Make Ready Service in Los Angeles
What's included in apartment make-ready?
An apartment make-ready includes deep cleaning (kitchen, bathrooms, appliance interiors, vents, baseboards, windows), paint scuff removal and touch-ups, drywall patches and minor repairs, lock rekey to a new tenant key set, abandoned item removal, flooring restoration, and a 12+ point photo report sent to your phone for California Civil Code §1950.5 documentation. Everything between move-out and the new tenant signing the lease.
Make-ready service is everything that has to happen between one tenant moving out and the next one moving in. For most LA landlords this is the single biggest operating cost they face and the single biggest source of vacancy loss when it drags.
A typical make-ready job covers deep cleaning, paint touch-ups or full repaints, minor repairs (drywall patches, fixture replacements, hardware), lock rekey, junk removal and cleanout, flooring restoration, and photo documentation you can attach to security deposit itemizations. The goal is to get the unit from move-out condition to a state where a new tenant can sign and move in the same week.
In LA specifically, vacancy loss runs $80–$200 per day for a 1BR. A sloppy make-ready that drags two extra weeks costs more than the entire service package. Speed matters more than any single line item.
The full make ready scope
Photo report
12+ inspection-point photo documentation sent to your phone, usable for security-deposit itemization.
See the work
Rent-ready from top to bottom
Full unit deep clean
Paint touch-up
Floor restoration
Lock re-key
Photo documentationHow much does an LA make-ready cost?
An LA apartment make-ready costs $225 to $425 in flat-rate TurnOver LA packages, depending on unit size. Studios run $225, 1BR units $255, 2BR $335, and 3BR+ $425. Stacking independent painters, cleaners, and handymen typically runs $1,500 to $5,000 once you add it all up. Vacancy loss in LA runs $80 to $200 per day, so most landlords break even on the flat-rate package within 2 to 4 days of relisting.
Make-ready vs deep-clean only vs landlord DIY
The honest tradeoff sheet most LA landlords don't see before they price the work themselves.
| Approach | Cost (1BR) | Time | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full make-ready (TurnOver LA) | $255 flat | 48 hours | Deep clean, paint touch-up, repairs, rekey, photo report |
| Deep clean only | $255 flat | 1 day | Cleaning + photo report, no paint, no repairs, no rekey |
| Landlord DIY + stacked vendors | $1,200–$2,800 | 7–14 days | Separate invoices for painter, cleaner, handyman, locksmith |
How long does a make-ready take in LA?
A standard LA make-ready takes 48 hours from booking, and that flat 48-hour turnaround applies to every job. Larger 3BR+ units or full-paint scopes may need 72 hours. Get an Instant Quote with the unit address and target showing date and dispatch confirms a window in under 15 minutes. Vacancy loss in LA runs $80 to $200 per day, so the 48-hour standard exists to keep that cost contained.
What makes LA make-ready different?
Rent-stabilized building paperwork
Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and LA city rent-stabilized units require itemized invoices and photo evidence for any pass-through repair under the local rent ordinance. Using a contractor who doesn't document the work can cost you the ability to recover those costs from the security deposit or RSO filings. Every TurnOver LA job ships with the documentation already formatted.
Coastal and high-rise premiums
Venice, Santa Monica, and Marina del Rey units accumulate salt residue that generic cleaners under-estimate. Downtown LA high-rises require loading-dock coordination and elevator reservations. Our LA-native dispatch handles both without the $100–$300 surcharges most outside contractors add.
California Civil Code §1950.5 documentation
California limits what landlords can deduct from a security deposit to damage beyond normal wear and tear, plus unpaid rent. The 12+ point photo report we send doubles as itemized evidence, attach it directly to the deposit itemization you send the prior tenant.
Frequently asked questions
We use the terms interchangeably, but technically make-ready is what happens between tenants, cleaning, paint touch-ups, minor repairs, and lock rekey to get the unit rent-ready. A full turnover is the same scope of work plus heavier renovation when the unit needs it. Every TurnOver LA package includes both make-ready prep and turnover-grade documentation.
Make-ready completes on a standard 48-hour turnaround from booking, the same flat schedule on every job. Get an Instant Quote with the unit address and target showing date and dispatch confirms availability in under 15 minutes.
Yes. Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and LA city rent-stabilized units require itemized invoices and photo evidence for any pass-through repair. Every job ships with a 12+ point photo report formatted for RSO filings and security-deposit itemization under California Civil Code §1950.5.
Flat-rate packages: Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR+ $425. Custom pricing for multi-unit buildings. Independent painters and cleaners stacked separately typically run $1,500 to $5,000 once you add up everything we bundle into a single package.
Every contractor on the TurnOver LA network is licensed, insured, and background-checked. We follow a 150-point apartment turnover checklist and every completed job is photo-documented and sent to your phone.
Yes, landlords with 10+ monthly turnovers get bulk discounts and dedicated scheduling. Text the building address and unit count to 310-774-0099 for a multi-unit quote.
We offer line-item booking too, clean only, paint only, rekey only. Flat-rate packages are usually 30-50% cheaper than itemized work, but if you've already painted in-house, just get an instant quote what you need.
Related guides and popular LA neighborhoods
Landlord guides
Frequently asked questions in LA neighborhoods
Do you do make-ready in Santa Monica rent-stabilized buildings?
Yes. Santa Monica RCS rent-stabilized units need itemized invoices and photo evidence for any pass-through cost. Every make-ready ships with paperwork formatted for Santa Monica RCS, plus the standard California Civil Code §1950.5 deposit itemization. Same flat-rate package pricing applies, no zone surcharge.
Can you handle Downtown LA high-rise turnovers?
Yes. DTLA high-rises require loading-dock coordination and elevator reservations, which we book ahead with building management. No $100 to $300 surcharge, flat-rate Studio $225 through 3BR+ $425 applies the same as a Westside walk-up.
What about coastal units in Venice or Marina del Rey?
Coastal units accumulate salt residue that generic cleaners under-estimate. Our coastal protocol uses a vinegar-based pre-soak on tracks, sliding doors, and exterior-facing fixtures before the standard make-ready scope. Same flat rate as inland units.
Ready for a make ready?
Text the unit address and target date. Our dispatch texts back a quote and schedule in under 15 minutes.
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