Inventory or check-in: what’s the difference?

If you’re sorting out a new tenancy, it’s easy to find yourself looking at the booking options and wondering whether “inventory” and “check-in” mean the same thing. Here’s what each one involves when you book with us.

What the inventory does

An inventory gives you a written and photographic record of the property’s condition and contents when we visit. It covers the rooms, fixtures, fittings and items being left for the tenancy, with notes that make the photographs easier to understand.

That might mean recording a small chip on a kitchen worktop, marks on a bedroom wall or the condition of a sofa. Even an unfurnished home has plenty worth documenting.

You can think of it as the starting record you’ll keep and refer back to. Our inventory service also includes key records and meter readings where accessible.

What the check-in adds

A check-in is the move-in appointment. With Good Landlord, it supports the handover to your new tenant, including keys, meter readings where relevant and practical move-in notes.

It gives the handover a clear plan: who is meeting whom, how access will work and what needs recording on the day. It’s useful when you’d like help with that appointment as well as the property report.

A check-in on its own isn’t the same as commissioning a full inventory. If you need both the starting report and the handover, tell us when you book.

Which one fits your plans?

If you’re comfortable handling the move-in yourself but want an independent record of the property, an inventory may be what you need.

If you already have a suitable inventory and mainly need help with the handover, ask us about a check-in. Let us know when the inventory was prepared and whether anything has changed since then.

If you want us to prepare the report and help with the move-in appointment, choose inventory plus check-in. We’ll confirm the arrangements with you before the booking is agreed.

A simple example

Say you’re letting a furnished flat in Bristol. You’re happy to meet the tenant and hand over the keys, but you’d like someone independent to record the furniture, fittings and condition first. You might book an inventory and manage the handover yourself.

Or perhaps you’d prefer help with both jobs. In that case, an inventory plus check-in lets you arrange the report and the handover together. The right choice depends on what you already have in place and what you’d like us to do.

Tell us what’s already sorted

When you get in touch, share the property details, your planned move-in date and whether you already have an inventory. It also helps to say who will have the keys and whether any cleaning, repairs or deliveries are still planned.

If something changes after the report is prepared, let us know so we can discuss how to record it. For the practical preparation, have a look at our inventory appointment checklist.

We can help you choose

You don’t need to have every detail worked out before you ask. Tell us what you’re arranging, and we’ll help you choose the service that fits.

We provide inventories, check-ins, mid-tenancy inspections and check-outs for landlords and letting agents across Bristol and the surrounding areas. You can read more about our check-in and check-out services or get a quote below.