Quick answer: Across Los Angeles, a true move-out deep clean usually costs $200 to $700, or $50 to $120 per hour for housekeepers. TurnOver LA is flat-rate by unit size, with a 48-hour turnaround: Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425. That price includes a deep clean and a 12-point photo report suitable for deposit documentation.
If you are searching for house cleaning in Los Angeles for a move-out, expect market pricing in the $200 to $700 band, or hourly at $50 to $120. TurnOver LA prices are fixed by unit size: Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425, all with a 48-hour turnaround and a 12-point photo report. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What does house cleaning in Los Angeles cost right now?
A standard recurring house clean is often quoted hourly across LA. Reddit threads and marketplaces show $50 to $120 per hour, with minimums that land many small apartments at $150 to $300 for a light clean. A true move-out deep clean runs higher because it covers interiors of appliances, cabinets, baseboards, and heavy degreasing. Across LA, move-out cleans commonly land $200 to $700 depending on size and condition. TurnOver LA prices are flat by unit size, not hourly: Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425. Pricing is transparent in our Make Ready base package, which includes a deep clean plus a 12-point photo report you can attach to your deposit file. Every booking is delivered in 48 hours, which helps control vacancy loss in tight markets like Koreatown and West Hollywood.
Is a move-out clean different from regular house cleaning?
Yes. Regular house cleaning focuses on visible surfaces you live with week to week, which is why many companies quote by the hour and rotate tasks. A move-out clean is a make-ready scope meant to return the unit to a rent-ready condition. That means oven and fridge interiors, degreasing the hood and backsplash, cabinet interiors, door jambs and switches, baseboards, window tracks, and bath descaling. It also means pulling appliances forward when possible to catch edges and floors, plus scraping paint drips or adhesive. Our Make Ready is built for landlords and property managers who need deposit defensibility and photos. If you need painting, drywall, or handyman work on top, it is scheduled adjacent to cleaning so the unit is fully packaged for relist.
What should a proper LA move-out clean include?
A proper move-out clean is scope driven, not timeboxed. In Los Angeles, a rent-ready clean should include at least these ten items:
- Kitchen appliance interiors, including oven degrease and fridge wipeout.
- Cabinet and drawer interiors, pulls, and faces.
- Hood filter, stove grates, backsplash, and floor edges.
- Bath descaling, grout scrub, caulk detail, mirrors, and fan cover.
- Baseboards, door jambs, door faces, and switch plates.
- Window sills and tracks, blinds dusted where present.
- Closet shelves and rods, including tops.
- Spot cleaning of walls where paint allows, vent covers dusted.
- Floors detailed, including corners and under-lip edges.
- Final touch and photo report before lockup.
TurnOver LA’s Make Ready covers this scope, then documents it with a 12-point photo report. See related scope detail in our guide What is Make Ready at /guides/what-is-make-ready.
How does TurnOver LA price by unit size, not by the hour?
Hourly pricing makes sense for housekeeping that you can supervise, but it often breaks on move-outs because scope varies. Our pricing aligns with unit size across LA so you can forecast vacancy days and costs. Make Ready is Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425. That rate is the deep clean plus the 12-point photo report. When additional work is needed, we add fixed menu items, not open-ended labor. Paint touch-up only is $200. Repainting per room is $395. Ceilings and baseboard or trim are $125. Small drywall patch and texture is $150 per patch, medium is $240 per patch. If there is left-behind junk, a unit cleanout is Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR $420, 3BR or larger $420. The goal is a clean, simple stack of fixed items you can approve in one click.
How much does a move-out clean cost in California?
Statewide, market rates track LA’s band. You will see $50 to $120 per hour for house cleaners, and flat move-out packages in the $200 to $700 range for small to mid units, rising with size and condition. For Los Angeles specifically, TurnOver LA’s flat pricing is Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425, with a 48-hour turnaround every time. If painting is needed, figure market repainting across LA is often $2 to $4 per square foot for full-unit jobs, which is why we quote per room. With TurnOver LA it is $395 per room, with ceilings and baseboard or trim at $125 as an add-on when needed. That keeps budgets predictable, especially when you are weighing vacancy loss of $80 to $200 per day in places like DTLA or Santa Monica. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What is considered move-out cleaning in deposit terms?
For deposit accounting, California uses reasonableness and normal wear concepts. Cleaning that returns the unit to the condition documented at move-in is generally a valid deduction if you can show condition and invoices. The standard is in California Civil Code §1950.5. The city’s rent rules do not change that baseline for most private utilities or cleaning. You still need to send a deposit accounting within 21 days. See our guide on the California 21-day rule at /guides/california-21-day-deposit-return, and the wear rules at /guides/normal-wear-and-tear-california. For an overview, the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide is a solid reference.
What is the 80/20 rule in house cleaning, and does it apply to move-outs?
The 80/20 rule, also called the Pareto principle, says 80 percent of results come from 20 percent of effort. In house cleaning, it is the idea that a quick focus on high-visibility areas feels clean fast. For move-outs, that frame is risky. Deposits and re-rentability hinge on the hidden 20 percent, like oven interiors, cabinet shelves, vent covers, and window tracks. Our Make Ready hits those low-visibility spots first because they are the items that create callbacks, failed showings, or disputes. We still finish with the high-impact surfaces so the unit photographs well for listing day. If you want to see how we package listing media, the TLA Launch Pad Media Package is a single $399 line item.
Where do painting and drywall fit into a turnover, and what do they cost?
Cleaning does not fix scuffs, patched nail holes, or moisture-stained ceilings. In LA, a 500 square foot apartment often needs at least a living room repaint and one bedroom repaint after a long tenancy. Market full-unit quotes commonly show $1,000 to $2,000 for that size. TurnOver LA prices are modular. Repainting per room is $395. Add ceilings and baseboard or trim for $125 if needed. Small drywall patch and texture is $150 per patch, medium patch is $240 per patch. Paint touch-up only is $200 when a full room is not justified. This lets you approve exact surfaces instead of the whole unit.
How fast can I realistically turn a unit in LA without quality drops?
Two days is a reliable target when scheduling is tight and scopes are controlled. We run a flat 48-hour turnaround across every job. Day 1 is cleanout and Make Ready. Day 2 is paint, drywall, and handyman. If there is no repair work, we often finish same day, but we keep the 48-hour standard so your showing date is safe. This matters in markets like Hollywood, Mid City, and Koreatown where vacancy loss can cost $80 to $200 per day. Every Make Ready includes a 12-point photo report so your deposit file is complete, and your listing media can be scheduled without delay.
What is the 3:30 rule for cleaning, and should I care as a landlord?
The 3:30 rule is a productivity tip for recurring housekeeping. You tackle three major zones and three minor tasks in a thirty minute block to build consistency. It is useful for lived-in homes, but it is not a fit for turnovers where deliverables are binary and photo documented. For move-out work, think in scopes, not time blocks. Kitchen interiors, bath descaling, baseboards and jambs, window tracks, and floors are non-negotiable. We scope it once, price it once, then schedule any paint, drywall, and handyman on the same ticket.
What else besides cleaning should I bundle to hit listing day?
Turnovers are about compressing trades into a short window. Consider these add-ons if needed:
- Handyman punch items like door stops, loose hinges, and GFCI testing. Half-day is $230, full-day is $425.
- General maintenance and safety visit at $125 for smoke and CO checks and common area notes.
- Lock changes for access control. Full apartment rekey up to 2 locks is $150, or front and deadbolt is $110.
- Unit cleanout before cleaning. Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR $420, 3BR or larger $420.
- Listing media on hold so you can publish the day cleaning finishes. TLA Launch Pad Media Package is $399.
These sit alongside Make Ready so you can approve a complete scope in one go. See our service pages for Make Ready and for Painting and Drywall to understand each scope line.
Which LA neighborhoods do you service for move-out cleans?
We cover the core leasing belt and beyond. Common turnover corridors include Koreatown, Hollywood, DTLA, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and Pasadena, plus eastside pockets like Echo Park and Silver Lake. If you manage near studios, we operate in North Hollywood, Burbank, and Glendale. See our Downtown LA page for area specifics and scheduling. We price by unit size, not by address, and we hold the same 48-hour standard citywide so your listing day is predictable.
How do I book and prep the unit for cleaning day?
Booking is online. You select the unit size and any add-ons like paint touch-up, per-room repaint, drywall patches, handyman time, cleanout, or rekey. You will get a confirmed 48-hour delivery window. Prep by removing any remaining personal items and confirming power and water are on. If new paint is planned, leave walls free of hooks and adhesives so we can patch. On cleaning day, we stage a walkthrough and close with a 12-point photo report that supports your deposit accounting. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
References you may need for deposits and scope clarity
- California Civil Code §1950.5 spells out what can be deducted and documentation needs.
- The California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide offers examples and timelines that align with the 21-day rule.
- For LA rent stabilized units, see LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance for general compliance context.
For deeper background, see these related guides:
- Move-out scope specifics at /guides/move-out-cleaning-los-angeles.
- The 21-day accounting rule at /guides/california-21-day-deposit-return.
- What counts as wear at /guides/normal-wear-and-tear-california.
- Budgeting a full turn at /guides/apartment-turnover-cost-los-angeles and our turnover fee primer at /guides/apartment-turnover-fee.
Why landlords pick Make Ready instead of standard house cleaning in LA
Three reasons keep coming up across our LA portfolio. First, scope. A make-ready clean is built to satisfy deposit documentation and showings, not just surface polish. Second, speed. A fixed 48-hour standard allows you to plan listing dates and reduce vacancy loss. Third, integration. With one ticket, you can authorize Make Ready, repainting by room, drywall patches, handyman, cleanout, rekey, and listing media. Fewer handoffs means fewer idle days. If you manage across multiple neighborhoods, flat pricing by unit size beats hourly creep every time. Get instant quote in 30 seconds