Quick answer: Apartment turnover services cover the work to take a vacant unit to rent ready, including cleaning, paint, repairs, lock work, and listing media. Across LA, a basic 1 bedroom turnover clean typically runs 250 to 500. TurnOver LA Make Ready is 255 for a 1 bedroom, repainting is 395 per room, and a full apartment rekey is 150, all completed in 48 hours.
Apartment turnover services in LA bundle make ready cleaning, basic painting, small repairs, lock changes, and listing media so you can re-list fast with clean documentation. Market prices vary by neighborhood and scope, but we publish our rates and hold a 48-hour turnaround. You can book the base Make Ready or stack items like repainting, lock work, and media as needed. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What are apartment turnover services in LA?
Apartment turnover services are the practical steps to move a unit from just-vacated to rent-ready. In Los Angeles that usually means a deep clean, paint touch-ups or room repaints, drywall patches, safety and maintenance checks, lock rekey or replacement, removal of any left junk, and listing media. At TurnOver LA, the base is the Make Ready, a deep clean plus a 12 point photo report that documents condition room by room. From there, you add painting per room, handyman punch list time, rekeys, and a media package if you handle leasing in house. The goal is to compress both labor hours and vacancy days, which in LA commonly cost 80 to 200 per day depending on submarket.
How much do apartment turnover services cost in Los Angeles?
Across LA, vendors price a la carte and by the hour, so a 1 bedroom turn can land anywhere from 600 to 2,000 depending on paint, repairs, and lock work. Our menu is flat rate and published. The Make Ready is 255 for a 1 bedroom. Repainting is 395 per room. A full apartment rekey up to 2 locks is 150. A 1 bedroom junk haul is 310. Listing media is a single 399 package. Every booking is targeted to a 48 hour completion, with no rush fee. Booking is instant and you see the total before you commit. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
LA market vs TurnOver LA pricing at a glance
| Scope | Typical LA market range | TurnOver LA price |
|---|---|---|
| Make Ready clean, 1BR | 250 to 500 | 255 for 1 Bedroom |
| Make Ready clean, Studio | 200 to 450 | 225 for Studio |
| Make Ready clean, 2BR | 300 to 650 | 335 for 2 Bedroom |
| Make Ready clean, 3BR+ | 400 to 800 | 425 for 3BR or larger |
| Paint touch up | 150 to 350 | 200 touch up only |
| Repaint per room | 300 to 700 per room | 395 per room |
| Drywall small patch | 120 to 250 per patch | 150 per patch |
| Drywall medium patch | 180 to 400 per patch | 240 per patch |
| Cabinet or shelf sand and repaint | 120 to 300 | 135 |
| General maintenance visit | 100 to 200 | 125 |
| Handyman half day | 250 to 450 | 230 |
| Handyman full day | 400 to 650 | 425 |
| Unit cleanout 1BR | 250 to 600 | 310 |
| Additional junk load | 150 to 300 | 200 per load |
| Full apartment rekey | 120 to 250 | 150 up to 2 locks |
| Rekey front plus deadbolt | 90 to 180 | 110 |
| Smart lock install | 150 to 300 | 210 |
| Listing photos and media | 250 to 600 | 399 TLA Launch Pad |
For full inclusions, see our Make Ready service page and painting options on Painting and Drywall.
What is included in a Make Ready clean and photo report?
The Make Ready is the turnover backbone. We deep clean kitchen and bath surfaces, appliances in and out, floors, baseboards, blinds, windows and tracks, plus spot clean walls. We vacuum floor edges to prep for paint if ordered. We also include a 12 point photo report that documents unit entry, kitchen, bath, bedrooms, living areas, closets, patio or balcony, ceilings, walls, floors, and any damage or missing items. That report supports deposit deductions under California Civil Code §1950.5 and helps you distinguish tenant damage from normal wear and tear. If you need a fuller scope list, our What is Make Ready guide lays out the cleaning standard we follow.
How do I plan a 48 hour turnover timeline without losing rent?
Most of the waste happens in sequencing. Here is a practical 48 hour playbook we run on a standard 1 bedroom in places like West Hollywood or Koreatown:
- Day 1 morning: Key exchange, walk unit, set photos, start junk haul if needed.
- Day 1 mid day: Drywall patches first, then cabinet sanding if applicable.
- Day 1 afternoon: Paint touch ups or room repaints. Let dry overnight.
- Day 2 morning: Make Ready deep clean, focus on kitchen and bath last.
- Day 2 mid day: Swap locks and install any smart lock. Replace smoke and CO batteries.
- Day 2 afternoon: Listing media session. Set to publish the same day.
That order keeps dust and paint ahead of cleaning and locks last for security. With vacancy loss at 80 to 200 per day, cutting even one day pays for multiple line items. If you need a detailed checklist, use our free Apartment Turnover Checklist. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What is the tenant turnover formula and how do I estimate vacancy loss?
Turnover math is simple and useful. Total Turnover Cost equals Direct Costs plus Vacancy Loss. Direct Costs are your chosen line items like Make Ready, painting, patches, and rekey. Vacancy Loss equals Daily Rent Loss times Days Vacant. Daily rent loss is market rent divided by 30, or you can use the LA baseline of 80 to 200 per day by submarket. Example for a 1 bedroom in Echo Park: Make Ready 255 plus repaint one room 395 plus rekey 150 equals 800 direct. If you hold 3 days vacant at 140 per day, vacancy is 420. Total is 1,220. A tight 48 hour turnover trims that vacancy to 280, saving 140. For more on vacancy math, see Property Managers and Vacancy Loss in Los Angeles.
Which repairs should I prioritize before repainting?
You save time and money by batching messy work ahead of paint. Prioritize drywall patches, cabinet sanding, and any ceiling work first. Then handle paint touch up or room repaints. We price small drywall patches at 150 per patch, medium patches at 240 per patch, paint touch up at 200, and per room repaints at 395. If cabinets or shelves are tired, sand and repaint at 135 often extends life by a full tenancy. Finish with ceilings and baseboard or trim at 125 to clean up edges. A short general maintenance visit at 125 can catch GFCIs, loose strikes, and trip hazards before the final clean.
How do keys, locks, and access work during a turnover?
Control of keys and access reduces risk. In LA, many managers rekey between tenancies and document it for the deposit file. We offer several choices: rekey first lock at 100, additional locks at 50 per lock, a lock rekey front plus deadbolt at 110, or a full apartment rekey up to two locks at 150. If you are moving to a smart lock, the install is 210. We coordinate technician access with your site lead or resident manager and we return keys tagged to your standard. For RSO properties, we follow LA entry notice rules and the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance guidance on repairs during vacancy.
What documentation do I need for security deposit deductions?
California requires itemized deductions within 21 days of move out. Your file should include the move in condition, move out photos, invoices, and receipts for parts or third party labor. Our Make Ready includes a 12 point photo report, which helps support deductions under California Civil Code §1950.5. If you are new to the timeline, read our guide on the California 21 Day Deposit Return. Also note the updated deposit cap rules in AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap. The state’s California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide is a solid reference.
Do I need special steps for pet or smoke odor units?
If you smell pet or smoke during the walk, flag it early. Odor work needs to sit in the schedule ahead of final cleaning and media. We often combine an enzyme treatment, surface deodorizer, and targeted repainting. You can start with our specific guides on Pet odor removal in apartments and How to remove smoke smell from an apartment. Even one extra day of vacancy in Venice or Pasadena can cost more than the treatment, so it pays to decide on Day 1. If floors need heavy detailing, that is handled inside Make Ready scope.
When should I order listing photos and media?
Schedule media to land late on Day 2 after locks are changed and the clean is final. That minimizes reshoots and lets you publish the same day. Across LA, media packages range from 250 to 600. Our TLA Launch Pad listing media is a single 399 package. It is designed for classic LA stock, including small kitchens and tight bedrooms that need careful angles. If you only do one add on for a fast lease up, make it media. Google refresh on a new listing hour one is often the difference between a weekend showing calendar filled or half empty. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
Where does TurnOver LA work and how do I book?
We operate across the basin, including West Hollywood, Koreatown, Downtown LA, and the Valley. If you are central, Mid City is typically easy for same week starts. You can review inclusions on our Make Ready page and stack painting, repairs, rekey, junk haul, and media as needed. Every booking targets a 48 hour completion, with no rush or same day upcharge. Start a quote and lock the window here. Get instant quote in 30 seconds