The Complete Apartment Make-Ready Checklist (with Free Toolkit Download)

TLDR: A standard make-ready should finish in three to five days. Most run twice that long because work gets sequenced backwards: cleaning before paint, paint before drywall repair, flooring before plumbing. This guide gives you the full workflow that property managers use to hit a three-to-five-day turn, plus the toolkit that tracks days vacant and total turn cost as you log each unit. 

Turnover costs jumped 17.5% year-over-year in 2024, according to NAA’s 2024 Income/Expense IQ benchmarks, and vacancy and rent loss climbed to $1,323 per unit – the fourth consecutive annual increase. 

When vendor coordination and inspection sequencing break down, a single turn can absorb weeks of lost rent on top of the labor and materials. Every extra day on the calendar is rent that doesn’t come back.

The checklist below is built for property managers running multifamily and single-family rental (SFR) turns at portfolio scale. 

What Is a Make-Ready Checklist?

A make-ready checklist is the list of repairs, replacements, cleaning, and quality checks a property manager works through to move a vacant rental unit from move-out to move-in ready. The full process spans three phases: pre-move-out, inspection and punch list, and execution. A standard turn finishes in three to five days when the work is sequenced correctly.

A complete make-ready checklist covers eight categories of work: general maintenance, plumbing, electrical, kitchen, bathrooms, floors and surfaces, HVAC and safety, and final cleaning. Each category captures the specific items the maintenance team or vendor needs to inspect, test, and finish before the unit is ready for the next resident.

Sequence reduces days vacant; the checklist alone doesn’t. Run the 67-item list out of order and you get double cleans, rework, and stalled handoffs between trades. Run it in the right phase order and the same 67 items finish in three to five days. 

Three things sit outside the standard make-ready checklist: capital projects (full flooring replacement, kitchen remodels, system upgrades); repositioning work like new appliances added to lift rent; and major resident-damage repairs pursued through the deposit and small-claims process. All three get scoped separately, not bundled into the turn. 

For a deeper definition of the make-ready process, including how it differs from apartment turnover and what gets included for SFR versus multifamily portfolios, see the make-ready hub guide.

How to Use This Checklist (The 3-Phase Workflow)

A make-ready checklist works in three phases that overlap with the lease lifecycle:

• Phase 1 starts when notice to vacate is given.
• Phase 2 runs the day of and immediately after move-out. 
• Phase 3 is the execution window between move-out and the next resident’s move-in. 

Skipping Phase 1 is the most common mistake, and the one that adds the most days to the back end of every turn. 

Phase 1 is the cheapest part of the turn and the one most operators skip. The work is information gathering. Confirm the resident’s move-out date in writing. Schedule the pre-move-out walkthrough. Identify likely repair needs while the unit is still occupied. Pre-source vendors for any work that will require specialists. None of this changes how long a make-ready should take once the unit is empty. All of it changes the coordination lag before the first crew shows up.

Phase 2 is the inspection. It happens within 24 hours of move-out and produces the punch list—the specific scope of work for this specific unit on this specific day. A bad punch list at this stage compounds at every downstream step.

Phase 3 is the work itself. Done right, it sequences as: repairs and trades first, then paint, then flooring, then final deep clean and QA walkthrough. Reverse any of those and you’ll re-clean, re-paint, or re-walk the unit at least once.

Use the toolkit linked below to track all three phases in one place. The Unit Turn Tracker tab calculates days vacant and total turn cost automatically as you fill in dates and line items.

Phase 1: Pre-Move-Out (60-Day and 30-Day Notice) 

Phase 1 starts the moment a resident gives notice. The goal is to gather information that prevents surprises on move-out day. Confirm the move-out date in writing, schedule the pre-move-out walkthrough, get the resident’s forwarding address for the security deposit, and start vendor pre-sourcing for any known capital expenditure (capex) items.

Every day you save in Phase 1 is a day you don’t lose to coordination lag once the unit is empty. The checklist:

1. Confirm the move-out date in writing—both 60 days and 30 days out. 
2. Schedule the pre-move-out walkthrough for 7 to 14 days before move-out.
3. Send the resident the move-out expectations document (cleaning standards, key return, forwarding address request).
4. Use the walkthrough to scope likely make-ready work: paint condition, carpet wear, appliance issues, visible damage.
5.  Pre-source vendors for any known specialist work (HVAC service, flooring replacement, drywall repair).
6. Check parts inventory: air filters, blinds, hardware, common appliance components.
7. Confirm whether the unit is pre-leased. If yes, the move-in date drives the entire Phase 3 schedule.
8. Update the Unit Turn Tracker with the move-out date and target move-in date.

Phase 1 is also where prioritization starts. If the unit is pre-leased, it lands in the Urgent bucket the moment notice is given (more on prioritization below). 

Phase 2: Move-Out Inspection and Punch List

Phase 2 is the most expensive 90 minutes of the entire turn. Walk the unit within 24 hours of move-out, photograph every room against the move-in condition report, and build the punch list before any crew sets foot on the property. A bad punch list at this stage adds days at every downstream stage.

At this stage, the checklist functions as a scoping document. Run the inspection in this order: 

1. Photograph every room: wide angle plus close-up on any damage.
2. Compare to the move-in condition report. Note damage beyond normal wear-and-tear.
3. Walk the eight checklist categories in order (general, plumbing, electrical, kitchen, bathrooms, floors, HVAC, final cleaning). Don’t jump around.
4. For each line item, note the condition and the scope of work required.
5. Assign each line item to a trade or vendor.
6. Estimate cost line-by-line using flat-rate pricing if available.
7. Finalize the punch list as a single document before any work begins. 
8. Flag items that may require capital approval and route those separately.

The single most expensive mistake at this stage is building the punch list while work is already happening. Crews uncover issues, work pauses, scope creeps, and the turn stretches by days. Build the punch list once. Build it complete.

What Counts as Damage vs. Normal Wear-and-Tear

The legal standard is “damage caused by the resident’s negligence or misuse,” not “anything that looks worn.” Carpet that’s matted from foot traffic over a 24-month lease is wear-and-tear. Carpet stained by pet urine is damage. Most state security deposit laws follow that line. Use the photo record from the move-in walkthrough to draw it cleanly.

Phase 3: Make-Ready Execution (Room-by-Room)

Phase 3 is the work itself. Sequenced correctly, a standard turn finishes in three to five days: repairs first, then paint, then flooring, then final deep clean and quality assurance (QA). Doing them in any other order forces rework, double-cleans, and missed handoffs.

The full 67-item checklist runs across eight categories. Each one is sequenced to flow into the next, with QA gates at the end of each room.

General Maintenance

The structural and surface fixes that paint and cleaning depend on. Run this category first. Paint can’t go on damaged drywall, and cleaning crews can’t work around exposed studs.

• Inspect all walls for holes, scuffs, and damage
• Patch drywall and sand smooth
• Paint walls and ceilings (full repaint versus touch-up based on the punch-list scope)
• Replace broken hardware (knobs, handles, hinges, door stops)
• Test and replace lightbulbs across all fixtures
• Test all windows: open, close, lock
• Check and replace weather stripping
• Inspect doors: alignment, locks, deadbolts
• Check window blinds and replace if damaged
• Remove all previous-resident items and debris

Plumbing

The plumbing pass is its own QA gate. A missed leak at this stage shows up as water damage two weeks into the new resident’s lease.

• Check all faucets for leaks and proper flow
• Test drains and traps (kitchen, bathroom, utility)
• Test toilets: flush, fill speed, stability, no running
• Verify hot water is functioning and at safe temperature
• Inspect under-sink plumbing for leaks or corrosion
• Check water shut-off valves
• Inspect caulking around tubs, showers, and sinks

Electrical

Safety-critical. The electrical pass runs in parallel with plumbing but produces its own sign-off on the punch list.

• Test all outlets, including ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), which should trip and reset 
• Confirm all light switches function
• Check smoke detectors and replace batteries
• Check carbon monoxide (CO) detectors and replace batteries 
• Verify ceiling fans operate on all speeds
• Test the doorbell
• Check exterior lighting

Kitchen

Kitchen replacements carry some of the highest cost per square foot of any room in the unit. Test every appliance individually before signing off the category.

• Test stove and oven: all burners, oven temperature, timer
• Test the microwave
• Test the dishwasher on a full cycle
• Inspect refrigerator and freezer temperature
• Test the garbage disposal
• Test the sink sprayer
• Clean and sanitize all surfaces, cabinets, and drawers
• Inspect countertops for damage
• Check cabinet doors and drawer slides

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are where deferred maintenance compounds fastest. Anything missed here usually becomes a resident work order within the first month.

• Check caulking and tile condition (tub, shower, floor)
• Test the exhaust fan
• Inspect for active leaks (toilet base, shower, under sink)
• Test the shower head and tub faucet
• Check the mirror and medicine cabinet
• Inspect towel bars, toilet paper holder, and accessories
• Deep-clean tub, toilet, vanity, and all fixtures

Floors & Surfaces

Floors are the last surface to finish before final cleaning. Sequence flooring repair or replacement after all wet trades (paint, plumbing) are complete.

• Inspect carpet for stains, wear, and odor
• Clean or replace carpet (record the clean-versus-replace decision per the punch list)
• Inspect hard flooring for damage, scratches, or lifting
• Clean or replace hard flooring
• Inspect and repair damaged baseboards
• Check thresholds and transitions between rooms

HVAC & Safety

The HVAC pass closes out the mechanical scope. Run the system long enough to confirm both heating and cooling modes. A thermostat that “works” in May may fail in July.

• Replace air filters (record size for future turns)
• Test the thermostat in both heating and cooling modes
• Run the heating system and confirm proper function
• Run the cooling system and confirm proper function
• Inspect vents and registers, clean or replace
• Confirm CO and smoke detectors are correctly placed and working
• Check fire extinguisher (if applicable)
• Inspect water heater: age, condition, temperature setting

Final Cleaning & QA

Last category. Runs only after every other line item is signed off. Otherwise it gets done twice.

• Deep-clean the entire unit (every room, surface, and fixture)
• Shampoo carpets or mop and polish hard flooring
• Clean inside all appliances (oven, fridge, microwave, dishwasher)
• Clean all interior windows
• Wipe down all baseboards, door frames, and trim
• Clean light fixtures and ceiling fans
• Confirm no odors are present (pet, smoke, mildew)
• Remove all trash and debris
• Final walkthrough: photograph every room for the leasing handoff

How to Prioritize Make-Readies When Multiple Units Turn at Once

When multiple units turn in the same week, sequence by financial exposure. Pre-leased units with a confirmed move-in date go first. Vacant units without a signed lease go second. Renovation-scope units get scoped as capital projects and scheduled separately. Treating every turn as equal urgency is how days vacant compound across a portfolio. 

The Lula toolkit’s Priority Matrix scores every turn on three factors: pre-lease status, daily vacancy cost (monthly rent divided by 30), and estimated days to complete. The output is a priority bucket:

Score	Bucket	What it means
100+	URGENT	Pre-leased with a hard move-in date. Resource this unit first. A missed move-in costs you rent and the resident relationship.
50–99	STANDARD	Vacant and costing you money daily. Get it market-ready, but no hard deadline driving the timeline.
Below 50	LOW	Renovation-level scope or low-rent unit. Treat as a capital project and schedule separately.

The scoring matters most when your maintenance team or vendor partner is stretched. A pre-leased unit at $1,650/month with a move-in date 14 days out takes priority over a vacant unit at $1,400/month with no pending lease – and the matrix in the toolkit calculates the gap automatically. Reducing days vacant starts with deciding which day is the most expensive.

When to Outsource the Make-Ready

Outsourcing a make-ready makes sense when in-house techs are repeatedly pulled off resident work orders, when more than three vendors are required to complete a standard turn, or when the cost of an extra day vacant exceeds the margin a single managed partner adds to the line items. The break-even point most operators miss: vendor coordination time itself is a cost.

The math is consistent across portfolios. NAA’s 2024 Income/Expense IQ benchmarks (published August 2025) show turnover costs up 17.5% year-over-year, leasing expenses climbing 4.6% to $292 per unit annually, and repairs and maintenance up 28.2% cumulatively since 2021. Coordination lag drives most of that increase – the time between trades, not the labor itself. 

Lula handles make-readies from inspection to QA across nine US metros: Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, St. Louis, and Kansas City. The model is one partner, one punch list, one invoice. Our make-ready service starts with a free inspection and produces a flat-rate, line-item quote. Most Lula turns finish within 72 hours. 

Two cases where in-house wins: properties with light turns and consistent capacity (one to three units a month, simple scope), and operators with mature scheduling discipline who already run trades in the correct sequence. Two cases where outsourcing wins clearly: portfolios with concentrated turn periods (lease cohorts), and properties already managing more than three external vendors per turn.

Get the Full Make-Ready Toolkit

The article is the playbook. The toolkit is the working version.

The Make-Ready Checklist & Turn Tracker is the Google Sheet our nine-metro operation runs on. It includes:

• The 67-item checklist organized by the eight categories above, with columns for status, vendor assignment, cost tracking, and photo documentation
• The Unit Turn Tracker that auto-calculates days vacant, days in make-ready, coordination lag, and total turn cost as you log each unit
• The Turn Priority Matrix with the scoring formula that ranks every active turn into Urgent, Standard, or Low

Built by Lula. Free. Make a copy and adapt it to your portfolio.

A one-page printable version of the checklist is included for inspection-day field use. Drop it on the clipboard, work through it room by room, then log the actuals back into the Sheet.

Make-Ready Checklist FAQs

What’s the difference between a make-ready checklist and a move-out punch list?

A move-out punch list is the output of the Phase 2 inspection. It captures what’s broken, damaged, or missing in a specific unit on a specific day. A make-ready checklist is the standard scope every unit runs through regardless of condition. The punch list tells you what’s wrong with this unit. The checklist tells you what every unit gets.

Who builds the make-ready punch list: the maintenance team or a separate inspector? 

At most properties, the maintenance lead or the make-ready technician builds the punch list during the Phase 2 walkthrough. Larger multifamily operations sometimes use a dedicated inspector or a third-party service. The decision usually comes down to portfolio size and turn volume. At higher turn volumes—roughly 30 a month and up—a dedicated inspection role often starts to pay for itself. 

How many days should a standard make-ready take?

Three to five days when sequenced correctly, according to the industry benchmarks. When the workflow breaks down, turns can easily run 7 to 10 days or longer.