Quick answer: Across LA, a 1BR move-out clean usually costs $200 to $400 with 3 to 5 day lead times. TurnOver LA charges 1 Bedroom $255, Studio $225, 2 Bedroom $335, 3BR or larger $425, including a 12-point photo report, finished in 48 hours. Add paint touch-up $200 if needed. Get instant quote in 30 seconds.
The best move out cleaning in Los Angeles delivers a full reset on a tight clock, not a surface maid visit. At TurnOver LA, our Make Ready is a deep clean with a 12-point photo report and a flat 48-hour turnaround so you can list or hand keys fast. Get instant quote in 30 seconds.
What makes a move out cleaning service the best in Los Angeles?
The best provider in LA pairs predictable pricing with speed, documentation, and add-on capability. You want a firm that can clean, spot-paint, patch, rekey, and haul junk without restarting the schedule or stacking extra visits. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready includes a deep clean and a 12-point photo report so managers can document chargeable cleaning under California rules. If walls need love, our Paint touch-up only is $200, and if a room needs fresh paint it is $395 per room. If the tenant left trash, unit cleanout starts at Studio $200, 1 Bedroom $310, 2 Bedroom $420, 3BR or larger $420. Everything runs on a 48-hour clock which is critical in submarkets like West Hollywood and Downtown LA where vacancy loss is often $120 to $200 per day.
How much does a move-out clean cost in Los Angeles?
Across LA, a standard move-out clean for a 1BR typically lands between $200 and $400. Studios often come in at $150 to $300, and 2BR units at $300 to $550. That is market context, not our price. TurnOver LA’s exact Make Ready pricing is Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, 3BR or larger $425, and it includes a 12-point photo report and a flat 48-hour turnaround. If you need paint help on top, budget $200 for Paint touch-up only or $395 per room for full repaint, with ceilings and baseboard or trim at $125. These add-ons are same-schedule items, which keeps the clock tight. Get instant quote in 30 seconds.
| Scope item (LA market context) | Typical LA market range | TurnOver LA price |
|---|---|---|
| Move-out deep clean 1BR | $200 to $400 | 1 Bedroom $255 |
| Move-out deep clean Studio | $150 to $300 | Studio $225 |
| Move-out deep clean 2BR | $300 to $550 | 2 Bedroom $335 |
| Paint touch-up | $175 to $350 | Paint touch-up only $200 |
| Repaint per room | $300 to $800 per room | Repainting per room $395 / room |
| Junk haul 1BR | $250 to $500 | Unit cleanout 1 Bedroom $310 |
| Rekey 2 locks | $125 to $250 | Full apartment rekey $150 |
Market figures above are general LA context. TurnOver LA prices are fixed from our live catalog.
What exactly is included in TurnOver LA’s Make Ready?
Make Ready is our base turnover, not a maintenance checklist. It includes a deep clean of kitchen, bath, living, bedrooms, inside appliances where reachable, floors, baseboards, blinds dusting, fixtures, and a 12-point photo report that shows before and after, plus any damage or excluded items. We fold floor detailing into the clean, which means edge vacuuming, mop with appropriate chem, and spot attention for entry scuffs. We do not upsell basic appliances as line items, they are included in the Make Ready. If we spot issues like a loose GFCI, failed caulk, or a wobbly hinge, you can add a General maintenance or safety visit at $125, a Half-day handyman punch list at $230, or a Full-day handyman punch list at $425 on the same work order so you do not restart the clock.
Here is the typical Make Ready flow:
- Walkthrough and photo documentation, note exclusions and damages.
- Kitchen degrease, appliance interiors and exteriors, cabinet wipe, counters, backsplash.
- Bath descale, grout and caulk attention, mirrors, fixtures, and fan cover.
- All-room dust, vents, baseboards, blinds, door tops, switch plates.
- Glass and window tracks where accessible, sliders, and patio door frames.
- Floor detailing, vacuum and mop by surface, entry spot treatment.
- Final detail pass and 12-point photo report upload.
For the full scope and how it differs from housemaid services, see our guide on What is Make Ready and the Apartment Turnover Checklist.
Can a landlord charge you for cleaning after move-out in California?
Yes, if the cleaning is beyond ordinary wear and tear, and it restores the unit to the level of cleanliness at move-in. This is drawn from California Civil Code §1950.5 and the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide. Routine dust or minor traffic marks are not billable. Grease build-up, heavy oven soil, nicotine film, or pet urine residue typically are. Landlords must return deposits within 21 days with itemized deductions. See our walkthrough on the California 21-day deposit return and how we separate cleaning from damage. For LA RSO units, rent-control rules do not change the cleaning standard, but document thoroughly because local enforcement is active. The LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance page is a good reference on general compliance.
A recent change also matters for planning. Under AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap, many rentals will be limited to a one-month deposit, which tightens the margin for cleaning and repair deductions. Our 12-point photo report was designed to support clean, timely itemizations.
How fast should you schedule a move-out clean to cut vacancy loss?
Schedule it to finish inside 2 days of keys, then list. In LA, vacancy loss runs $80 to $200 per day depending on submarket. In places like Santa Monica and West Hollywood, it is common to see $150 to $200 per day in effective loss for a mid-range 1BR. With TurnOver LA, Make Ready completes in 48 hours. If you add Paint touch-up only at $200 or a couple of Small drywall patch and texture at $150 per patch, we keep it on the same 48-hour track by pairing tasks. That extra day you avoid is often worth more than the add-on itself. For DTLA and high-rise properties, we also handle insurance paperwork and elevator windows so the schedule does not slip. Get instant quote in 30 seconds.
Do you handle post-construction dust and heavy trash outs?
Yes, within the turnover lane. If you finish a light renovation, our Make Ready targets post-paint and punch-level dust, cabinet interiors, and appliance detailing. For heavier messes, add a Unit cleanout or junk haul at Studio $200, 1 Bedroom $310, 2 Bedroom $420, 3BR or larger $420. If the contractor left more debris than expected, add an Additional junk load for $200 per load. Our handyman crew can close out punch items with a Half-day at $230 or a Full-day at $425. For recurring remodel work or full post-construction phases, we can combine Make Ready with handyman services so you are not coordinating multiple vendors.
If you are unsure whether your unit is a standard Make Ready or a heavier post-construction clean, send the photos through the quote flow. We align scope to what the camera shows and keep the price to the catalog.
Will you also handle paint and drywall after cleaning?
Yes. Paint and minor drywall are where many turnovers stall. Across LA, interior repainting averages $2 to $4 per square foot, and single-room pricing commonly falls between $300 and $800. With TurnOver LA, Repainting per room is $395 per room. If walls are close and only need blend work, Paint touch-up only is $200. Ceilings and baseboard or trim are $125. For holes, Small drywall patch and texture is $150 per patch, and Medium drywall repair is $240 per patch. We schedule these with the clean under the same 48-hour window when possible, which prevents that third vendor day from eating into your rent clock. See the service line under painting and drywall.
If cabinets or built-ins are scuffed, Sand and repaint cabinets or shelving is $135, which is often cheaper than replacement and looks clean in photos.
What is the 80/20 rule in house cleaning and should you use it on move-outs?
The 80/20 rule is a way to say that 20 percent of tasks create 80 percent of the result. It is a useful idea for daily housekeeping, but not for move-outs. Deposits and fair housing equal treatment depend on consistent, full-scope cleaning. We do the full reset so a new tenant does not find the forgotten 20 percent on day one. In practice, we still target the highest impact first, like kitchen degrease and baths, but we do not leave behind baseboard dust lines, oven racks, or window tracks that a resident will notice in the first week. That is how you avoid callbacks and chargebacks.
Which LA neighborhoods do you cover for move-out cleaning?
We cover the core LA basin and nearby cities including West Hollywood, Downtown LA, Hollywood, Koreatown, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Culver City, Pasadena, Glendale, and more. If you run clustered portfolios, we can route crews to knock out same-day adjacent units with separate photo reports. See our West Hollywood coverage for a local example. If you operate in multiple submarkets, we can coordinate keys with building staff and HOAs to keep the 48-hour clock clean.
How to decide between cleaning only and a full turnover package?
If the unit is mechanically sound and walls are cleanable, the Make Ready may be enough. If walls have heavy scuffs, faded color, or patched areas, add Paint touch-up only at $200 or Repainting per room at $395 per room. If there is move-out trash, use Unit cleanout at Studio $200, 1 Bedroom $310, 2 Bedroom $420, 3BR or larger $420. Need locks updated, add Full apartment rekey at $150 or Smart lock install at $210. Want to list fast, add the TLA Launch Pad Media Package at $399 to feed your ad and listing channels with one visit. See our Make Ready service and the internal move-out cleaning guide for more detail.
A single work order with these items is almost always cheaper in time than splitting vendors. That is the practical way to hit a two-day target and avoid a third day of vacancy loss.
What do you get beyond cleaning that helps with compliance?
Two operational items matter. First, the 12-point photo report lines up with California’s 21-day itemization requirement and makes it easier to show what was cleaning versus damage. Review the California Tenants Guide for the state’s perspective, and see our notes on normal wear and tear in California. Second, we keep a consistent scope by unit type so your charges are even across tenants. In rent-controlled zones, that consistency helps during any inquiry. If you manage RSO properties, bookmark the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance resource.
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Real-world examples from LA turns
- DTLA elevator windows are often limited to 2 hours per move. We schedule cleanout first, then deep clean, then a quick paint touch-up while the elevator slot is open so you are not fined for overruns.
- In beach-adjacent units, salt film builds on windows and balcony rails. We include frame and track detailing in Make Ready so photos look crisp.
- Westside 1960s buildings often have failing tub caulk. A General maintenance or safety visit at $125 lets us cut and replace caulk same day, which prevents mildew complaints in week one after move-in.
If you want a single vendor who can handle these nuances without resetting the clock, that is our lane. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
Bottom line: who is the best move out cleaning in Los Angeles?
Best means operationally reliable. In LA that looks like fixed catalog pricing, a 48-hour finish, add-ons handled on the same work order, and documented photos that support deposit compliance. Across LA, market 1BR cleans often run $200 to $400. TurnOver LA is 1 Bedroom $255, Studio $225, 2 Bedroom $335, 3BR or larger $425, with paint, drywall, junk haul, locks, handyman, and media available as add-ons at fixed rates. If that is the package you want, we are ready.