The full sequence
Turns are won in the order of operations.
Most turnover delays come from sequencing, not labor: paint before drywall is finished, cleaning before repairs are done, damage discovered mid-turn. A standard one- or two-bedroom turnover typically takes 3 to 5 days from key handoff when the work is inspected first and coordinated as one scope. Use this checklist in order.
1. Move-out and documentation
Collect keys, fobs and remotes. Photograph every room as left, including inside appliances and closets. Note the forwarding address. Compare against move-in photos to separate wear from damage before any deposit discussion.
2. Walkthrough inspection
Walk the unit with a notepad before anyone starts work. Decide room by room: touch-up or full repaint, patch or replace drywall, clean or replace flooring. This one walkthrough is what keeps the turn on schedule — surprises found later cost days.
3. Rough work first
Drywall repair, texture matching, nail pops, plumbing and electrical fixes, appliance repair or replacement. Nothing cosmetic starts until the rough work is done and dust is contained.
4. Paint
Ceilings, walls, trim and doors per the room-by-room plan from step 2. Consistent, neutral finishes rent faster and touch up easier between tenants. Photograph finished rooms.
5. Deep clean
After paint, not before: kitchen degrease and appliance interiors, bathroom descale and regrout touch-ups, floors, windows, blinds, baseboards, vents and light fixtures. A move-out clean is deeper than a maintenance clean.
6. Safety and code
Smoke and CO detectors tested with fresh batteries, GFCI outlets tested, handrails secure, egress windows operable, furnace filter replaced, water heater checked. Non-negotiable before listing.
7. Locks, keys and curb appeal
Rekey or replace locks between tenants. Then the exterior: entry, walkways, trash areas and landscaping presentable. First impressions start at the curb, even for rentals.
8. Final QC and listing photos
Final walkthrough with fresh eyes — open every door, run every faucet, flip every switch. Then photograph the unit clean, bright and empty for the listing. Dated photos also protect the next deposit accounting.
Room by room
The quick checklist.
Run this list in every unit before the final walkthrough. Anything checked off here is one less surprise at listing time.
Kitchen
Appliance interiors and exteriors, cabinet fronts and hardware, sink and faucet, backsplash, counters, floors. Confirm all burners, the oven light, and the disposal run.
Bathrooms
Toilet, tub and shower, tile and grout, vanity, mirror, fixtures, exhaust fan. Re-caulk where it is failing; descale showerheads and faucets.
Bedrooms & living areas
Walls and ceilings per the paint plan, trim and doors, closet rods and shelving, windows and blinds, outlets and switches with cover plates, light fixtures, floors.
Entry, exterior & systems
Locks rekeyed, entry and walkways presentable, trash areas clear. Smoke and CO detectors tested, GFCI outlets tested, furnace filter replaced, every door, faucet, and switch checked.
What slows turns down the most
Three things: skipped inspections that let damage surface mid-turn, trades tripping over each other without a sequence, and waiting on decisions. The fix is one accountable scope — inspection, rough work, paint, clean, QC — run by one crew or one coordinated point of contact. That is exactly how our turnover work is structured.
Budgeting this sequence? Our apartment turnover cost guide puts real numbers to each step.
Wear vs. damage — the deposit question
Document everything at move-in and move-out with dated photos. Normal wear (light scuffs, minor nail holes, faded paint) is the cost of doing business; damage beyond wear (large holes, burns, pet damage, missing fixtures) comes from the deposit. Photos end arguments before they start.