What is included in an apartment turnover?

What the work covers, and what stays out

Everything that gets the empty unit rentable again on the inside: holes and ceiling stains repaired, walls primed and painted, damaged flooring repaired or replaced, doors adjusted, split trim and broken fixtures replaced, and a punch list walked against the written scope. Each item is on the scope with its price before work starts.

Three things are not in our turnover. Cleaning is left to your cleaning team, who go in after the punch list. Plumbing, HVAC, roofing and new electrical circuits stay with their licensed trades. Moving walls or rebuilding a kitchen is a renovation, covered in make-ready vs. full turnover.

1. Walk and write it down

Every room, every wall, every door. Nothing starts until the whole unit is on one written scope with one price.

2. Walls and ceilings

• Fill nail and anchor holes
• Patch door-knob holes and add door stops
• Replace damaged drywall sections
• Seal ceiling stains

3. Paint

• Prime every repair
• Touch up or repaint walls
• Ceilings, doors and trim as scoped

4. Floors

• Repair or replace damaged plank, vinyl or carpet
• Reset transitions and base

5. Doors, trim, carpentry and fixtures

• Adjust doors until they latch
• Replace split trim
• Fix cabinet doors, shelves and rods
• Replace blinds, towel bars, light fixtures and cover plates

6. Punch list, then clean

Caulk, touch-ups and the last small items. Then your cleaning team goes in last. See punch-list repairs.

Apartment turnover checklist PDF

Want this checklist on paper or as a PDF? Print this page, or pick Save as PDF in your browser's print window, and take the six steps with you on the move-out walkthrough. Tick each step off in order and nothing gets done twice.