How to manage a resident move-in

From signed lease to first day of tenancy — the checklist for onboarding a new resident cleanly.

Draft a lease that captures the essentials, respects state law, and can be signed on a phone.

Renew a lease on time without turning it into an eviction risk.

Hold, itemize, and return security deposits according to state law — with the paper trail to prove it.

Move-out inspection, itemized deductions, and deposit return within your state's timeline.

Document, notice, cure period, and escalation — the sequence that holds up if it ever reaches a courtroom.