It gives the tenant a written, itemized chance to clean or repair before the final inspection, and it means nothing on the move-out list is a surprise. Choose the Inspection Type at the top of the form — Move-In, Pre-Move-Out, or Final Move-Out — so each PDF is labeled for the moment it documents.
What to Inspect, Room by Room
A complete checklist walks every room and rates the fixed elements — walls and paint, flooring, ceilings, windows and screens, doors and hardware, light fixtures, and outlets — plus the appliances and systems in each space. In the kitchen, test the refrigerator, stove and oven, microwave, dishwasher, and garbage disposal, and note the countertops, cabinets, and sink. In each bathroom, check the toilet, sink and vanity, tub and shower, grout and caulking, mirror, and exhaust fan, and look specifically for mildew and water damage. Do not skip the common areas and exterior: HVAC and heating, the water heater, laundry hookups, patio or balcony, garage or parking, the yard, mailbox and keys, and window locks.