A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
Why Blue Sky Inventories takes so many photographs – and how this protects landlords, tenants, and agents.
When it comes to rental disputes, words can be debated – photos can’t.
That’s why, at Blue Sky Inventories, we don’t just take a handful of quick snaps. We take hundreds of photographs for every property – and we do it for a reason.
For an unfurnished one-bedroom property, we might take 700 to 800 photos. For furnished properties, we often take even more.
Some people raise an eyebrow.
“Isn’t that a bit over the top?”
Not if you’ve ever had to fight a deposit dispute without proof.
When thousands of pounds are on the line, we believe it’s worth doing things properly.
🔎 Why So Many Photos?
Because it’s the most effective way to protect everyone involved.
When you have clear, time-stamped photographic evidence of what a property looked like before and after a tenancy, it's far easier to determine whether damage has occurred — and who’s responsible.
Here’s why it matters:
You catch the small stuff. A scuff behind a door, a faint stain on a mattress, wear on a cupboard handle — these are the things that often get missed. We don’t miss them.
You eliminate doubt. Photos leave little room for misinterpretation. Unlike vague wording, visual evidence is objective and difficult to dispute.
You reduce human error. Sometimes a photo comes out blurry. Sometimes an item is missed. By taking more than we “need,” we make sure the critical details are covered.
🛠️ Consistency Is Key – Especially in Disputes
It’s not just the photos that matter. It’s how we structure them.
At BSI, we make sure that reference numbers for each item remain consistent between check-in and check-out reports. So if the hallway wall is Item 1 at check-in, it’s still Item 1 at check-out.
Why does that matter?
Because many other inventory companies don’t do this. Items are reordered, renumbered, or described differently — which causes confusion during arbitration.
When you have a BSI report, you can easily compare like for like.
It makes cross-referencing straightforward — for landlords, tenants, and deposit scheme adjudicators.
⚖️ “Having So Many Photos Made the Dispute Process So Much Easier”
We’ve heard this from more than a few clients.
And that’s exactly what we want.
We’re not interested in taking sides.
We’re interested in providing clear, factual evidence that settles disputes fairly, quickly, and without drama.
We’ve seen reports from other companies that skip the details — whether due to lack of time, laziness, or poor training. That’s not how we operate.
At BSI, we document what others miss.
Because if you don’t record it, you can’t prove it.
📨 “But the Reports Are So Big...”
Yes — our reports are large.
With hundreds of high-resolution images, the PDFs aren’t exactly light.
But don’t worry — we make sending and sharing easy:
Our preferred method: Direct delivery via our reporting software, which also allows us to send the report to tenants for digital signing.
Alternative option: A download link to both the full-resolution version and a compressed PDF that’s easier to email.
You’ll always get what you need — without fuss.
👥 The BSI Team Standard
Every member of the team follows this approach:
Delores, Charles, and Christian capture wide-angle and close-up shots with care and consistency.
Reena, our Head Typist and Quality Controller, ensures that every photo is correctly placed, labelled, and backed by the right wording.
Sharon and I still carry out inventories ourselves — because we believe in leading from the front and staying close to the work.
We’ve built our standards not just around what the industry requires — but what really helps people when it matters most.
✅ In Summary
At Blue Sky Inventories, we take more photos than most.
We structure our reports carefully.
And we do it all to protect you.
If you're a landlord, agent, or tenant who wants to avoid disputes, reduce stress, and have clear evidence on your side — we’re here to help.
🟦 Blue Sky Inventories
Clarity. Detail. Peace of mind.
Reports that protect everyone.
