What Should Be on an Apartment Turnover Checklist?
When a tenant moves out, the clock starts ticking. Before you can move new residents in, you need to clear out the unit and get the space ready to rent. There are a lot of moving parts to this process, but a thorough apartment turnover checklist keeps everything on track.
This guide breaks the apartment turnover process down step by step, so you know what needs your attention and when. And for property managers and landlords who could use some extra hands, College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving offers junk removal and donation pick-up services to get the unit in tip-top shape before its next chapter.
Start the Clock as Soon as You Get Notice
The turnover process starts when your tenant lets you know they’re moving out, which is typically 30 or 60 days before their last day, so don't waste any time. Before you even get the keys back, add their move-out date to your schedule and map out what needs to happen before the next tenancy begins. When you sort out the details early on, such as booking contractors and cleaners, you can get someone new in ASAP.
Do a Thorough Move-Out Inspection
A move-out inspection checklist for property managers and landlords helps you spot damage, identify maintenance needs, and figure out what you need to fix before new renters arrive.
Once your tenant officially moves out, walk through the entire unit and examine its condition. Check everything from the walls and carpet to the cabinets and appliances. Look for signs of leaks and pest problems, paying careful attention to anything a new tenant might notice.
Doing a careful walk-through gives you a clear picture of what you need to do next. It also helps prevent you from missing small problems like holes that need to be patched, which are easy to overlook during a busy turnover.
Damage vs. Normal Wear and Tear
A key part of a move-out inspection is examining a rental unit for legitimate damage caused by the previous tenant. This isn’t normal wear and tear, which typically refers to deterioration that happens from ordinary use—such as minor floor scuffs or small holes from hanging art.
Tenant-caused damage goes beyond what you’d expect from everyday living. It includes negligent or accidental issues like cigarette burns in the carpet or large holes in the walls.
Take photos and clearly document anything you find during the inspection, then compare the unit’s condition with your records from when the tenant first moved in. This distinction matters because security deposit rules typically allow landlords to deduct for damage that exceeds normal wear and tear. The exact requirements vary, so check your state and local laws.
Remove Items and Junk Left Behind
Some tenants leave stuff behind. Before you clear anything away, check the abandoned property laws where your rental is located. Some places require landlords to give the former tenant written notice and hold their belongings for a set amount of time before they can legally sell or dispose of them. Following the rules helps you avoid turning a few forgotten boxes or an old couch into a much bigger headache.
Once you're legally allowed to clear everything out, you don't have to do the heavy lifting by yourself. College HUNKS has locations across North America and offers junk removal for unwanted furniture, household items, and other clutter left behind. We can help you get your vacant apartment cleared out and ready for the next stage of the turnover in no time.
Make Repairs and Run Safety Checks
With the unit empty, now's a good chance to take care of any necessary repairs before the new tenant moves in. This includes fixing leaks, replacing broken fixtures, and tackling other maintenance issues you caught during the inspection.
Add these system checks to your rental turnover checklist:
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: Test each alarm and replace any faulty units or dead batteries.
- Plumbing and water heater: Check the faucets, toilets, drains, shower, and any visible pipes for leaks and other issues.
- HVAC filter and system: Replace the air filter if needed and check that the heating and cooling system works properly.
- Appliances: Inspect appliances like the stove and refrigerator to make sure they function normally.
Deep Clean and Get the Unit Renter-Ready
The next step is deep cleaning. A renter-ready apartment shouldn't have visible grime or unfinished maintenance waiting for the next tenant. It should also smell fresh and clean.
Tackle this by recruiting other staff or hiring a crew to work through the apartment room by room. This makes the job easier to manage and ensures every foot of the unit is cleaned.
Here’s what to tackle:
- Kitchen: Clean inside and outside the appliances. Wipe down the counters, scrub the cabinets, and clean the sink and garbage disposal.
- Bathroom: Scrub the toilet, tub or shower, and floor. Pay extra attention to the grout and any buildup you can spot.
- Living room and bedrooms: Sweep and mop hard floors, wipe down blinds, and remove grime along the baseboards. Dust everything thoroughly.
- Walls: Wipe down all of the walls.
- Carpets and odors: Address stains with cleaning products, then vacuum and wash thoroughly. Allow the carpets to dry completely.
- Odors: Use professional-strength deodorizers to remove any lingering odors from the unit.
Change the Locks Before Handoff
Change or rekey the lock before you hand the unit over to a new tenant. Although you collect the keys to the apartment at the end of a lease, there's no way of knowing if the outgoing tenant made extra copies.
Update the locks and give the new renters a fresh set of keys. This keeps things safe and helps prevent people from accessing the rental property who shouldn't.
Add this step to your unit turn checklist before the final handoff so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle.
Hire College HUNKS for Easier Unit Turnovers
Following an apartment turnover checklist takes some of the scramble out of getting your vacant unit ready for new renters. Start with a thorough inspection, then take care of the repairs, cleaning, and security checks. Having a process in place helps everyone know what comes next so vacancies don’t drag on.
Leftover furniture and other junk doesn't need to slow your next apartment turnover down. College HUNKS can clear unwanted items from your rental property so you don’t have to do the hauling yourself. We also specialize in house and apartment moving, estate cleanouts, and foreclosure cleanouts.
Find a College HUNKS location near you and request a free, no-obligation estimate today.
FAQ
What's the Meaning of an Apartment Turnover?
An apartment turnover is the process of getting a rental like a studio or two-bedroom unit ready for a new tenant. It starts at lease end when the current tenant moves out and covers everything that needs to happen before someone new arrives. You need to make sure the apartment is safe, clean, and ready to be occupied again without leaving it empty any longer than you need to, because the longer you don’t have a renter, the more likely you are to lose money.
What Should Property Managers Check During Apartment Turnovers?
Look at whether the apartment was left clean, and if all of the appliances and systems are functioning properly. Check for signs of pests like cockroaches and mice and treat the unit if necessary before the next renters move in.
How Long Does an Apartment Turnover Typically Take?
There’s no standard timeline for unit turnovers because it depends on how much work you need to do. Turning over a rental that requires deep cleaning, painting, and some repairs can take a week or two. If you need to do big renovations or fixes, getting the unit ready might take up to a month or longer.
What is a Tenant Turnover Checklist?
A tenant turnover checklist is the same thing as an apartment turnover checklist. It helps landlords and property managers move a rental unit from one tenant to the next. The list covers the full process, from the tenant’s move-out notice to the final handoff, and gives everyone involved a step-by-step guide to follow.