What a real apartment inspection actually looks like

People ask us all the time: "What does a ScoutMyPlace visit actually look like?" Fair question. Here's the full play-by-play, from the moment our scout arrives at the building to the report landing in your inbox.

Before the visit

We confirm the address, the apartment number, the access details, and any specific questions you have. If you flagged concerns about light, noise, or condition, our scout knows to focus there first.

The arrival

Our scout arrives 10 minutes early and walks the block. Photos of the street, the building from outside, immediate neighbors, ambient noise. This sets the "feel" baseline before they ever step inside.

The 100+ point checklist

Inside the unit, the scout works through ten categories, each with a structured set of checkpoints. We don't freestyle. The categories:

• Light & exposure (window count, orientation, vis-à-vis, brightness)
• Noise (street, neighbours, ambient, recorded levels)
• Smells (mold, pet, cooking residue, dampness)
• Condition (walls, floors, ceilings, age signals)
• Kitchen (appliances tested, hot water, ventilation)
• Bathroom (water pressure, drainage, mold, ventilation)
• Electrical (outlets count, breaker box age, signs of DIY wiring)
• Storage (closet space, layout efficiency)
• Building common areas (lobby, hallway, mailboxes, trash, elevator)
• Neighborhood feel (the walk-around)

Photos — 20 to 40 of them

Every room, every angle, every visible flaw. No filters, no staging, no clever cropping. If a wall has a crack, you see the crack. If the kitchen has stains, you see the stains. We don't fix the problem in post — we surface it.

The walk-out

Before leaving, our scout does a final sweep with the lights off (light leakage, blackout curtain test) and checks the front door, locks, and intercom. Final notes go straight into the report.

The delivery — within 24 hours

The report includes:

• A scored summary across 5 dimensions (light, noise, condition, neighborhood, overall)
• The full photo set
• Watch points — things to ask about, fix, or negotiate before signing
• An honest summary of what we observed — facts only, so you can decide for yourself
• The scout's personal take — written in plain English, not real-estate-speak

Want to see what the actual report looks like? See a real sample report →