Is there a free apartment turnover cleaning checklist for LA?

Quick answer: Yes. Below is a free, copyable LA apartment turnover cleaning checklist you can use today. It is sequenced for real 48-hour turns and includes supplies, room-by-room tasks, and photo documentation. If you decide to outsource, typical LA 1BR move-out cleans run $275 to $450, while our Make Ready is $255 with a 12-point photo report. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

Los Angeles landlords use a turnover cleaning checklist to cut vacancy days, protect deposit compliance, and standardize quality. The free checklist below covers pre-clean prep, room-by-room cleaning, and final QC, plus where to collect photos. For owners who want it done for them, our Make Ready is Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, 3BR or larger $425, with a flat 48-hour turnaround. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

What is a turnover cleaning checklist and how should you use it?

A turnover cleaning checklist is a step-by-step set of tasks for move-out and make ready. In LA, your list should start before the mop hits the floor. First, confirm keys, utilities, and work sequencing with any paint or repairs. Then clean top to bottom, dry to wet, least dirty to most dirty. Photo evidence protects you under California Civil Code §1950.5 and the 21-day deposit clock. Use the same checklist every unit so you can hand it to an in-house porter, a vendor, or a new manager without retraining. In Koreatown or Santa Monica, the tasks are the same, but your scheduling changes by building rules and elevator access. Repeatable steps remove guesswork and help you hit a two-day target.

What does a free LA apartment turnover cleaning checklist include?

Copy and paste this into your operations doc, then attach it to every move-out.

1. Pre-clean preparation

• Retrieve all keys and fobs. Verify utility status and hot water.
• Walk the unit for junk, damages, and safety issues. Tag paint and patch areas.
• Pull appliances 3 to 6 inches for access. Unplug if needed.
• Remove switch plates, vent covers, and light shades. Bag and label screws.
• Open windows, set box fan for cross-ventilation.

2. Dry clean and dust high to low

• Ceilings, corners, crown, vents, and exhaust fans.
• Ceiling fans and light fixtures.
• Door tops, frames, and baseboards.
• Blinds and window tracks.

3. Kitchen deep clean

• Degrease range hood, filters, and backsplash.
• Oven detail, including racks and door glass.
• Pull and clean behind stove and fridge, clean drip pan and coils if exposed.
• Inside and outside of fridge, freezer, and dishwasher.
• Cabinets, shelves, drawers, and hardware. Sanitize pulls.
• Sink, faucet aerators, garbage disposal, and caulk touch points.
• Countertops and backsplashes, sanitize and rinse.

4. Bathroom deep clean

• Exhaust fan cover and housing wash.
• Descale shower walls, tub, glass, and fixtures.
• Grout and caulk detail, note any failed caulk for repair.
• Toilet full detail including hinges and tank top.
• Vanity, drawers, mirror, and light bar.
• Sink aerator and drain clean, check P-trap leaks.

5. Living areas and bedrooms

• Windows interior, tracks, and sills. Spot clean screens.
• Closet shelves and rods, sliders top tracks.
• Door hardware, switch plates, and outlet covers.
• Spot clean walls if no repaint, erase scuffs where possible.

6. Floors last

• Vacuum every surface, including under appliances and behind doors.
• Mop from far corner out, change water as needed.
• Detail thresholds and edges.

7. Final pass and resets

• Replace filters, reinstall plates and covers.
• Test smoke and CO detectors. Replace batteries if needed.
• Set thermostat to showing temperature.
• Deodorize with ventilation, not fragrance. If smoke or pet odors persist, see our guides on pet odor removal and smoke smell removal.
• Take after photos per the 12-point list below.

8. 12-point photo report

• Entry door exterior and interior.
• Kitchen wide, oven open, fridge open.
• Bath wide, tub surround, under-sink cabinet.
• Living area wide, each bedroom wide.
• One photo of each window track and floor corner.

Which cleaning supplies do you need for an apartment make ready?

Keep one standardized caddy so any tech can run the turn. Supply list: microfiber cloths, melamine sponges, non-scratch pads, grout brush, nylon detail brush, extendable duster, squeegee, razor scraper, degreaser, alkaline cleaner, mild acid descaler, glass cleaner, neutral floor cleaner, stainless steel polish, bleach-free disinfectant, wood-safe cleaner, garbage bags, gloves, knee pads, painter’s tape, and a box fan. Add vacuum with crevice tools and a mop system that wrings clean water. In older LA stock you also want a coil brush for older fridges and a step ladder that fits narrow halls. Label and restock after every job so no one arrives short on chemicals.

How long should a turnover cleaning take in LA?

Time depends on scope and whether you are also painting and doing repairs. For a vacant 1BR without repaint, a trained two-person crew finishes cleaning in 3.5 to 5 hours. Add 1 to 2 hours for heavy oven, fridge, and window track build-up. If you repaint a room or patch drywall, sequence that before wet cleaning to avoid dust landing on fresh surfaces. Portfolio managers aim for a 48-hour total path because vacancy in LA runs roughly $80 to $200 per day depending on submarket. Our schedule is built around that number, which is why every TurnOver LA job carries a flat 48-hour turnaround. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

What does apartment turnover cleaning cost in LA vs TurnOver LA pricing?

Across LA, a 1BR move-out cleaning typically runs $275 to $450 depending on soil level and appliances. Two bedrooms usually run $350 to $600. At TurnOver LA, Make Ready is a flat Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, 3BR or larger $425, and it includes a 12-point photo report.

If trashouts, paint, or repairs are needed, budget them as separate line items. Our add-ons from the catalog include Unit cleanout Studio $200, 1 Bedroom $310, 2 Bedroom $420, 3BR or larger $420, Paint touch-up $200, and a Half-day handyman punch list $230. Build only what your unit needs so you do not overspend.

How do you coordinate repairs, paint, and cleaning in the same 48 hours?

Stacking trades saves days when done in the right order. Use this 7-step sequence:

1. Keys and utilities check. Photograph existing condition.
2. Remove junk. Order unit cleanout if needed.
3. Drywall patches and paint plan. If only minor scuffs, schedule paint touch-up for 1 to 2 hours.
4. Handyman safety and function. Run a handyman punch list to fix doors, blinds, and GFCIs.
5. Dusting and high cleaning after sanding. Vacuum all edges.
6. Full Make Ready clean. Wet clean last, then reinstall plates and filters.
7. Rekey and photos. Use locks and security, then order the TLA Launch Pad Media Package if listing this week.

This flow reduces redo from dust fall and keeps wet floors for last so trades are not tracking. In elevator buildings, reserve elevator windows before you schedule day one.

How do you calculate and reduce your apartment turnover rate?

Turnover rate is the number of units that had move-outs during a period, divided by total rentable units. If you turned 18 units out of 120 last year, your turnover rate was 15 percent. In LA, stabilized vintage buildings often see 20 to 35 percent yearly because of rent levels and roommate changes. You reduce turnover rate by stabilizing renewals and by shortening vacancies. A 48-hour make ready track shaves 2 to 5 days of vacancy loss per unit. That is $160 to $1,000 saved per turn at $80 to $200 per day. Standardized checklists, same crew, and pre-booked elevators are the quiet drivers of that improvement.

What is the 20 10 rule for cleaning and does it work for turnovers?

The 20 10 rule says clean for 20 minutes, take a 10 minute break. It can help home decluttering, but turnover cleaning is production work. You schedule by task blocks, not timers. For example, 45 minutes to detail an oven and hood, 30 minutes to pull and clean behind appliances, 20 minutes to dust high surfaces in a 1BR. Crew leads move to the dirtiest zone while the second tech stages bathrooms. The better rule for turns is dry to wet, high to low, clean to dirty, then floors. That cuts backtracking and keeps you on the vacancy clock.

What documentation do you need for deposits under California law?

Under California Civil Code §1950.5, you must itemize deductions for cleaning beyond ordinary wear and return the remainder within 21 days. The 12-point photo report in this checklist lines up with that requirement. Be aware of AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap for most rentals. If your unit is under the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance, keep rent registration current, and document tenant-caused damages separately from age-based replacement. Consistent photos before and after are your best defense if a deposit dispute escalates to a demand letter.

What cleaning tasks commonly fall through the cracks in LA apartments?

Three misses cost the most in complaints and callbacks. First, window tracks and weep holes, which collect black grime and mold dots. Second, range hood filter degreasing, which still smells on move-in if you skip it. Third, exhaust fans that look clean outside but are caked inside the housing. Also watch for balcony pigeon droppings, which need safe removal and bagging. In older buildings, cabinet pulls are sticky and require a degreaser, not just a wipe. Finally, baseboard tops in long hallways are easy to miss. Add each of these as named lines in your QC so you can call them inspected, not assumed.

When should you rekey and prep for listing photos?

Rekey after cleaning so new keys stay clean and to avoid handling locks with wet hands. Our Full apartment rekey is $150, or Rekey first lock is $100 with each additional lock $50. If you also swap hardware, Door knob or handle replacement is $100 per knob. For marketing, order the TLA Launch Pad Media Package for $399 as soon as the unit is staged and dust-free. Photos go stale fast in LA listings, so shoot right after floors are dry. That same afternoon, set the thermostat for showings and place a clean welcome mat. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

Sample 48-hour turnover stacks and real costs in LA

Here are two real-world stacks with itemized catalog pricing and typical market context.

• Studio light turn, no repaint

• Market context: Studio cleaning often runs $200 to $350 LA-wide.

• TurnOver LA: Make Ready Studio $225, plus optional Rekey front and deadbolt $110. Total $335.

• Timeline: Morning clean, afternoon rekey, photos same day.

• 1BR mid turn with touch-up and handyman

• Market context: 1BR move-out cleaning $275 to $450. Minor paint touch-up is commonly $200 to $350.

• TurnOver LA: Make Ready 1 Bedroom $255, Paint touch-up only $200, Half-day handyman punch list $230. Total $685.

• Timeline: Day 1 AM handyman, midday touch-up, PM dust pass, Day 2 AM Make Ready, PM rekey and photos.

Tie each stack back to vacancy math. If your Mid-City unit rents at $2,400, a two-day save is roughly $160 to $400 kept, depending on your vacancy baseline.

Can you outsource only parts of the checklist?

Yes. Keep in-house trashouts or paint, and outsource the deep clean, or vice versa. If cleaners show up to dust raining down from fresh sanding, you lose time. Hand us the whole turn or just one piece, but sequence is everything. Typical choices we see: owner paints on day one while we run a General maintenance and safety visit at $125, then our Make Ready on day two. Or we handle touch-up at $200 plus Make Ready while you rekey. Every option aligns to the same checklist so your before and after photos still match your deposit file and your listing launch.

Download and printing notes

Print this checklist on one page front and back. Add your building name, unit number, and move-out date at the top. Leave two signature lines at the bottom for cleaner and supervisor. Store photos in a folder titled Building-Unit-Date. If you use property management software, attach the 12-point report so it merges with your deposit documentation and stays in one place.