Bigger or unusual job? Compare bids from local pros and you pick who does the work.
The service
What move-in / move-out inspection is, what a visit covers and where the line is.
The short answer
A move-in or move-out inspection is a visit in which a background-checked local pro records the condition of a home room by room: walls, floors, doors, windows, fixtures, appliances and a basic look at plumbing, electrical and heating and cooling. Move-In / Move-Out Inspection in San Jose is booked through pros who cover its 35 ZIP codes, in neighborhoods such as Willow Glen, Almaden Valley, and Cambrian Park. San Jose's dry summers are ideal for exterior painting and deck work — the fall calendar fills fast, so book early. Each pro sets their own price and you choose.
What a move-in / move-out inspection visit includes
What is included depends on the jobs you pick and on how each pro sets up their visit and timing. You see the exact scope with each pro's price before you book.
- Room-by-room condition check
- Appliance & fixture presence/condition check
- Systems overview (plumbing, electrical, HVAC)
- Written, timestamped report with photos
- 30-day report accuracy guarantee
Pick what is on your list
Tick what you want done, or add your own. Your list goes under the booking card and to the pro you choose, and you can describe anything else when you book.
Walls, ceilings and paint
Tick what you want done. One visit can cover several.
Tick jobs above, or add your own. Your list goes under the booking card and to the pro you choose, so they see exactly what you need before they arrive.
What shapes a move-in / move-out inspection job
These are the things that make one job different from another. Mention them in your notes so each pro can scope your job properly.
What you receive from a move-in or move-out inspection
These inspections normally produce a dated record with photos, room by room. The listing of your pro says exactly what is provided, which differs by pro.
- A written room-by-room record of surfaces, fixtures, doors, windows and appliances
- Dated photos of existing wear, damage and stains
- Notes on which appliances and systems ran during the visit
- A list of keys, fobs and remotes present, where the pro recorded them
- Observations on anything that looks unsafe, without the repairs being done for you
What is not part of move-in / move-out inspection
Knowing where the line is keeps the visit on track and keeps you safe. When a job belongs to a specialist, NorTech tells you before you book.
- Repairs, cleaning and deposit disputes. The inspection records condition and does not fix, clean or decide responsibility.
- Fix-ups that add up to $1,000 in labor and materials are for a licensed contractor, not part of this visit.
- Legal advice about leases, deposits or tenant rights, which come from an attorney or a tenant organization.
- A full technical inspection of the roof, structure, sewer line or hidden systems. A pre-purchase style inspection covers those.
- Areas that are locked, blocked or unsafe to enter. The report notes what was not seen.
Plan your visit
How booking works, how to get ready, and what to expect where you live.
How booking move-in / move-out inspection works
Say what needs doing
Add your ZIP and a few words about the job.
Compare pros near you
Each pro sets their own price and warranty. NorTech does not pick for you.
Book the pro you pick
Add photos and details on their page. Your card is held and only charged after the work and the photos.
Photos and a warranty
Your pro backs the work with a workmanship warranty — if covered work is not right, your pro makes it right, free.
Before you book move-in / move-out inspection
Quick things that save a trip. Tick them off as you go; none of it is required to book.
Book before furniture arrives
An empty home shows every wall, floor and corner. Schedule the visit after keys are handed over and before boxes come in.
Confirm key and utility access
The pro needs keys or a lockbox code and working power and water. Arrange these with the landlord or manager ahead of time.
Compare with the landlord checklist
Bring any form the landlord gave you, so the pro can match room names and note differences. Send the final report in writing within the window your lease sets.
Point out what already worries you
If you saw a stain, a smell or a broken lock during the showing, tell the pro. They can record it clearly and test those spots first.
Keep a copy of everything
Save the report and photos in more than one place, and share them with the landlord in writing. Keep the originals until the deposit is returned.
Repeat the process at move-out
Book a matching visit when you leave and compare it with the first. Photos taken the same way make the comparison easy to follow.
Say where in San Jose you are
Add your neighborhood, for example Willow Glen, Almaden Valley, and Cambrian Park, or your ZIP code to your notes. Pros choose the neighborhoods they cover, and it tells them how far they have to travel.
How where you live changes move-in / move-out inspection
Often booked together with move-in / move-out inspection
Book several services with one pro. Pros set their own bundle discounts.
Small fixes like loose hardware, missing blinds and sticky doors can be handled in one visit after the record is made.
A clean home photographs better and gives a clear baseline at the start or end of a stay.
Missing or expired alarms noted in a report can be installed or replaced right away.
Broken locks, handles and latches found in a report are replaced as their own service.
Around San Jose
Where in San Jose the work happens, and the cities close by.
Move-In / Move-Out Inspection across San Jose
Pick your neighborhood to see what homes there tend to need. Pros choose the neighborhoods they cover, so enter your ZIP code to see who covers yours.
Willow Glen
1920s bungalows on tree-lined streets. Older wiring and original plaster are the usual surprises.
Find a pro in Willow GlenCities near San Jose
Pros often cover more than one city. The rings show 5 and 10 miles from the center of town.
Other services in San Jose
Each one has its own page for this city.
The catch-all for Willow Glen bungalows and Evergreen ranches — mounting, small repairs, and punch lists knocked out in one visit.
See pros in San JoseSan Jose homes run the full range of wall types — from downtown condo concrete to ranch-home drywall — and providers know how to mount cleanly on each.
See pros in San JoseSouth Bay summers run hot and dry — a ceiling fan is a real comfort upgrade in older San Jose homes without central air.
See pros in San JoseBright year-round sun fades interiors fast; low-VOC, UV-stable paint holds true color in South Bay light.
See pros in San JoseFrom nail holes to 12-inch patches, with texture matched across San Jose's mix of orange-peel and knockdown walls.
See pros in San JoseBuilder-grade fixtures in newer North San Jose builds, older shutoffs in Cambrian homes — both handled in one trip.
See pros in San JoseTrust and answers
What backs the work, who is licensed and insured, what customers say, and your questions.
Backed by your provider’s warranty. If covered work fails, your provider makes it right, free.
San Jose homeowners
Move-In / Move-Out Inspection reviews in San Jose
Verified move-in / move-out inspection reviews from San Jose homeowners will appear here.
Be the first move-in / move-out inspection review in San Jose
Your pro backs the work with a workmanship warranty — if covered work is not right, your pro makes it right, free. Book with confidence and tell San Jose how your pro did.
Book Move-In / Move-Out Inspection in San JoseFrequently asked