Quick answer: Across Los Angeles, a 1 bedroom move out clean often runs $300 to $450 on hourly platforms, with larger units higher. TurnOver LA charges a flat $255 for a 1BR Make Ready, which includes a deep clean and a 12 point photo report, delivered in 48 hours. Studios are $225, 2BRs $335, and 3BR or larger $425. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
If you hire move out cleaning in Los Angeles, plan on a market price in the low to mid hundreds for a standard 1 bedroom. TurnOver LA is a flat $225 for a studio, $255 for a 1BR, $335 for a 2BR, and $425 for 3BR or larger, including a deep clean and a 12 point photo report, finished in 48 hours. This is set pricing, not hourly, so you can budget against vacancy loss.
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How much does move out cleaning cost in Los Angeles?
Across LA, hourly marketplaces commonly advertise around $40 to $60 per hour, with Taskrabbit listing about $46 per hour and an average move out clean totaling $300 to $400 for typical jobs. Fixed price house cleaning ads sometimes headline lower numbers for basic maintenance cleans, but move out cleans that handle ovens, inside fridge, cabinets, and hard water require more time and supplies. TurnOver LA uses flat Make Ready pricing, not hourly. That means Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, and 3BR or larger $425. The scope is designed for turnovers and includes a deep clean and a 12 point photo report you can use to document habitability and security deposit deductions under California Civil Code §1950.5.
What is included in a professional move out clean?
The core tasks for a true turnover clean are not the same as a weekly maid service. Expect a full kitchen and bath detail, including oven degrease, fridge interior, cabinet interiors, sinks and disposals, grout and caulk check, toilets and tubs, mirrors, and descaling fixtures. Living areas and bedrooms get floor care, baseboards, blinds or window sills, closet shelves and rods, door faces, light switch plates, and spot removal if feasible. Our Make Ready combines that deep clean with a 12 point photo report that timestamps the condition of appliances, baths, kitchen, floors, walls, and entry. If you also need trash removal, use our unit cleanout add-on. See our Make Ready details here: /services/make-ready. For overflow items like touch-up paint or a loose towel bar, we can add a small handyman punch.
How do TurnOver LA prices compare to typical LA market rates?
Here is a simple side by side so you can budget quickly. Market ranges are based on common LA listings for move out cleans. TurnOver LA is a flat rate with a 48 hour turnaround.
| Unit size | Typical LA move out cleaning market range | TurnOver LA Make Ready |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $200 to $350 | $225 flat |
| 1 Bedroom | $300 to $450 | $255 flat |
| 2 Bedroom | $400 to $600 | $335 flat |
| 3 Bedroom or larger | $500 to $700+ | $425 flat |
Market pricing is often hourly and variable by cleaner experience and supply quality. Our pricing is fixed and includes a 12 point photo report. If you stack it against vacancy loss in West Hollywood or Koreatown, which can run $120 to $180 per day, the 48 hour schedule matters as much as the rate.
How fast should you schedule move out cleaning in LA?
Two timing rules keep you off the rocks. First, lock the clean within 24 hours of receiving keys so you can control the calendar. Second, book a 48 hour window for cleaning and punch work, then get photos and a listing live on day three. With vacancy loss in LA running roughly $80 to $200 per day depending on submarket, a week of slip costs more than any cleaning quote. TurnOver LA jobs are scheduled on a flat 48 hour turnaround, no rush fee and no same day surcharge. If you need painting, touch-up, a rekey, or a small handyman punch, we stack those inside the same 48 hour slot so you do not add days. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What is the 3:30 rule for cleaning and does it apply to turnovers?
There is no official 3:30 rule in property turns. Some cleaners use a practical sprint method that allocates 30 minute blocks across three priority zones, usually the kitchen, bathrooms, and floors. In turnovers this can help maintain pace, but it is not a scope. A move out clean must hit ovens, fridges, cabinet interiors, and mineral deposits, which often push past 30 minutes per zone. Use timeboxing for speed, but inspect against a turnover checklist so nothing is missed. You can pull a simple framework from our guide here: /guides/apartment-turnover-checklist.
Is 50 dollars an hour for cleaning good in LA?
Fifty dollars per hour is a normal LA rate for independent cleaners on hourly platforms. It can work for light to moderate cleans in smaller units. For turnovers, the risk is scope creep. Ovens, fridges, and hard water scale can turn a 4 hour plan into 7 hours. That is why many owners prefer fixed pricing. With our Make Ready, a 1BR is $255 flat, and you know it finishes in 48 hours. If you have pet or smoke odors, check our guides and add-ons before you book: /guides/pet-odor-removal-apartment-los-angeles and /guides/how-to-remove-smoke-smell-from-apartment.
What is the 80/20 rule of house cleaning and how do you apply it to turnovers?
The 80/20 idea says about 20 percent of tasks create 80 percent of the perceived clean. In turnovers, spend early time on three items that drive showability and deposit disputes. That means the kitchen hard surfaces and appliances, the tub and shower glass, and floors and baseboards. Once those are dialed, hit details like blinds, outlets, and door tops. This order gets you listing photos faster and protects you during the 21 day deposit timeline. For deposit rules, see California Civil Code §1950.5 and our guide: /guides/california-21-day-deposit-return.
Can I install a smart lock myself after move out?
You can install a consumer smart lock if the door prep matches the lock spec and the latch and strike are aligned. Many owners prefer a professional because misaligned doors and old mortises are common in LA stock, especially in 1920s Mid City or 1960s Palms buildings. TurnOver LA offers a Smart lock install at $210, a Full apartment rekey up to 2 locks at $150, and a Lock rekey for front plus deadbolt at $110. We also replace door knobs at $100 per knob. See our locks and security menu here: /services/locks-security. A locksmith can install a smart lock, but if you are already turning the unit, bundling the install with cleaning prevents extra trips and days.
How do you calculate tenant turnover rate and what is a good rate?
Annual turnover rate is move outs during the year divided by total units, times 100. If a 60 unit building in Glendale saw 18 move outs last year, 18 divided by 60 equals 0.30, so a 30 percent turnover rate. Class B and C multifamily in LA often sees 30 to 60 percent annually. RSO properties with long term tenants often skew lower. High turnover is not always bad if you are repositioning units, but it raises make ready and vacancy costs, so control time on market and scope creep. For cost control by line item, see /guides/apartment-turnover-cost-los-angeles.
When should you add painting or handyman time to a move out clean?
Cleaning is not a fix for wall scars, chipped trim, loose hinges, or wobbly GFCIs. If the unit needs more than soap and pads, add a painter or handyman during the same 48 hour window. Our add-ons are straightforward. Paint touch-up only is $200. Repainting per room is $395 per room, with ceilings and baseboards or trim at $125. Small drywall patch plus texture is $150 per patch, medium drywall repairs are $240 per patch. For repair lists, a Half-day handyman punch list is $230, and a Full-day handyman punch list is $425. See services: /services/painting-drywall and /services/handyman-general-maintenance.
What does a 48 hour LA turnover plan look like?
Use this simple sequence to keep days minimal and documentation tight.
- Day 0, key-in and inspection. Photograph possession and meter readings. Note safety items for handyman.
- Day 1 morning, unit cleanout if needed. Pricing is Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR $420, 3BR or larger $420. See /services/cleanout-junk-haul.
- Day 1 afternoon, Make Ready deep clean begins. Kitchens and baths first so surfaces cure if you re-caulk.
- Day 2 morning, handyman and paint touch-ups run in parallel with final clean. Swap out damaged knobs or GFCI, tighten hardware.
- Day 2 afternoon, locks and keys. Choose Full apartment rekey $150 or Smart lock install $210.
- End of Day 2, 12 point photo report finalized. Save to your deposit file.
- Day 3, listing goes live. Use the TLA Launch Pad media package at $399 to avoid delay. See /services/listing-media.
How should you document cleaning for the security deposit and LA rules?
California requires landlords to return the deposit or provide an itemized statement of deductions within 21 calendar days. Photos and written notes are your proof. The 12 point photo report in our Make Ready is structured around that need, with timestamps and angle variety that show actual wear and soil versus damage. Review your normal wear and tear standards as you build deductions and stay aligned with California Civil Code §1950.5, the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide, and AB 12 for security deposit caps. Helpful reads here: /guides/normal-wear-and-tear-california and /guides/california-21-day-deposit-return. For LA rent stabilized units, also keep the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance in mind when you plan access and notices.
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What exactly is a Make Ready and why use it instead of a basic clean?
A Make Ready is a turnover package built for vacancy control. It combines a deep clean, surfaces and appliances, detail work that shows in photos, and a structured photo report tied to turnover checkpoints. It cuts the guesswork and condenses vendors into one 48 hour block so the unit can be listed on day three. That timeline often saves more than the service fee when you compare against $80 to $200 per lost day. If you are new to the term, see our primer here: /guides/what-is-make-ready and our core service page: /services/make-ready.
Who is this for in LA, and where do we work?
We built this process for small owners and managers handling flats in Hollywood, Koreatown, Glendale, and Long Beach, as well as duplexes in Mid City or Mar Vista. If you run a handful of units and need predictable pricing and a fixed finish time, this is the lane. We serve all of LA with the same 48 hour standard. If your building is RSO covered, align your notices and entry with the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance. If you need neighborhood-specific vacancy math, see our property managers guide on vacancy loss for LA.