Quick answer: Across Los Angeles, move out cleaning typically runs $149 to $650, with hourly offers around $46 to $55 per cleaner and flat fees scaling by size. TurnOver LA charges flat Make Ready rates, Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR+ $425, including a 12-point photo report and a 48-hour turnaround. No rush fee.
In Los Angeles, most move out cleanings fall between $149 and $650 depending on unit size and condition. TurnOver LA prices are flat by bedroom count, Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR+ $425, and include a deep clean plus a 12-point photo report, finished in 48 hours. If you need a same-week handoff to leasing, this avoids hourly overages and uncertainty. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What do move out cleanings cost in Los Angeles right now?
Across LA, you will see three patterns. Hourly marketplaces advertise about $46 to $55 per cleaner with 3 to 4 hour minimums, so a typical 1BR easily lands at $250 to $400 after add-ons. Some platforms post flat starting fees, Studio $149 and up, 1BR $195 to $285, 2BR $245 to $375, 3BR $325 and up, with upsells for inside appliances, cabinets, or blinds. If the unit is heavily soiled, 2 more hours adds $100 to $220 quickly.
TurnOver LA pricing is fixed and includes the full turnover deep clean scope: Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR+ $425. There is no clock running in the background and no upcharge for a 48-hour finish. This keeps vacancy math predictable, especially in Downtown LA and Santa Monica, where a slow cleaning day can cost $120 to $200 in lost rent.
LA market range vs TurnOver LA at a glance
| Size | Typical LA market range | TurnOver LA Make Ready |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $149 to $250 | $225 |
| 1BR | $195 to $400 | $255 |
| 2BR | $245 to $500 | $335 |
| 3BR+ | $325 to $650 | $425 |
What does a move out clean include vs a turnover Make Ready?
A basic move out clean usually covers floors, counters, bathrooms, basic dusting, and a quick appliance wipe. Many hourly options exclude inside oven, fridge, cabinet interiors, blinds, or baseboard detailing unless you add time. Documentation for your file is rarely included.
TurnOver LA Make Ready includes a full turnover deep clean plus a 12-point photo report. We detail floors, baseboards, baths, kitchen surfaces, inside oven and fridge, cabinet interiors, light switch plates, and interior glass. We photograph before and after, then label photos by room to support security deposit accounting. Floor detailing is folded into Make Ready, so you do not need a separate floor service. If you also want post-clean listing photos and video, the TLA Launch Pad Media Package is $399.
- See scope background: What is a Make Ready?
- Working template: Apartment turnover checklist
- Service detail: Make Ready deep clean
How do size, condition, and add-ons change the bill?
The cleaning price itself is fixed with TurnOver LA, but the total turnover bill depends on what we discover during the 12-point report. Here are common adds from our live catalog so you can budget with real numbers.
- Unit cleanout and junk haul, Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR $420, 3BR+ $420. Additional junk load $200 per load. Unit cleanout and junk haul
- Paint touch-up only $200, full repaint $395 per room. Ceilings and baseboard or trim $125. Sand and repaint cabinets or shelving $135. Small drywall patch and texture $150 per patch, medium repair $240 per patch. Painting and drywall repairs
- General maintenance or safety visit $125, half-day handyman punch list $230, full-day punch list $425. Handyman punch list
- Rekey options from $100 for the first lock, $50 each additional, or full apartment rekey up to 2 locks $150. Lock rekey for front and deadbolt $110. Door knob or handle replacement $100 per knob. Smart lock install $210. Locks and security
- Listing media, TLA Launch Pad Media Package $399. TLA Launch Pad Media Package
Across LA, hourly cleaners often defer paint, drywall, locks, and maintenance to your separate vendors, which stretches timelines. With one crew and one quote, you can book the cleaning, punch, and paint in a 48-hour window, then media on day three to list immediately. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What is the vacancy loss math in LA, and why does speed matter?
Most LA properties lose $80 to $200 per day while a unit sits offline. If you are in West Hollywood or Santa Monica, two extra idle days is $240 to $400 gone. In Downtown LA and Koreatown, a lost long weekend still runs $200 to $300. If an hourly team runs over by one visit and you reschedule punch work, you can add 1 to 3 days without noticing.
TurnOver LA locks a 48-hour finish for the Make Ready, then technicians can immediately roll into punch items you approve. For a 1BR at $255, shaving even one day of vacancy covers the entire cleaning cost in many submarkets. If you are leasing in Downtown LA, stacking cleaning, minor paint, and media in the same week is often the difference between weekend tours and another week dark. For more math scenarios, see our guide on vacancy loss in Los Angeles.
Can I deduct cleaning and repair costs from the deposit in California?
Yes, if you document and itemize correctly. California Civil Code allows deductions for cleaning to return the unit to the same level of cleanliness it was at move-in, for repair of damage beyond ordinary wear, and for necessary painting or patching. You must deliver an itemized statement within 21 days of move-out and include receipts.
- Statute: California Civil Code §1950.5
- Timelines and forms: California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide
- Deposit cap update: AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap
Our Make Ready includes a 12-point photo report, which pairs with your move-in photos to substantiate deductions. For details on deadlines and mailing rules, read our guide on the California 21-day deposit return. For gray areas like scuffs and aged carpet, see normal wear and tear in California.
What if there is junk, odors, or smoke damage?
Three common blockers extend vacancy. Leftover furniture or trash calls for a unit cleanout, which we price at Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR $420, 3BR+ $420, with $200 per extra load if needed. Pet or smoke odors can push showings, so we deep clean surfaces and address source materials before listing photos.
Operationally, clean and deodorize on day one, re-clean and repaint problem areas on day two if needed, then list. For odor playbooks, see our posts on pet odor removal and removing smoke smell from an apartment. In rent-controlled units, review the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance for notice requirements around access and habitability while work is underway.
Who should hire hourly cleaners vs a turnover crew?
Hourly teams are fine for light soil and an owner doing the rest. A turnover crew is built for make-ready scope, documentation, and finishing the punch list fast. Use this quick screen.
- You have a clean tenant who patched nail holes neatly, no junk left, and you plan to DIY touch-ups. Hourly is fine.
- The unit needs inside oven, fridge, cabinet interiors, blinds, and baseboards, plus a photo record. Use a turnover crew.
- You expect minor paint and a few drywall patches after cleaning. A combined turnover crew is faster.
- You must rekey and publish a listing this week. Bundle cleaning, locks, and media.
- You have deposit disputes often. Use a crew that builds a labeled photo report.
- Your leasing plan depends on weekend tours. Lock a 48-hour finish.
How should LA owners structure a 48-hour turn from keys to listing?
An efficient LA handoff saves 1 to 3 vacancy days. Here is a clean sequence that fits most 1BR and 2BR units.
- Day 0 afternoon: Conduct your pre-move-out walk, note paint or repairs, and confirm key dates under Civil Code. If RSO, verify any access constraints.
- Day 1 morning: Make Ready cleaning starts. Cleaners document pre-existing damage and soil levels.
- Day 1 afternoon: Approve any punch items or paint from the photo report. Book what you need immediately.
- Day 2 morning: Technicians finish Make Ready and execute approved punch list or touch-up paint.
- Day 2 afternoon: Rekey if needed, then schedule media.
- Day 3 morning: Shoot the TLA Launch Pad Media Package for $399 and publish your listing.
That flow respects the 21-day deposit clock and gets you live tours before the weekend. For full cost modeling across unit sizes, see our apartment turnover cost in Los Angeles.
How do I get a firm price and start dates in LA neighborhoods?
You can book a flat Make Ready by size, Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR+ $425, and add line items only if the report shows a need. Our crews cover Downtown LA, West Hollywood, Koreatown, Santa Monica, Glendale, and more. The booking tool shows the earliest 48-hour slots. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
Once cleaning is set, you can add paint touch-up for $200, a half-day handyman punch list for $230, rekey starting at $100, and media at $399. Every add-on is from the live catalog with the same 48-hour turnaround rule. That keeps your schedule and deposit file aligned without guesswork.
What documents should I keep with the deposit file?
When you deduct for cleaning and damage, build a paper trail that survives a dispute. Use this minimal stack:
- Move-in photos labeled by room and surface.
- Move-out 12-point photo report with timestamps and notes.
- Your itemized invoice, listing each line item and price.
- A copy of the 21-day itemized statement sent to the tenant.
- Any communications about pre-move-out access or agreed cleaning tasks.
If you need language references, bookmark the California Tenants Guide and the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide. They make good attachments to a dispute response packet. Close your loop by mailing or delivering as the code requires and keep proof of service.
Bottom line: what will I actually spend this turn?
For a typical 1BR in LA, market cleaning costs run $195 to $400, with upsells for appliances and cabinets. TurnOver LA charges $255 for a 1BR Make Ready including inside oven and fridge, cabinets, and a 12-point photo report, done in 48 hours. Add only what you need, for example paint touch-up $200, half-day handyman $230, or rekey starting at $100. You save if one saved vacancy day offsets those numbers, which it often does in core LA neighborhoods. Get instant quote in 30 seconds