Quick answer: Across Los Angeles, a 1 bedroom turnover clean typically runs $200 to $450, and more when painting or junk hauling are added. TurnOver LA charges $255 for a 1 bedroom Make Ready with a flat 48-hour turnaround. Download our printable apartment turnover checklist PDF below, then line up any add-ons you need.
You can grab a free apartment turnover checklist PDF here and use it as a one-page field sheet. It is written for LA timelines and deposit rules, so you can complete a reliable 48-hour turn and document condition for deposit accounting. Print it, hand it to a cleaner or tech, and have them sign and photo-log.
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What is the right apartment turnover checklist for LA rentals?
A good LA turnover checklist is short enough to finish in 48 hours, but complete enough to protect you under California Civil Code §1950.5 and local ordinances like the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance. It should separate cleaning from habitability and safety, call out items that commonly fail city inspections, and leave space for before and after photos. Our Make Ready includes a 12 point photo report by default, which pairs well with the checklist. For LA units, add specific items like seismic gas shutoff visual check, exterior security lighting function, and proof of rekey. If you manage rent stabilized stock or older buildings in Koreatown, Westlake, or Pico Union, the list should also include water intrusion checks and GFCI verification near sinks.
What belongs on a make ready cleaning checklist?
For cleaning, keep it outcome based and room by room. Kitchens need degreasing, inside appliance wipe, and cabinet face cleaning. Bathrooms need descale, grout and caulk check, and mirror polish. Living areas need dust top to bottom, blinds wiped, baseboards, and floor detailing. Always include air vent vacuum and filter replacement, plus patio and door tracks. Our Make Ready pricing is straight from the catalog: Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, 3BR or larger $425. Across LA, similar deep cleans typically range $200 to $450 for a 1 bedroom. If the unit has heavy pet or smoke odor, see our guides on odor remediation and adjust your plan.
- See also: What is a Make Ready
- Cleaning scope reference: Move out cleaning in Los Angeles
How do LA rules affect your turnover process timeline?
California gives you 21 days to account for the security deposit. That means your checklist should drive fast documentation and any repair authorizations within 48 hours. For rent stabilized units, review the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance for relocation and habitability triggers that could stall a relet. AB 12 caps most residential security deposits at one month of rent starting in 2024, which tightens your margin, so fast, accurate make readies matter more. Keep these references handy: California Civil Code §1950.5, LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance, and AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap. For general practice notes, see the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide.
- Related reading: California 21 day deposit return and Normal wear and tear in California
How much does apartment turnover cleaning cost in Los Angeles?
Across LA, a standard 1 bedroom turnover clean usually runs $200 to $450 depending on grime, appliances, and add-ons. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is a flat Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, 3BR or larger $425, including a 12 point photo report with a 48 hour turnaround. If you need more than cleaning, align add-ons the same day. Paint touch-up is $200, or full repaint per room is $395. Small drywall patch and texture is $150 per patch, medium patch is $240 per patch. Folding these into a 48 hour path avoids extra vacancy days that cost $80 to $200 per day by submarket.
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What about junk removal and bulky item pickup in LA?
If the last resident left furniture or trash, decide fast. City bulky item pickup is available through LA Sanitation for many addresses, but lead times vary and you must move items to the curb. Across LA, private junk hauling for a 1 bedroom unit cleanout often lands between $250 and $500. TurnOver LA’s unit cleanout and junk haul is Studio $200, 1 Bedroom $310, 2 Bedroom $420, 3BR or larger $420. Each additional junk load is $200. If you control an alley in areas like Mid City or West Adams, watch for posted sweep days so you do not trigger tickets while staging at the curb. When bulky pickup timing is uncertain, it is usually cheaper to pay one haul than eat a day of vacancy loss.
- Book a same-window haul with our unit cleanout and junk haul
Do you need paint or drywall touch-ups every time?
Not every turn needs full paint. Start with spot repairs so you do not lose downtime. Across LA, paint touch-up labor with materials often ranges $150 to $350 for light scope. TurnOver LA prices this at $200 for touch-up, or $395 per room for a repaint. Ceilings and baseboard or trim are $125 if you want crisp lines. For holes, small drywall patch and texture is $150 per patch, and medium repair is $240 per patch. Triage rule of thumb: if coverage needs exceed one wall per room or sheen is mismatched, full room repaint is cleaner than chasing sheen blend.
When should you rekey the locks in LA?
Best practice is to rekey at every turn to control liability. Across LA, rekeying typical cylinder locks is commonly $120 to $200 depending on count and hardware. TurnOver LA offers a full apartment rekey for $150 for up to two locks. Or you can itemize: rekey first lock $100, each additional lock $50, or a bundled lock rekey for front and deadbolt at $110. If you are stepping up to keyless, smart lock install is $210 and gives you code control between showings. Record the new key code on the checklist and in your key log.
- Need it combined with cleaning? Add it to your Make Ready service
How do you calculate tenant turnover rate?
Turnover rate tells you how often units churn. Use this formula by property or portfolio: Turnover rate equals number of move outs during the period divided by average occupied units during the period. Example: 24 move outs in a year, average 180 occupied units, turnover rate equals 24 divided by 180 which is 13.3 percent. Track it quarterly and annually. If your rate spikes in neighborhoods like Hollywood or North Hollywood, audit move out reasons and time to unit ready. High turnover with slow make readies amplifies vacancy loss.
What handyman and safety items should you hit between tenants?
Treat habitability and safety as a separate checklist from cleaning. Across LA, a general safety check visit typically costs $100 to $185. TurnOver LA can do a general maintenance and safety visit at $125, a half day handyman punch list at $230, or a full day punch list at $425. Typical items: GFCI test, smoke and CO alarms with date check, anti tip bracket on ranges, window and door latch function, trip hazards, and pest entry points. Note any water stains and meter valve access. If you manage pre 1980 stock in Silver Lake or Echo Park, prioritize moisture and ventilation checks.
Free downloadable apartment turnover checklist PDF
You can print this to paper or Save as PDF. It is designed for a 48 hour turn with space for initials and time stamps.
Number the unit and date at top. Capture 12 before photos, then 12 after photos. Initial each line as completed.
- Key control and entry
- Retrieve and log keys and fobs, verify mailbox key present
- Rekey or replace cylinders as authorized (record code and counts)
- Test door closer, peephole, deadbolt throw, and latch alignment
- Safety and compliance
- Test smoke and CO alarms, replace batteries or units as needed
- Test GFCI outlets in kitchen, bath, and laundry
- Check water heater TPR discharge line and strapping
- Verify window locks, egress windows open fully
- Exterior light at entry works, replace bulbs
- Kitchen
- Degrease stove, hood and filter, backsplash and cabinet faces
- Clean oven and racks, drip pans or glass top, clean under burners
- Clean inside refrigerator and freezer, pull forward and clean coils and floor
- Sanitize sink and disposal, test operation and leaks
- Wipe inside drawers and cabinets, test hinges and slides
- Bathroom(s)
- Descale shower walls and glass, sanitize toilet and vanity
- Clean grout lines and evaluate caulk, re caulk if needed
- Test exhaust fan and GFCI, replace bulbs
- Check tub and sink stoppers, test for slow drains
- Living, beds, halls
- Dust fans, fixtures, tops, blinds, and baseboards
- Patch nail holes as authorized, spot paint if approved
- Clean door and window tracks, test sashes and screens
- Wipe interior doors and handles
- Floors
- Vacuum and mop hard surfaces, detail edges and corners
- Spot treat carpet or schedule replacement if beyond cleaning
- HVAC and ventilation
- Replace air filter, vacuum returns and supply vents
- Test thermostat and cycle heat and cool
- Windows and glass
- Clean interior glass and mirrors, note any failed seals
- Laundry and utility
- Clean lint trap and dryer vent face, test hoses and valves
- Balcony, patio, entry
- Sweep, remove cobwebs, check railings and outlet covers
- Junk removal
- Bag and haul trash, schedule unit cleanout if quantity exceeds bin capacity
- Final walk and photos
- 12 after photos matching your before photo angles
- Lock windows, set thermostat to showing setting, lights as needed
Signature and date lines for cleaner and maintenance tech
If you prefer a single page version, print only the numbered list section of this article to PDF.
How do I budget a two day LA turnover without overpaying?
Use a simple compare and commit approach. Across LA for a 1 bedroom, plan $200 to $450 for cleaning, $150 to $350 for light paint touch up, and $250 to $500 for junk if needed. Now anchor exacts: Make Ready is $255 for a 1 bedroom with TurnOver LA. Paint touch up is $200. Unit cleanout for a 1 bedroom is $310. Rekey for up to two locks is $150. If you needed all of these on one tight turn, you would schedule them in one 48 hour window to avoid $80 to $200 per day in vacancy loss. Add listing media on day two for faster leasing.
Should I order listing photos during the turn?
Yes, once the unit is spotless and repairs are done. Across LA, standalone listing media packages land between $200 and $500. TurnOver LA’s TLA Launch Pad Media Package is $399 and can be scheduled to shoot as soon as the cleaners exit. In tight markets like Santa Monica and West Hollywood, good media shaves days off market time. If your leasing team wants a consistent look, add media to the same booking so the schedule locks to your 48 hour turn.
Who owns what on damages versus wear and tear?
Use the checklist to document condition so your deposit accounting holds. California Civil Code §1950.5 outlines what you can deduct and what you must return. Scuffs and minor nail holes fall under normal wear, while broken fixtures or pet damage are often chargeable. See our detailed references: Normal wear and tear in California and California 21 day deposit return. Keep photo pairs of each item listed.
A simple 48 hour LA turnover playbook you can reuse
Here is a repeatable schedule that works in most LA submarkets.
- Hour 0 to 2: Key retrieval, rekey authorization, initial photo set, walk and triage
- Hour 2 to 24: Make Ready cleaning, handyman safety visit, paint touch up or small patch
- Hour 24 to 36: Final cleaning pass, rekey install, appliances re wiped after paint, trash out or junk haul if needed
- Hour 36 to 48: Listing media shoot, after photos, thermostat set, checklist sign off and handoff to leasing
This pattern protects your 21 day deposit clock, keeps vacancy loss low, and avoids rework. In older stock from Mid City to Highland Park, front load moisture checks and ventilation fixes so you do not repaint twice.