Quick answer: Across Los Angeles, move-out deep cleaning for a 1 bedroom typically runs $200 to $450, and 2 bedrooms $300 to $600. TurnOver LA charges $255 for a 1BR Make Ready and $335 for a 2BR, including a deep clean and a 12 point photo report, completed in 48 hours, citywide.
If you are choosing the best apartment cleaning service in Los Angeles for turnovers, prioritize crews built for move-outs, not recurring housekeeping. You want fixed pricing by unit type, documentation for your deposit file, and a 48 hour path to relist. TurnOver LA was built for that use case with flat Make Ready rates and add-on repair options. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What makes an apartment cleaning service the best for LA turnovers?
For a vacancy in LA, the best cleaning service is one that reduces days empty and closes your deposit file cleanly. That means turnover scope, predictable price, photos for before and after, and scheduling that plays well with painters and handymen. In West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Koreatown, vacancy loss often runs $80 to $200 per day, so a reliable 48 hour turnaround matters more than a lower hourly rate that slips a day. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is purpose built for move-outs, not maid visits. It includes a deep clean across kitchen, baths, floors, and touch points, plus a 12 point photo report you can share with residents or attach to your ledger notes. When needed, you can bolt on painting, drywall patches, handyman punch, rekeys, and a junk haul so one vendor carries the unit from keys to listing media.
How much does apartment move-out cleaning cost in Los Angeles?
Across LA, typical market pricing for move-out deep cleaning is unit based. Studios often run $150 to $300, 1 bedrooms $200 to $450, and 2 bedrooms $300 to $600 depending on soil level, pet hair, and parking access. With TurnOver LA the Make Ready is a flat rate by size with a 48 hour turnaround: Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, 3BR or larger $425. That price includes a deep clean plus a 12 point photo report. If you also need repairs or paint, add those line items rather than paying a bloated bundled “full turnover” quote. A clean, documented unit reduces disputes under California Civil Code §1950.5 and keeps you on track for the 21 day deposit timeline. For broader budget planning, see our guide on LA turnover costs at /guides/apartment-turnover-cost-los-angeles.
| Unit size | LA market move-out clean | TurnOver LA Make Ready |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $150 to $300 | $225 |
| 1 Bedroom | $200 to $450 | $255 |
| 2 Bedroom | $300 to $600 | $335 |
| 3BR or larger | $400 to $800 | $425 |
What does TurnOver LA’s Make Ready include?
Make Ready is our base turnover package. It combines a deep clean with documentation so you can relist and substantiate deductions. Scope includes kitchen degrease and wipe out, appliance fronts and exteriors, bath descaling and sanitize, floor detailing throughout, light switch and handle touch points, interior windows and sills, and final dust down. You also receive a 12 point photo report, which is useful for deposit notes and to confirm habitability under LAHD standards. If odor control is needed, see our guides on pet odor removal at /guides/pet-odor-removal-apartment-los-angeles and smoke mitigation at /guides/how-to-remove-smoke-smell-from-apartment. Make Ready details live here: /services/make-ready. If you are new to the term, we explain it in /guides/what-is-make-ready and outline move-out scope differences at /guides/move-out-cleaning-los-angeles.
Is $50 an hour for cleaning good in LA?
Hourly quotes for move-out cleaning in LA span roughly $40 to $65 per hour for independent cleaners, with some insured teams on the Westside quoting $75 to $90 per hour. The problem is unit readiness is not a time and materials goal. You are optimizing days vacant and documentation. TurnOver LA prices by unit, not by the hour, which removes clock watching and scope drift. Our Make Ready is Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, 3BR or larger $425, with a 48 hour commitment. If you prefer hourly oversight for an unusual condition, book a Half-day handyman punch list at $230 for punch work after the clean, but keep cleaning itself unit based so you know when you will be on market. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What is the 3:30 rule for cleaning and should landlords use it?
The 3:30 rule is a housekeeping tip where you pick three tasks that can each be done in about 30 minutes to avoid overwhelm. It helps residents maintain a home, but it is not a turnover management tool. Vacant units require a fixed, sequenced scope that fits painters, handymen, and rekeys without stepping on each other. In a Downtown LA 1 bedroom, for example, we batch by zone: kitchen, bath, then living and bedroom with a final floor detail after painters finish. The better framework for landlords is to time box the whole turnover at 48 hours, not chores in 30 minute bites. Tie your schedule to vacancy loss math and coordinate trades before you start.
Is two hours a week enough for a cleaner in an LA apartment?
For a resident’s recurring housekeeping plan, two hours a week can keep a small unit tidy. For a vacancy, it is the wrong unit of measure. A studio move-out can run two to four labor hours depending on soil, a 2 bedroom five to eight, sometimes more with pets. Rather than buying hours, buy a result. Our Make Ready is a fixed outcome with a flat price and photos, so you know when you will be ready for painters or photos. Use recurring cleaning as a resident amenity, and a separate turnover crew for move-outs. If you operate under LA’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance, make sure common area standards do not slip between residents, since habitability is enforced under the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance.
Do you also handle painting, repairs, locks and junk haul after cleaning?
Yes, and that is where one-vendor coordination saves you a day. After Make Ready, you can add Painting and Drywall at published rates: Paint touch-up only $200, Repainting per room $395 per room, Ceilings and baseboard or trim $125, Sand and repaint cabinets or shelving $135, Small drywall patch and texture $150 per patch, Medium drywall repair $240 per patch. For repairs, book General maintenance or safety visit $125, a Half-day handyman punch list $230, or a Full-day handyman punch list $425. Need keys reset for new occupants or RSO compliance after turnover, use Rekey first lock $100, Additional lock rekey $50 per lock, Full apartment rekey up to 2 locks $150, or Lock rekey front and deadbolt $110. Junk left behind, Unit cleanout or junk haul is Studio $200, 1 Bedroom $310, 2 Bedroom $420, 3BR or larger $420, with Additional junk load $200 per load. When the unit is ready, order the TLA Launch Pad Media Package at $399 to relist. See painting details at /services/painting-drywall and punch work at /services/handyman.
How do you schedule a 48 hour turnover in West Hollywood or Koreatown?
We run the same clock in every submarket, including West Hollywood and Koreatown, because vacancy costs in those areas often land near the upper end of the $80 to $200 per day range.
- Day 0 afternoon: Walk the unit, capture incoming photos, remove trash bulk if needed.
- Day 1 morning: Make Ready deep clean and 12 point photo report.
- Day 1 afternoon: Paint touch-ups or per room repaint while surfaces are dust free.
- Day 1 late: Handyman punch list, hardware swaps, and safety check.
- Day 2 morning: Rekey and any remaining finish items. Final floor detail.
- Day 2 mid-day: Launch Pad listing photos and media capture.
- Day 2 afternoon: Publish listing and hand over keys. Target same-day showings.
Coordinating these steps with one vendor removes idle time between trades. For specific neighborhood considerations, see our West Hollywood turnovers at /areas/west-hollywood. If deposit deductions will be taken, align your file with California Civil Code §1950.5 and the California Tenants Guide, and aim to mail within 21 days as outlined at /guides/california-21-day-deposit-return.
How much does it usually cost to paint an apartment in LA?
Across Los Angeles, repainting prices vary by room size and trim complexity. Market rates commonly range from $300 to $600 per room for walls, with ceilings and trim as adders. TurnOver LA publishes flat menu pricing so you can build a real scope without surprises. Repainting per room is $395 per room, Ceilings and baseboard or trim $125, Sand and repaint cabinets or shelving $135. For drywall dings from furniture or TV mounts, Small drywall patch and texture is $150 per patch and Medium drywall repair is $240 per patch. If a full repaint is not needed, Paint touch-up only is $200, which often pairs well with Make Ready to control spend in rent controlled buildings. See painting options at /services/painting-drywall and our normal wear and tear guidance at /guides/normal-wear-and-tear-california.
What documentation should you collect for LA deposits and RSO units?
For deposits in California, you must provide an itemized statement with receipts if deductions are taken and return any balance within 21 days. A 12 point photo report attached to your ledger notes helps you comply and resolve disputes faster. Refer to California Civil Code §1950.5 for deposit rules and the California Tenants Guide for plain-language explanations. If your unit is under the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance, keep habitability and service level consistent between tenancies, and note that work that is not beyond normal wear and tear is typically not chargeable to the tenant. When in doubt, anchor your file to dated photos and specific line items.
Ready to move a unit from keys to live listing in 48 hours with documented cleaning and add-ons when needed, book your scope now. Get instant quote in 30 seconds