Quick answer: Across LA, a 700 sq ft move-out clean typically costs $180 to $350 in the general market, with post-construction cleans often $300 to $700. TurnOver LA charges $225 for a Studio or $255 for a 1 Bedroom for our Make Ready deep clean, and we finish in 48 hours. If your 700 sq ft is a true 1BR, budget $255. A large studio of the same size is $225.
If your 700 sq ft unit is a studio, TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is $225. If it is a 1 Bedroom, it is $255. That includes a deep clean and a 12-point photo report, completed within 48 hours so you can relist quickly. Book a guaranteed slot here: Get instant quote in 30 seconds.
What does a 700 sq ft move-out clean include in LA?
A proper move-out clean targets every surface that will appear in listing photos and every area a deposit inspector checks. For a 700 sq ft studio or 1BR, that means kitchen appliance exteriors and interiors, cabinet and drawer interiors, counters, sinks, tub and shower tile, toilet, vanity, mirrors, closet shelving, window glass you can reach, baseboards, door faces, light switch plates, and floor detailing. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready packages that scope with a deep clean plus a 12-point photo report that documents before and after. The report helps you approve deposit deductions under California rules and protects against disputes. It is also fast to review, so you can greenlight listing media or showings the same day the clean wraps.
For context, a 700 sq ft clean in LA should not require specialty post-construction dust protocols unless the unit had recent renovation. If you do have construction residue, expect more time and a higher market price band overall. For typical turn cleans, our scope is built for speed and relist readiness.
How much does TurnOver LA charge to clean a 700 sq ft apartment?
Across LA’s general market, a 700 sq ft move-out clean often runs $180 to $350 depending on soil level and access. With TurnOver LA, pricing is simple and flat for Make Ready (deep clean + 12-pt photo report): Studio $225 or 1 Bedroom $255. If your 700 sq ft unit has a separate bedroom with a door and closet, it prices as a 1BR. If it is an open-plan studio, it prices as a studio.
Two notes matter for LA operators. First, our turnaround is 48 hours standard, which cuts vacancy loss that often runs $80 to $200 per day across submarkets like West Hollywood and Koreatown. Second, the included photo report makes your deposit file stronger under California Civil Code and city rules. If you also need junk removal or paint, see add-ons below. If you are ready to schedule, use this link: Get instant quote in 30 seconds.
| Scenario | Typical LA market | TurnOver LA price | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| 700 sq ft studio move-out clean | $180 to $300 | $225 (Make Ready Studio) | 48 hours |
| 700 sq ft 1BR move-out clean | $200 to $350 | $255 (Make Ready 1 Bedroom) | 48 hours |
| Post-construction clean | $300 to $700 | Not a Make Ready service | Project based |
What will a cleaner do in 3 hours on a 700 sq ft unit?
Three focused labor hours covers a full standard turnover clean on many 700 sq ft apartments when there is no heavy soil or construction dust. Here is how professionals typically spend that block:
- Kitchen degrease and polish, including stove top, control knobs, hood face, microwave interior, sink, and counters.
- Fridge interior empty, wipe, and reassemble shelves and bins.
- Cabinet and drawer interiors in kitchen and bath wiped, fronts cleaned, pulls sanitized.
- Bathroom scrub: tub or shower tile, grout lines, glass, fixtures, vanity, mirror, and toilet base.
- Dust high to low: fans, vents you can reach, blinds, sills, baseboards, doors, and switch plates.
- Spot check walls and outlet plates for marks that clean off without repainting.
- Vacuum and hard floor detailing with a rinse pass for edges and corners.
If the unit is above average soil, the same sequence applies with more dwell time on the kitchen and bath. For pet or smoke odor problems, see the odor removal guidance linked later in this article.
How do I decide if my 700 sq ft prices as a studio or a 1BR?
Use the floor plan, not the square footage. If there is a separate bedroom with a door and closet, that is a 1 Bedroom and the Make Ready is $255. If the space is open without a separate bedroom, it is a studio and the Make Ready is $225. Many LA conversions and lofts around Downtown and Arts District run 650 to 750 sq ft as true studios, so they price at the studio rate even if large. Conversely, some 650 to 700 sq ft Westside units are compact 1BRs with a closed bedroom, so they price at the 1BR rate. This matters because the extra room means another door, set of baseboards, outlets, and closet interiors to detail. When you book, pick the layout that matches the unit, not only the size.
What is included in TurnOver LA’s Make Ready and what is not?
Included: deep clean of kitchen, bath, all surfaces, cabinet and drawer interiors, appliance interiors that are standard for move-out, windows you can reach, light touch on walls for scuffs that remove with cleaning, and floor detailing. Also included is a 12-point photo report with time stamps to support your records and deposit accounting. See service overview here: Make Ready service details.
Not included: post-construction dust mitigation, exterior window washing at height, carpet shampoo, or repair work. We can bundle add-ons in the same 48-hour window, such as a half-day handyman punch list or a unit cleanout and junk haul if a tenant left furniture. For a quick primer on the package concept, see our guide, What is Make Ready.
What is the 3:30 rule for cleaning and does it help on a 700 sq ft turnover?
Operators sometimes use a simple 3:30 rule as a planning tool. Break the unit into three zones, then allocate thirty minutes per pass per zone until each zone hits the required finish. For a 700 sq ft apartment, define zones as kitchen, bathroom, and living plus bedroom. The first pass removes trash and loose dust, the second pass scrubs and degreases, and the third pass details and inspects. This helps teams avoid overworking one area while the schedule slips. It also maps cleanly to photo checkpoints for your deposit file. While not a formal industry standard, the cadence is a useful way to keep a move-out on time in busy LA buildings where elevator slots and parking windows are tight.
How do LA deposit rules affect how you clean and document a 700 sq ft unit?
In California, deposit deductions must be reasonable, itemized, and supported by evidence. The state statute, California Civil Code §1950.5, sets the baseline. The California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide and the California Tenants Guide explain timelines and documentation in plain terms. In the City of Los Angeles, units covered by the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance have additional compliance obligations.
Practically, this means two things for your 700 sq ft clean. First, clean thoroughly and photograph condition before and after. TurnOver LA’s 12-point photo report is built for that. Second, separate fair wear and tear from actual damage or excess filth, then document labor and materials. For a deeper dive, see our guides on the 21-day deposit return timeline and normal wear and tear in California.
Need the unit turned before the next tenant?
We do the move-out clean and send you a photo report you can attach to the deposit itemization.
Get an instant quoteShould you add junk haul, handyman, or paint to a 700 sq ft turnover?
Add-ons are about readiness, not padding a scope. If a tenant leaves bulky items, book a unit cleanout and junk haul. TurnOver LA pricing is flat by bedroom count, including for 1 Bedroom at $310. If doors stick, outlets are loose, or toilet seats wobble, a half-day handyman punch list at $230 usually handles 6 to 10 minor items. If walls need more than spot cleaning, consider paint touch-up at $200, or full repainting per room at $395 per room, with ceilings and baseboard or trim at $125. These pair well with Make Ready inside the same 48-hour window so you can hit listing day with confidence.
If you will relist immediately, consider booking the TLA Launch Pad listing media at $399 the day after cleaning. That sequence helps you capture a full day or more of vacancy loss savings because everything is staged and shot without waiting for a separate crew.
How does neighborhood or building type change cleaning time in LA?
Size is not the only driver. Downtown LA mid-rises often require elevator reservations and loading dock timing, which forces tighter crew windows even on a 700 sq ft unit. In walk-up buildings in areas like West Hollywood, parking constraints can slow load-in and out. Older units in Los Feliz or Highland Park may have more original tile and built-ins that require careful detailing. None of that changes TurnOver LA’s Make Ready rate for a studio or 1BR, but it can influence how we stage tasks inside the two-day turnaround. If you have special access notes, include them at booking so the crew can plan for them from the start. Mid-article reminder to lock your slot: Get instant quote in 30 seconds.
How much should it cost to paint a 700 sq ft apartment and when is it worth it?
Painting cost tracks rooms, not square footage alone. Across LA, a 700 sq ft studio might need one open living area plus kitchen and bath walls, while a 1BR adds a separate bedroom. TurnOver LA’s catalog is simple to budget: paint touch-up only is $200 when scuffs are isolated. Repainting per room is $395 per room. Ceilings and baseboard or trim are $125. Sand and repaint cabinets or shelving is $135. If you are unsure whether marks will clean off or need paint, we can scrub test during Make Ready and recommend the smallest paint scope that clears the listing photos.
What does a cleaner do first, and how do you keep a 700 sq ft clean on schedule?
Start with a walk-through and set a punch list by zone. Remove trash and leftover items first so you are not cleaning around clutter. Clean top to bottom, wet work before dry floors, and leave floor detailing for last. Photograph each zone before and after. For LA operators, align the cleaning calendar with your deposit timeline and showing schedule so you are not paying vacancy loss while you wait on photos. A 48-hour standard window means you can queue listing media or pre-list as soon as the report hits your inbox. For more planning detail, see our Apartment Turnover Checklist and our breakdown of turnover costs in Los Angeles.
What about odors, smoke, or pets in a 700 sq ft unit?
Odors move faster in small spaces, and a 700 sq ft apartment can retain lingering smells. A Make Ready deep clean addresses source areas, but some cases need extra steps beyond standard turnover. For pets, see our guide on pet odor removal in LA apartments. For smoking, see how to remove smoke smell from an apartment. If the issue is severe, we will advise on additional cleaning or repainting, which you would document carefully for deposit deductions under Civil Code §1950.5.
How do the numbers pencil out when you factor vacancy loss?
LA vacancy loss commonly runs $80 to $200 per day depending on submarket and rent level. A 48-hour standard turnaround is not only a service promise, it is a cost control. If you avoid two extra idle days by bundling Make Ready with light handyman and needed paint inside one window, you save $160 to $400 in loss on top of keeping marketing momentum. That is part of why we keep the catalog flat and the schedule tight. If you are ready to lock a time, here is the path: Get instant quote in 30 seconds.
Summary: what to budget for a 700 sq ft clean in LA
Plan $225 for a 700 sq ft studio or $255 for a 700 sq ft 1BR with TurnOver LA’s Make Ready. Marketwide you will see $180 to $350 for similar work, and higher for post-construction. The Make Ready includes a deep clean and a 12-point photo report, finished in 48 hours. If you need junk haul, handyman, or paint, add the relevant catalog lines and keep everything in one window so you can relist without extra vacancy days. For deposit and compliance, keep photos and receipts aligned with California timelines and rules.