Quick answer: You can use the free, printable apartment turnover cleaning checklist below and save it as a PDF. It covers room-by-room cleaning, supplies, documentation, and pass-off steps. If you would rather outsource the whole make-ready, TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is $225 to $425 by unit size with a 48-hour turnaround. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
Yes. Below you will find a complete, LA-ready turnover cleaning checklist laid out in the right order so you can print or save to PDF. It pairs with a supply list and quick notes on photos, deposit deductions, and when to add locks or light repairs. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What is a turnover checklist, and why does sequence matter?
A turnover checklist is a standard sequence of cleaning and light prep that gets a vacant unit photo-ready, safe, and compliant. The order matters because wet work, dust, and ventilation can undo earlier steps if you go out of sequence. The right flow also reduces vacancy time. Start with dry dusting high to low, then degrease kitchens, descale baths, address walls and baseboards, finish with floors, and run a final touch pass. If you want an all-in-one service that follows this exact order, our Make Ready service includes a deep clean plus a 12-point photo report.
Free apartment turnover cleaning checklist PDF: how should I use it?
Use this checklist as a single source of truth during the make-ready. Print it, assign initials and dates, and attach photo references. Work one room at a time, top to bottom, then close the door. For a digital PDF, use your browser Print function and save as PDF. If a step reveals damage or safety items, tag with blue tape and note on the sheet for a punch list. Leave ventilation on during degreasing and after any painting. When done, add photos to your tenant file.
- Entry and living areas: dust from ceiling to floor, including fans and returns. 2) Kitchen: degrease hood, oven, and cabinets. 3) Bathrooms: descale, disinfect, and re-caulk if needed. 4) Bedrooms: fixtures, closets, blinds. 5) Windows, tracks, and screens. 6) Baseboards and doors. 7) Switch plates and outlets. 8) Appliances inside and out. 9) Floors last. 10) Final touch and photos.
What cleaning supplies do I need to deep clean an apartment?
Stock one caddy per unit so staff are not backtracking. You need microfiber cloths, non-scratch scrub pads, a razor scraper, grout brush, degreaser, scale remover, bathroom disinfectant, neutral floor cleaner, glass cleaner, stainless polish, wood-safe cleaner, melamine sponges, blue tape for notes, nitrile gloves, masks when using acids, HEPA vacuum with crevice tools, a step ladder, and replacement stove drip pans. Keep spare 60 watt bulbs, 9 volt batteries for smoke alarms, and an outlet tester. For odors from pets or smoke, see our guides on pet odor removal and smoke smell removal.
What is the right room-by-room order for turnover cleaning?
The most common time-wasters are working wet before dusting and cleaning floors too early. Follow this sequence: 1) Set HVAC fan to on, open windows if secure. 2) High dust in all rooms, then mid surfaces, then baseboards. 3) Kitchen degrease and appliance interiors. 4) Bathrooms descale and disinfect, scrub grout, re-caulk if needed. 5) Windows, tracks, screens. 6) Spot walls and doors, wipe switch plates. 7) Bedrooms and closets. 8) Final vacuum and mop from back rooms to exit. 9) Hardware polish. 10) Photos and lock-up.
How much does turnover cleaning cost in LA, and what does TurnOver LA charge?
Across Los Angeles, professional move-out deep cleans typically run 200 to 350 for a studio, 250 to 450 for a 1BR, 325 to 600 for a 2BR, and 425 to 750 for a 3BR, depending on soil level and add-ons. With TurnOver LA, Make Ready is a flat Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, and 3BR or larger $425, with a 12-point photo report and a 48-hour turnaround. If the unit needs trash-out, add Studio $200, 1 Bedroom $310, 2 Bedroom $420, or 3BR or larger $420 for cleanout. This pricing is fixed and published, and there is no rush upcharge.
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What is the 20 10 rule for cleaning, and does it help with turnovers?
The 20 10 rule means work for 20 minutes, then rest for 10 minutes. It came from habit-building methods to prevent burnout. For apartment turns, it helps maintain pace on heavy jobs without cutting corners. Use it on oven and tub work, which are the highest friction tasks. Keep the 10 minute break away from the unit to let cleaners air out after using degreaser or acid. On a strict vacancy-loss clock, schedule blocks like two 90 minute sets in the morning and again after lunch to keep momentum.
How do you calculate tenant turnover rate?
Tenant turnover rate is the percent of units that move out over a period. Take number of move-outs in the period, divide by total units, then multiply by 100. Example: a 40 unit Koreatown building with 12 move-outs last year has a 30 percent annual turnover rate. In LA under the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance framework, stabilized buildings may see lower turnover due to rent caps and relocation rules. Track by unit type and floor to see patterns that impact cleaning load and scheduling.
What is a good turnover rate for apartments in LA?
It varies by submarket and vintage. In many LA mid-market properties, 25 to 40 percent annual turnover is common. Older RSO buildings can run lower, newer lease-up assets in Downtown LA can run higher early on. A good rate is one you can service without spiking vacancy loss. Aim to align cleaning and punch staffing so units post within 48 hours of key return. For the legal side of deposits and timelines, see the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide and California Tenants Guide.
What documentation should be in the checklist to support deposit deductions?
Build documentation into the workflow. Before photos at move-in, check-in sheet, and after photos at move-out paired with the cleaning checklist. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready includes a 12-point photo report that organizes this for you. If you plan to deduct for cleaning, itemize it and cite your evidence. California Civil Code §1950.5 requires accounting and return of the security deposit within the statutory deadline, and AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap limits most new residential deposits to one month’s rent starting July 2024. Read California Civil Code §1950.5 for exact language.
Should I add locks, paint, or minor repairs during turnover?
Yes, if the item affects safety, habitability, or photos. Typical quick adds: rekey or smart lock, touch-up paint, small drywall patches, and a safety check. Market rates in LA vary, but our published rates are fixed. Rekey options are $100 for the first lock or $150 for a full apartment rekey up to 2 locks. Smart lock install is $210. Paint touch-up only is $200, or repainting per room is $395. Small drywall patch is $150 per patch. A general maintenance and safety visit is $125. You can bundle cleaning with hardware work via our locks and security services.
What is the exact room-by-room turnover cleaning checklist I can print?
Use this short version when you need a one-page PDF. Check off, initial, add time stamps, and snap photos after each section.
- Entry and common: high dust fans, returns, and corners. Wipe doors, knobs, switch plates. Clean baseboards. Vacuum and mop.
- Kitchen: degrease hood, filters, backsplash. Clean oven, racks, and drip pans. Fridge in and out, under and behind. Cabinets in and out. Sink and disposal. Counters and pulls. Floors last.
- Bathroom: descale shower walls, glass, and fixtures. Disinfect tub, toilet, and sink. Grout scrub. Mirror streak-free. Cabinets and drawers in and out. Re-caulk if needed.
- Bedrooms and closets: dust blinds, fixtures, and shelves. Wipe doors and tracks. Vacuum closet floors and shelves. Floors last.
- Windows: tracks, sills, and glass, then reinstall clean screens. Polish hardware.
- Final: polish stainless, spot walls and doors, replace bulbs, test GFCI and smoke detectors, vacuum and mop exit path. Photos and lock-up.
If any heavy odors persist, use our references for pet odor removal and smoke smell removal, or escalate to Make Ready.
How does cleaning speed affect vacancy loss in LA?
Every extra day off-market costs roughly 80 to 200 depending on submarket. In Santa Monica and West Hollywood, that number can sit near the high end due to rent levels. A two day standard keeps marketing photos fresh while utilities are still on and avoids stale listings. Our crews operate on a flat 48-hour turnaround on every job, no rush fee. If you are coordinating leasing photos, you can pair cleaning with the TLA Launch Pad Media Package at $399 to list faster.
What if I do not want to DIY the cleaning, can I just book a Make Ready?
Yes. Across LA, many owners outsource to hit 48 hours confidently. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, 3BR or larger $425, and includes a 12-point photo report you can drop into your deposit accounting. If you also need a small punch, add a half-day handyman punch list at $230 or a general safety visit at $125. Book online for an instant price and time window.
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Related guides and when to use them
- If you want the broader sequence across cleaning, paint, and punch, see the Apartment turnover checklist.
- For deposit timing and itemization, see California 21 day deposit return and Normal wear and tear in California.
- New to the term Make Ready, start with What is make-ready.
Can I install a smart lock myself, or should a pro do it?
If the door is standard thickness and the bore holes match the lock spec, many owners can install a basic smart deadbolt with a screwdriver. Problems show up with misaligned strikes, steel doors, or old mortise hardware. For speed and liability, we handle it at a published Smart lock install price of $210, with rekey options if you stay analog. See our locks and security page for details.
Final note for LA owners using the checklist
Keep the checklist with your photos in the tenant file. Price out cleaning against vacancy loss, not just the task. A 255 cleaning that cuts two days of downtime may save 160 to 400 on vacancy alone. If you need a done-for-you option with fixed menu pricing and a 48-hour guarantee, book Make Ready and add small repairs as needed. Get instant quote in 30 seconds