Learn Hardcore German: Bei der Übergabe notieren wir jeden Zählerstand und machen ein Foto. - At the handover we write down every meter reading and take a photo.

bei + dative is often used to mean at the time of / during / on the occasion of an event or appointment. So bei der Übergabe means “when the handover happens / during the handover.”

in wouldn’t fit because you’re not “inside” a handover in the same way you’re “in a room.”
während der Übergabe is also possible and is a bit more explicitly “during,” but bei is very common and natural for procedures and appointments.

What case is der Übergabe, and why?

It’s dative because the preposition bei always takes the dative.
die Übergabe (nominative) → bei der Übergabe (dative feminine: der).

What exactly does Übergabe mean here?

In this context, Übergabe usually means a handover of something like an apartment, keys, or responsibility—often the moment you meet to transfer it and document the condition (e.g., move-in/move-out handover). It can also be used for handing over equipment, a car, etc.

Why is it wir notieren and not wir schreiben auf or wir merken uns?

notieren means to note down / record (in writing) in a somewhat official or practical way (e.g., on a form or protocol).

aufschreiben is similar and more everyday; it can also work.
sich merken means “to memorize,” which doesn’t match the idea of documenting meter readings.

What does jeden Zählerstand mean grammatically—why jeden?

Zählerstand is masculine (der Zählerstand), and it’s the direct object of notieren, so it’s in the accusative.
Masculine accusative singular: jeden Zählerstand.
It implies “each/every meter reading” (e.g., electricity, gas, water).

What is a Zählerstand in everyday terms?

A Zählerstand is the reading shown on a meter, e.g. the number displayed on the electricity/gas/water meter at that moment. It’s what you record for billing or documentation.

Why is the verb in second position: Bei der Übergabe notieren wir…?

German main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb is in second position.
Here, the sentence starts with a prepositional phrase (Bei der Übergabe) in position 1, so the verb notieren must come next, and wir follows:
Bei der Übergabe | notieren | wir …

Could I also say Wir notieren bei der Übergabe…? Does it change the meaning?

Yes, that’s also correct. It mostly changes emphasis:

Bei der Übergabe notieren wir… emphasizes the time/occasion (“at the handover…”).
Wir notieren bei der Übergabe… emphasizes who does it (“we note down…”).
The core meaning stays the same.

Why is it machen ein Foto and not nehmen ein Foto?

In German, the standard everyday verb is ein Foto machen (“to take a photo”). ein Foto nehmen is not idiomatic. You may also hear ein Foto machen / ein Bild machen; fotografieren is the single-verb alternative (“to photograph”).

Why is it ein Foto (accusative) after machen?

machen takes a direct object in the accusative: ein Foto is what you “make/do.”
So: ein Foto = accusative neuter singular (same form as nominative).

Does ein Foto mean exactly one photo?

Literally it’s “a photo,” but in practice it often means “we take a photo” as part of a routine. It doesn’t strictly exclude taking multiple photos; if you want to be explicit you can say Fotos or ein paar Fotos.

Why is there no comma before und?

No comma is needed because und is connecting two verbs with the same subject wir in one main clause:
wir notieren … und (wir) machen …
A comma would only appear in special cases (e.g., if a full clause with its own subject, or an inserted clause, etc.).

Do I need to repeat wir after und?

No. It’s optional here.

… notieren wir … und machen ein Foto. is normal and concise.
… notieren wir … und wir machen ein Foto. is also correct but slightly more explicit/emphatic.

Why is Zählerstand singular even though there may be several meters?

German often uses singular with jeden to mean “each one individually.” So jeden Zählerstand can imply multiple readings (one per meter). If you want to be explicit about multiple meters/readings, you could say alle Zählerstände (“all meter readings”).

Could this be understood as an instruction or a habit?

Yes. Present tense (notieren, machen) can describe:

a routine/procedure (“At the handover we record…”)
a planned action (“We’ll do this at the handover.”)
Context decides, and both are very common in administrative/real-estate language.