How much to charge for apartment make ready in LA?

Quick answer: Across LA, owners and managers commonly quote $500 to $1,500 for a basic make ready. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready cleaning is a flat Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR+ $425, finished in 48 hours. Add paint or punch work from our catalog as needed, like paint touch-up at $200 or a half-day handyman at $230. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

In LA, price your make ready by unit size and actual scope. For cleaning only, our Make Ready rate is Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR+ $425. If the turn needs paint, drywall, or punch items, add only what applies at listed line-item rates so you stay predictable, deposit-compliant, and fast to market.

What does “make ready” mean in apartments?

Make ready is the process of returning a unit to clean, safe, rent-ready condition after move-out. It is not just tidying. In LA we bundle deep cleaning with safety and habitability basics, then escalate to painting, drywall, and minor maintenance as needed. TurnOver LA’s base Make Ready includes a deep clean and a 12-point photo report that documents condition for deposit itemization. For a full definition and what owners commonly include, see our guide, What Is Make Ready, at /guides/what-is-make-ready.

How much should you charge for an apartment make ready in LA?

Across LA, a basic make ready commonly lands between $500 and $1,500 depending on size and condition. That market range usually mixes cleaning, small repairs, and sometimes paint touch-up. With TurnOver LA, the cleaning component is a flat Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR+ $425. You can then add paint touch-up at $200, repaint per room at $395, drywall patches from $150 to $240, or a half-day handyman punch at $230. Price by scope, not by guess. Fast work matters too. Vacancy loss in LA submarkets runs about $80 to $200 per day, so a 48-hour finish often saves $160 to $400 in lost rent. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

What is included in a typical make ready scope?

A clean, rent-ready unit usually covers these items first. Add paint or repairs only when needed.

1. Deep clean kitchens and baths, including degrease, descale, and grout attention.
2. Sweep, vacuum, and floor detail as part of cleaning. No separate floor line item.
3. Wipe all surfaces, blinds, interior glass, and reachable fans or fixtures.
4. Safety basics, like batteries for smoke or CO alarms, and loose cover plates.
5. Light bulb swaps and minor hardware tightening where feasible.
6. Rekey or verify locks depending on policy.
7. Photo documentation for deposit and records.

TurnOver LA’s Make Ready bundles the deep clean and a 12-point photo report. Add services as needed from our catalog. See the service page at /services/make-ready for what we cover on every job.

How do you price make ready by size versus condition in LA buildings?

Start with unit size, then layer on condition. A clean exit in a newer Playa Vista 1BR might only need Make Ready at $255. A hard exit in an older Koreatown 2BR with scuffed walls likely adds paint and a few drywall patches. Here is a simple comparison for the cleaning piece versus common LA market quotes:

Then layer scope by what you can see at the walk. If you are unsure whether walls will touch up cleanly, plan a paint test spot and hold a decision point before authorizing full repaint. That avoids paying for paint that was not required to meet rent-ready.

What about painting and drywall in a turn?

Walls decide a lot of your timeline and cost. Across LA, owners report $300 to $700 per room for repainting, more with higher ceilings or heavy prep. With TurnOver LA, you can keep it modular. Paint touch-up only is $200. Repainting per room is $395 per room. Ceilings and baseboard or trim are $125. Sand and repaint cabinets or shelving are $135. For drywall, small patches are $150 per patch, medium repairs are $240 per patch. In prewar Santa Monica or West Adams buildings with mixed textures, budget at least one medium patch per room if you see paper tears or prior patch seams. If the walls are sound and consistent, touch-up plus a deep clean often does the job faster.

Can you charge the tenant deposit for make ready items in California?

You can deduct for cleaning to return the unit to the condition at move-in, for necessary repairs beyond normal wear, and for trash removal, but you cannot charge for normal wear and tear. The rules live in California Civil Code §1950.5 and state guides like the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide. Most deductions must be documented and itemized within 21 days. Our 12-point photo report supports your claim file. Note AB 12 (2023) caps most residential security deposits at one month of rent starting 2024, which tightens turn cash flow. Scope realistically, and reserve paint deductions for damage, not routine refresh. Useful reading: /guides/normal-wear-and-tear-california and /guides/california-21-day-deposit-return.

How fast should you turn a unit in LA and what does delay cost?

Speed matters because LA vacancy loss typically runs $80 to $200 per day depending on submarket. In Downtown LA or Santa Monica, the upper end is common in peak months. Schedule cleaning, paint, and punch sequentially inside a two day window. TurnOver LA delivers a flat 48-hour turnaround on every job. That compresses lost rent and protects your marketing window for weekend showings. If you miss a weekend, you can add hundreds in vacancy. If you need media, add it immediately after cleaning so your listing can post while paint cures in secondary areas. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

What does “make ready” mean on a maintenance request?

In many work order systems, a make ready request is a bundle task that triggers cleaning, basic safety checks, and any known turn items. It is not a diagnosis of hidden issues. Treat the first visit as a scope capture. Our General maintenance or safety visit at $125 is a smart first step when the unit has unknowns. If the findings are mostly small fixes, upgrade to a half-day handyman punch list at $230 or a full day at $425. This prevents over-ordering services that the unit does not need.

What is the 30 percent rule for apartments and does it apply to make ready pricing?

People use 30 percent to mean different things. In operations, it is usually a rent-to-income screening ratio, not a pricing rule. Some owners also quote a rule of thumb that turns cost 30 percent of one month’s rent, but that can overshoot in LA. Price by scope instead of a rent multiple. For example, a Mid-City 1BR at $2,200 might only need a Make Ready at $255, a $200 paint touch-up, and a $125 safety visit, or $580 total. In a harder exit, add one room repaint at $395 and a drywall patch at $150 for $1,125. Use real conditions and line items.

How should you structure your line items so charges are clear and compliant?

Keep it simple. A clean LA-friendly structure looks like this:

• Make Ready cleaning by size: Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR+ $425.
• Paint scope: touch-up $200, or $395 per room. Add ceilings and baseboard or trim at $125 if needed.
• Drywall: small patch $150 each, medium repair $240 each.
• Punch work: half-day $230, full day $425.
• Safety and scope capture: $125.
• Locks and security if policy requires rekey: Full apartment rekey up to 2 locks at $150, or front and deadbolt at $110.
• Junk haul if abandoned property: Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR $420, 3BR+ $420.

This format gives you a defendable deposit worksheet alongside photos.

Do rent-stabilized LA units change what you charge or deduct?

Rent stabilization does not change your private price list, but it can change what you prudently deduct. Under the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance, habitability and minimum standards are enforced. Routine paint refreshes and age-related carpet wear are usually normal wear and tear and not deductible under California Civil Code §1950.5. Deduct for actual damage and excess filth, not for a cosmetic upgrade. Keep older Westlake and Koreatown stock in mind. Mixed plaster and skim coats can make touch-up lines visible, which is a scoping issue, not a tenant deduction.

Should you bundle listing media with your make ready?

Yes, if you want to publish the unit faster. The day cleaning finishes is the day to shoot. With TurnOver LA, the TLA Launch Pad Media Package is $399. That covers listing-grade media in one visit, so you can post while paint dries in a closet or a secondary room. You can order it alongside Make Ready at /services/make-ready or from our dedicated media page at /services/listing-media if available. Faster listing cuts vacancy, which typically saves more than the media line item in the first week.

What is a good turnover rate for apartments in LA and how does pricing help?

A good turnover rate depends on your asset class and location. Older garden stock in the Valley may see higher annual churn than stabilized Westside buildings. What you control is speed and predictability. Standardize your scope and pricing so every move-out follows the same path, which shortens downtime. The two day target is realistic with modular line items. If you need a deeper dive on vacancy math and benchmarks, see /guides/property-managers-vacancy-loss-los-angeles.

How to translate this into a real quote right now

Here is a quick way to structure a 1BR in Culver City with moderate wear:

• Make Ready cleaning 1BR: $255
• Paint touch-up: $200
• Half-day handyman punch: $230
• Rekey front and deadbolt: $110
• Optional media: $399

Total with media: $1,194. Without media: $795. Both paths fit a same week listing and a 48-hour field schedule. You can mix these items for any unit size in our booking flow. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

Where to go from here

Set a default scope per property, then adjust based on the walk. Use our Make Ready page for the base cleaning, then add painting or drywall only where walls require it. Lock in your 48-hour window to protect the next weekend showings. Review California Civil Code §1950.5 and the state guides before you finalize deposit deductions. If your property is subject to LAHD RSO rules, keep habitability standards in your checklist. For more checklists and line-item planning, see /guides/apartment-turnover-checklist and /guides/apartment-turnover-cost-los-angeles.