Start with the actual home you are receiving
DLD's unified tenancy form records the property's identity, contract dates, deposit and payment method. It also includes an acknowledgement of the unit's condition. Read those details against the home you inspect before signing.
For the handover, bring the agreed inventory, a charged phone and a short list of unresolved questions. Walk through the actual unit with the owner or their representative. A showroom, catalogue description or photograph of a similar apartment cannot tell you whether this home's cupboard closes or its air conditioning works.
Official references:DLD: unified tenancy contract
Make one condition record that both sides can follow
Photograph each room from the doorway, then take close-ups of visible marks or damage. Use simple filenames or captions identifying the room and feature. Keep the original files with the date and share an organized copy privately with the other party. Avoid including identity documents, people or access codes in images you share publicly.
Separate what you saw from what you could not check. If power or water is unavailable, mark the relevant appliance or fixture as untested and arrange a follow-up. A silent appliance is not evidence that it works. Ask the other party to acknowledge the record and note any disagreement rather than removing the entry.
- Walls, ceilings and floors: record existing stains, cracks or scratches by room.