Document it now. Thank yourself later.
Nearly every deposit dispute reduces to one question: was that damage there before you were? Dated photographs are the strongest evidence you can bring to that question. It takes about fifteen minutes.
What to photograph
A wide shot of each room first, then close-ups of anything already damaged. The things landlords charge for most often are exactly the ones nobody thinks to photograph: inside the oven, under the sinks, carpet edges and seams, window tracks, grout and caulk, the walls behind where furniture will sit, and the state of the blinds. The tool prompts you room by room so you do not have to remember.
Why dated matters
A record made when you moved in is far more persuasive than photographs produced after an argument has started. Each entry carries the date and time it was added, and the export notes the original file date where your device reports one.
If you have already been charged
Photographs still help, but the first thing to check is the calendar. Every state puts the landlord on a deadline, and a surprising number of disputes end the moment a tenant points out it has passed.Find your state's deadline.