Quick answer: In LA, make ready apartment jobs usually run $250 to $900 depending on unit size and add-ons like paint or repairs. TurnOver LA charges a flat $225 for a studio, $255 for a 1BR, $335 for a 2BR, and $425 for 3BR or larger for Make Ready, delivered in 48 hours. Add-ons like paint, drywall, handyman time, rekeys, and junk haul are priced from our live catalog.
Make ready apartment jobs are the work to reset a rental between tenants, from deep cleaning to small fixes and documentation. Across LA, owners budget a few hundred dollars for the basics, then more if paint or repairs are needed. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready covers a base deep clean and a 12-point photo report, sized by unit, with add-ons available as needed. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What does “make ready” mean in apartments?
Make ready means taking a unit from just vacated to move-in ready. It covers cleaning, light maintenance, safety checks, paint touch-ups, and documentation to justify deposit charges. The goal is to minimize days vacant, protect the property, and deliver a unit that passes any reasonable walk-through. In practice, that looks like a full kitchen and bath scrub, floor detailing, hard water and grout attention, appliance wipe downs, and a neutral smell. It also means tightening loose hardware, replacing spent bulbs, testing smoke and CO alarms, and spot painting scuffed walls that do not require full repainting. Finally, it includes proof. Our crews capture a 12-point photo report so you can back up deductions under California Civil Code §1950.5 and close the loop with your next resident and your records.
How much should an LA landlord budget for a make ready?
Budget starts with unit size and condition. Across LA, a basic turnover clean for a 1BR typically runs $200 to $350, with 2BR cleans in the $260 to $450 range. Painting, drywall, and handyman time can push a job into the mid hundreds. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is flat by size, with a 48-hour turnaround: Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, 3BR or larger $425. From there, you add only what you need from the catalog. Vacancy loss in Koreatown or North Hollywood can run $80 to $140 per day, while Santa Monica or West Hollywood can hit $150 to $200 per day, so even a one day save pays for paint touch-ups in many cases. If you must triage, start with cleaning and safety first, then spots your leasing photos will flag.
What is included in TurnOver LA’s Make Ready service?
Our Make Ready is a base deep clean plus documentation. It includes full kitchen clean, bath descaling and sanitizing, floor detailing, inside window and track cleaning, dusting, appliance exterior wipe down, spot degrease, and sweep or vacuum of closets and storage areas. We also provide a 12-point photo report that establishes condition after move-out, supports any deposit itemization, and gives leasing-ready images for your ad while you wait on media. If you need more than cleaning, you can add paint touch-up at $200, small drywall patch at $150 per patch, or a half-day handyman punch list at $230. See the service page for scope notes on our Make Ready service. If odors are a concern, review our guide on pet odor removal for decision points. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
How long does it take to get an apartment ready for move-in?
A straightforward turnover is a 2 day path. We operate a flat 48-hour turnaround on every job, with no rush or same-day upcharge. Day 1 is clean plus any quick punch items. Day 2 lands paint touch-ups, rekey, and final QA with photos. Full room repaints add cure time, so plan an extra day per two rooms repainted to avoid tacky walls and dust capture. Junk haul can be same window if scheduled with make ready, though heavy loads can impact elevator or dock time in Downtown LA high-rises. If a medium drywall repair is needed, allow for compound dry time before paint. The key to hitting 48 hours is locking the scope and access early, then sequencing paint and cleaning so one does not step on the other.
What does “make ready priority” mean in practice?
Priority is the order of operations that protects rent value. Lead with what changes first impressions and leaseability, then close habitability and compliance items. A good priority stack in Los Feliz or Mid City looks like this: deep cleaning and odor neutralization, spot paint on high-view walls and doors, immediate safety checks and bulb swaps, rekey the front and any secondary lock, then minor cosmetic fixes that show in photos. If your marketing pipeline is strong, book listing content the moment utilities are on. Our TLA Launch Pad Media Package is $399 and pairs well with a same week make ready, so your ad goes live while paint finishes curing. Pairing priority with vacancy math matters. Saving one day at $140 average vacancy loss often beats debating whether a door knob at $100 should wait.
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 quoteWhich add-ons are common and what do they cost?
Most turns do not need a full repaint. Across LA, owners commonly approve paint touch-ups and one or two patches, a rekey, and a half-day punch. Market ranges below are for context. TurnOver LA prices are exact from our current catalog and delivered in 48 hours.
| Task | Typical LA market | TurnOver LA price |
|---|---|---|
| Make Ready deep clean 1BR | $200 to $350 | $255 1BR Make Ready |
| Make Ready deep clean 2BR | $260 to $450 | $335 2BR Make Ready |
| Paint touch-up | $150 to $400 | $200 touch-up only |
| Repainting per room | $350 to $700 | $395 per room |
| Ceilings or trim add-on | $100 to $250 | $125 ceilings and baseboard or trim |
| Small drywall patch | $150 to $300 | $150 per patch |
| Medium drywall repair | $200 to $450 | $240 per patch |
| Rekey up to 2 locks | $120 to $250 | $150 full apartment rekey |
| Cleanout per load | $350 to $800 | $500 per load |
| Half-day handyman | $250 to $400 | $230 half-day |
| Smart lock install | $150 to $300 | $210 per install |
| Listing photos media | $300 to $600 | $399 TLA Launch Pad |
For painting beyond touch-ups, see our painting and drywall crew. For safety or cosmetic fixes, a half-day or full-day punch list can make a noticeable difference in photos and showings.
How do you document deductions and stay compliant in LA?
California requires an itemized statement and any deposit refund within 21 days after move-out. See the statute at California Civil Code §1950.5. Your make ready is part of building that file. Our 12-point photo report documents condition, repairs, and cleaned surfaces on the same day work was completed. For rent stabilized units, review the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance to align your notices and access protocols. AB 12 caps most residential security deposits at one month of rent, which tightens cash flow, so accurate scoping and right-sized work matter. See the bill text at AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap. For process detail, bookmark our guides on California 21-day deposit return and normal wear and tear in California.
What is the ideal sequence for a fast, clean turnover?
Here is a practical 8-step path we use in Westwood, Echo Park, and Pasadena alike:
- Scope and access. Confirm keys, utilities, and a written punch list with photos.
- Junk and fridge clear. Remove left-behind items and bag trash before cleaning.
- Paint triage. Decide touch-up, full room, or defer based on photo angles.
- Deep clean. Kitchens, baths, floors, windows, and odor control.
- Punch list. Hardware tighten, bulb swaps, caulk, door stops, sliders track lube.
- Rekey and test alarms. Verify smoke and CO compliance and latch function.
- Detailing pass. Wipe overspray, polish fixtures, final vacuum and mop.
- Photo report and listing media. Shoot the 12-point set, then order TLA Launch Pad if you want pro marketing assets.
What if I only need a cleaner or just a handyman for three hours?
If the unit is basically clean and you only need targeted help, you can still book a minimal scope. For cleaning alone, our Make Ready is usually more efficient than a one-off hourly cleaner because the team is trained for move-out conditions and includes the documented photo set. If you want repairs only, book a handyman punch list through our Make Ready flow, then select a half-day at $230 or a full-day at $425 for broader work. For locks, rekey is $100 for the first lock or $150 for up to two locks in a typical apartment. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
When should I choose full repaint versus touch-up?
Touch-up is right when color matches are possible and coverage hides normal wear. In many turns, that is doors, door frames, hall scuffs, and a few high-view walls. Choose full repaint room by room when there are heavy patches, nicotine staining, mismatched colors, or excessive sheen differences that will pop in photos. In LA’s competitive submarkets, a living room repaint at $395 can win back a day of vacancy by making photos pop and showings convert, especially paired with a $399 media package. For ceilings and baseboards or trim, add $125 when the room needs it. If cabinet faces are tired, sand and repaint cabinets or shelving is $135 and can refresh a kitchen without a full paint spend.
Closing thought
Make ready apartment jobs are about time, not just line items. Across LA, vacancy loss runs $80 to $200 per day, which is why we keep every price transparent, size our Make Ready at Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR or larger $425, and deliver in 48 hours. Lock scope, sequence well, and document. We will handle the rest so you can lease faster. Get instant quote in 30 seconds