Quick answer: Use the free, copyable checklist below to run your next make-ready. It covers cleanout, deep clean, paint, repairs, safety, locks, and photos for deposit documentation. If you want it handled in 48 hours, TurnOver LA’s Make Ready runs $225 to $425 by unit size and includes a 12-point photo report. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
You can grab the template below and start right away. It is sized for LA apartments and ties each task to a quick photo note so your security deposit file is solid. If you need help, our Make Ready crews finish in 48 hours and leave listing-ready photos and a report in your inbox.
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What is a turnover checklist and why use one?
A turnover checklist is a written sequence of tasks used between move-out and listing. It reduces missed items, sets expectations for vendors, and creates a photo trail to support deposit deductions. In Los Angeles, that trail matters because California Civil Code §1950.5 requires itemized deductions with documentation, and AB 12 caps most deposits at one month of rent for many rentals in 2024. A checklist also shortens turn time, which cuts vacancy loss. Across LA, every empty day costs about $80 to $200 depending on submarket and unit size. If you manage walk-ups in Koreatown or garden courts in Pasadena, a consistent list keeps quality steady when different supers or cleaners rotate.
How do I use this free apartment turnover template?
Use it as your job card. Print it or paste into your property management software. Walk the unit once to tag issues, then work the list top to bottom. Photograph every billable deficiency before repair and again after. Keep all receipts and time logs. When you finish, load photos and the signed checklist into the tenant’s deposit file. If you need help for the cleaning phase, book our Make Ready. We deliver a 12-point photo report within 48 hours. For LA rent controlled units, save your notices and inspection records. The LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance page is the source for eligibility and rules.
Free apartment turnover checklist template
Copy this into a doc and print one per unit.
General info
- Property, Unit, Move-out date, Target list date
- Locks collected, FOBs collected, Mail keys collected
- Utilities on in landlord name
- Pre-walk and documentation
- 12 photos minimum, wide and detail per room
- Note safety issues (smoke/CO alarms, door closers, egress)
- Record meter readings if needed
- Cleanout and haul
- Remove all trash and left items
- Bag sharps safely if found
- Donate or e-waste as applicable
- Deep clean (top to bottom)
- Kitchen: degrease hood, oven, fridge pull-out, cabinets inside, sink, backsplash
- Bath: descale shower, grout, toilet base, vanity inside, mirror
- Living/bedrooms: dust vents, blinds, outlets, wipe doors and trim
- Floors: vacuum edges, mop, detail corners and thresholds
- Paint and wall repair
- Patch nail holes, texture match, sand
- Touch-up or repaint room as needed
- Prime stains and water marks
- Handyman and maintenance
- Replace bulbs, test GFCIs, test smoke/CO
- Rehang doors, tighten hinges, latches align
- Plumbing: clear p-traps, replace angle stops if needed
- Appliances: test cycles, replace filters
- Locks and security
- Rekey front and deadbolt or install smart lock
- Check window locks, patio sliders, peephole
- Final QA and photos
- Run hand test on baseboards and counters
- White rag test on tub and stovetop
- Final 12 photos for listing and file
- File and deposit
- Itemize deductions with before and after photos
- Save invoices and timesheets
- Mail deposit accounting within 21 days
What supplies do I need to clean an apartment fast?
A single turnover kit avoids mid-job runs. Build and label a tote for each crew. Core items: heavy degreaser, neutral floor cleaner, glass cleaner, powdered scrub, disinfectant, wood-safe cleaner, melamine pads, microfiber towels, scraper with spare blades, grout brush, long duster, vacuum with crevice tool, mop system with clean heads, step stool, nitrile gloves, and painter’s tape for marking issues. Add 200 grit sanding sponges, joint compound, spackle knives, and a quart of your building’s touch-up paint. Keep a mixed screw kit, outlet covers, bulbs, batteries, and a GFCI tester. In older Hollywood and Silver Lake stock, bring a respirator when you open long-untouched ovens or attics. This whole kit typically runs under $85 per unit restock if you buy in case lots.
What is the 20 10 rule for cleaning and does it work for turnovers?
The 20 10 rule means working 20 minutes on a task, then resting 10 minutes. It is used in hospitality to pace labor and reduce fatigue. For turnovers, it helps on heavy degreasing or grout scrubbing days, but it is not a substitute for sequencing. Focus on top-to-bottom, back-to-front flow, then apply 20 10 inside the dirtiest zones so workers do not rush and miss corners. For solo landlords working nights, break the unit into four 45-minute blocks with 10-minute resets to take out trash and reset tools. That cadence pairs well with the checklist above. When you need to compress time to cut vacancy loss, book a 2-person crew and work parallel rooms. Our Make Ready finishes in 48 hours without a rush fee.
What is a good apartment turnover rate and how do I calculate it?
Two rates matter. Tenant turnover rate and unit turn time. Tenant turnover rate is the percent of units that move out in a year. Formula: move-outs during the year divided by total units, times 100. Track it by building and submarket. Unit turn time is days from keys received to new lease executed. That is where the checklist moves the needle. To track vacancy loss, multiply daily rent by days vacant. In Koreatown, a 1 bedroom at $2,100 rents for about $70 per day. Three lost days is $210. In Santa Monica, it can be $120 per day. See our guide on reducing days vacant at scale in LA at /guides/property-managers-vacancy-loss-los-angeles. Shortening cleaning and maintenance to a tight 48-hour window makes more impact than squeezing supply costs.
Need the unit turned before the next tenant?
We do the move-out clean and send you a photo report you can attach to the deposit itemization.
Get an instant quoteHow much do apartment turnover cleaning and repairs cost in LA?
Across LA, a 1 bedroom move-out clean with appliances typically runs $180 to $350 on the open market. With TurnOver LA, Make Ready is a flat $255 for a 1 bedroom, Studio $225, 2 Bedroom $335, 3BR or larger $425, and we include a 12-point photo report with a 48-hour turnaround. Market repainting runs $300 to $600 per room. Ours is $395 per room, with ceilings and baseboard or trim at $125. Minor drywall patches often price at $125 to $250 per spot. We do small drywall patch and texture at $150 per patch or medium repair at $240 per patch. LA junk hauls for a light unit cleanout commonly run $200 to $600. Ours are Studio $200, 1 Bedroom $310, 2 Bedroom $420, 3BR or larger $420, plus $200 per additional load. Rekey in LA is often $100 to $175 for the first cylinder. Our full apartment rekey up to 2 locks is $150, or front plus deadbolt at $110.
| Task | Typical LA market range | TurnOver LA price |
|---|---|---|
| Move-out deep clean, 1BR | $180 to $350 | Make Ready 1BR $255 (Studio $225, 2BR $335, 3BR+ $425) |
| Repaint per room | $300 to $600 | $395 per room |
| Small drywall patch | $125 to $250 | $150 per patch |
| Medium drywall repair | $200 to $400 | $240 per patch |
| Basic rekey, front plus deadbolt | $100 to $175 | $110 |
| Full apartment rekey, up to 2 locks | $150 to $250 | $150 |
| Unit cleanout, 1BR | $250 to $500 | $310 |
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Can I install a smart lock myself for turnovers?
Yes, if the building allows it and you follow the lock’s manual. Most Schlage, Yale, and August smart deadbolts fit standard doors. Check backset, bore size, and door thickness. Keep the striker plate aligned and test with the door open first to avoid jams. Across LA, smart lock installation labor usually runs $120 to $250. Our smart lock install is $210, and we can combine it with a rekey if needed. Some big-box services like Geek Squad work in single family environments but may not handle exterior corridor doors in multifamily or comply with your HOA. Confirm your house keying plan and access sharing policy. If you prefer help, book our locks and security service and we will label cylinders, program codes, and document handoff.
What should I document for security deposits in California?
Take before and after photos of every billable item and keep each vendor receipt. California Civil Code §1950.5 requires an itemized statement with supporting documentation for deductions. You have 21 days to return the deposit or the balance. See our step-by-step at /guides/california-21-day-deposit-return and the state booklet in the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide. As of 2024, AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap limits most deposits to one month of rent for individual landlords and corporate owners in many cases. That cap tightens your margin, so accuracy matters. For LA rent stabilized units, also review the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Our Make Ready includes a 12-point photo report you can drop directly into your file.
What cleaning supplies do I need to clean an apartment?
Start with chemicals and tools that cover all soils. Degreaser, limescale remover, neutral floor cleaner, glass cleaner, wood-safe polish, and disinfectant wipes. Tools include microfiber towels, melamine pads, grout brush, scraper and blades, step stool, extension duster, vacuum with crevice tool, and a mop with fresh heads. Bring painter’s tape to flag dings for later repair. Keep spare bulbs, batteries, and a GFCI tester for quick wins. For pre-1978 buildings, do not disturb suspect paint unless trained. If the workload is too high for your schedule, our Make Ready service covers the full deep clean and photos, finished in 48 hours.
What is a turnover checklist?
It is the single source of truth for make-ready tasks. A good one assigns tasks, notes supplies, and sets a deadline for each step. It also embeds documentation needs, like photos of oven interiors before cleaning and after, plus a final panel of deposit items with costs. If you already use a broad list, compare it to the free template above and our longer version at /guides/apartment-turnover-checklist. If your buildings are in different submarkets, add a vacancy loss target per day at the top. That keeps the team moving when a unit sits in Downtown LA versus Brentwood. Finish with a final walk and checklist sign-off.
When does a checklist save the most money in LA?
When you hit two goals in the same 48-hour window. First, reduce days vacant. Second, replace guesswork with line-item documentation that supports real charges under state law. In practice, that means the unit is photographed, cleaned, repaired, and relisted before day three. If you are short on time, combine services. Book a half-day handyman punch list at $230 on day one while cleaning starts in the bath and kitchen. If walls need more help, add paint touch-up at $200 or a room repaint at $395. Then finish with the TLA Launch Pad Media Package at $399 so the listing goes live with fresh photos. Listing media across LA runs roughly $300 to $700. Doing all of this inside two days usually saves one or two vacancy days worth $80 to $400.