Sarah's Story: How She Recovered $1,200 in Tucson

A real success story from a DepositGenie user who fought back against unfair deductions and won.

Meet Sarah

Sarah is a 28-year-old marketing professional who moved to Tucson for a new job. She found a beautiful two-bedroom apartment near the university and paid a $1,500 security deposit. Like most renters, she assumed she'd get it back when she moved out.

She was wrong.

The Move-In

When Sarah moved in, she noticed a few minor issues:

• Some scuffs on the walls
• A small stain on the living room carpet
• A crack in the bathroom tile
• Worn paint in the kitchen

She mentioned these to her landlord, who said they were "normal wear and tear" and not to worry about them. Sarah took a few photos with her phone but didn't think much about it.

Then she discovered DepositGenie.

"I saw an ad for DepositGenie and thought, 'Why not? It's cheap insurance.' So I downloaded it and started documenting everything properly."

The Move-Out

Eighteen months later, Sarah got a new job offer in Phoenix and gave her landlord 30 days' notice. She cleaned the apartment thoroughly, patched a few small nail holes, and turned in her keys.

Then she waited.

And waited.

And waited.

"The 14-business-day deadline passed, and I hadn't heard anything. I checked DepositGenie, and it confirmed my landlord had missed the deadline. That's when I knew something was wrong."

The Bad News

Three weeks after move-out, Sarah received a letter from her landlord with an itemized statement:

• Carpet replacement: $800
• Wall repairs: $300
• Bathroom tile repair: $200
• Kitchen paint: $150
• Cleaning: $200
• Total deductions: $1,650

Sarah's deposit was $1,500. The landlord wanted to keep all of it and charge her an additional $150.

"I was furious. These were all things that existed before I moved in, or were normal wear and tear. But I had photos, so I wasn't worried."

The Fight

Sarah opened DepositGenie and reviewed her move-in photos. She had timestamped, geotagged photos showing:

• The carpet stain that existed before move-in
• The wall scuffs that were already there
• The bathroom tile crack that was pre-existing
• The kitchen paint that was worn before she moved in

DepositGenie's AI damage analysis automatically compared her move-in photos to move-out photos and confirmed: these were all pre-existing issues.

"The AI analysis was incredible. It showed side-by-side comparisons and highlighted what was pre-existing vs. what was new. It was impossible to dispute."

The Demand Letter

Sarah used DepositGenie's demand letter generator to create a professional letter citing ARS § 33-1321:

• The landlord missed the 14-business-day deadline
• All deductions were for pre-existing damage
• Normal wear and tear isn't deductible
• She was entitled to double damages

She attached her DepositGenie evidence report with all photos and sent it certified mail.

"I was nervous sending it, but DepositGenie made it so easy. The letter was professional, cited the law correctly, and included all my evidence. I felt confident."

The Response

One week later, Sarah received a response from the landlord's attorney:

"Ms. Sarah,

After reviewing your documentation, we have determined that the deductions were made in error. Enclosed is a check for $1,500 (your full deposit). We apologize for the inconvenience.

Sincerely,

Landlord's Attorney"

But Sarah wasn't done. The landlord had violated ARS § 33-1321 by missing the deadline. She was entitled to double damages.

The Small Claims Filing

Sarah filed in Tucson Justice Court (small claims) for double damages:

• Wrongfully withheld: $1,500
• Double damages: $3,000
• Court costs: $50
• Total demand: $3,050

She used DepositGenie's dispute-ready evidence package, which included:

• Timestamped photos organized by room
• Move-in vs. move-out comparisons
• AI damage analysis report
• Deadline tracking showing violation
• Demand letter and response

"Filing was easy. DepositGenie gave me everything I needed. The court clerk was impressed with how organized my evidence was."

The Settlement

Two days before the court date, the landlord's attorney called Sarah:

"Ms. Sarah, my client would like to settle. We're offering $1,200 to resolve this matter without going to court."

Sarah knew she could win in court, but $1,200 was a good settlement. She accepted.

"I got $1,200 more than my deposit. That covered my moving costs and then some. And it only took a few hours of my time."

What Sarah Learned

"I learned three things:

1. Documentation is everything. Without my move-in photos, I would have lost. With them, I had proof.
2. Know your rights. Arizona law is on your side if you know it. The 14-business-day rule is powerful.
3. Don't be afraid to fight. Most landlords back down when challenged professionally. They know they're wrong."

Why DepositGenie Made the Difference

Sarah credits DepositGenie for her success:

Move-in documentation: "I wouldn't have taken comprehensive photos without DepositGenie's room-by-room checklist. I would have missed things."

Deadline tracking: "I never would have known my landlord missed the deadline. DepositGenie tracked it automatically."

AI damage analysis: "The side-by-side comparisons were incredible. It made it impossible for them to dispute."

Demand letter: "I wouldn't have known how to write a professional demand letter. DepositGenie did it for me."

Dispute-ready evidence: "The PDF report was perfect for presenting my case. Everything was organized and professional."

"For $10 a month, I recovered $1,200. That's a 12,000% return on investment."

Sarah's Advice to Other Renters

"Don't wait until move-out to think about your deposit. Start documenting on move-in day.

Download DepositGenie before you move in. Document everything. Know your rights.

And if your landlord tries to scam you, fight back. Arizona law is on your side. You just need the right tools."

The Bottom Line

Sarah's story isn't unique. Thousands of Arizona renters face unfair deposit deductions every year. Most don't fight back because they don't have documentation or don't know their rights.

Sarah fought back and won. You can too.

With DepositGenie, you have professional-grade tools that level the playing field:

• Timestamped, dispute-ready documentation
• Automatic deadline tracking
• AI-powered damage analysis
• Professional demand letters
• Dispute-ready evidence packages

Don't be a victim. Be prepared.

Download DepositGenie today and protect your deposit from day one.