You walk through the home with your phone, take photos room by room, and send them in. Each photo is reviewed for visible issues like stains, cracks, leaks, broken fixtures and wear, and you get a written report with what may need repair.
Who it's for
- Landlords who live far from a rental. Have the tenant or a handyman take the photos during a routine check.
- Homeowners who want a quick read on what needs attention before calling contractors.
- Home buyers who want a first look before paying for a full inspection.
- Tenants documenting the condition of a unit at move-in or move-out.
How to take photos that make a useful report
- Go room by room and name each room as you go.
- Take one or two wide shots of each room from the corners.
- Get close-ups of anything that looks off: ceiling spots, cracked tile, a dripping faucet, worn carpet, a loose railing.
- Use light. Open blinds and turn on lights. Avoid shooting straight into a window.
- Don't forget the hidden places: under sinks, inside the water heater closet, the electrical panel door, the attic hatch, the garage.
- Outside, photograph each side of the house, the roof from the ground, gutters, fences and the driveway.
Try Tello Inspect, free
Send photos of each room from your phone. Tello reads every photo and you get a written condition report by email. No app, no account.
Start a free Tello Inspect →What a photo inspection can't see
Be clear about the limits. A photo review can only describe what the camera shows. It can't:
- See inside walls, under floors, or inside the roof structure.
- Test electrical circuits, gas lines, water pressure or the HVAC system.
- Test for mold, asbestos, lead or radon.
- Judge structural or foundation problems with certainty.
It is not a licensed home inspection. If you're buying a home, signing off on a major repair, or you see signs of water damage, structural movement or electrical trouble, get an in-person inspection.
When remote is the right call
Remote works well for routine check-ups, move-in and move-out records, prioritizing repairs, and deciding whether something is worth a professional visit. It's a fast first step that makes the in-person visit, if you need one, shorter and more focused.
How Tello Inspect works
- Tell us who you are and what kind of check you need (move-in, move-out or routine).
- Pick a room and take or upload photos, then move to the next room.
- Get your condition report by email, with an overall rating, notes for each photo and a list of items that may need repair.
It's free, there's no app to install and no account to create. Your photos are private and only visible through your report link.