An apartment turnover cleaning checklist lists every cleaning task between one resident leaving and the next moving in, and says who owns it. The cleaner handles the kitchen, appliances, bathrooms, floors, closets, windows and fixtures. The property manager handles keys, utilities, repairs, paint and the final inspection. Splitting it that way keeps units moving on schedule.
Which tasks happen after a tenant leaves?
After move out, the unit gets an inspection with photos, a trash out of anything left behind, then maintenance and paint. The turnover clean comes after those, followed by carpet care if needed and the final walk. Cleaning before paint and repairs means cleaning twice, because that work puts dust on every surface.
A typical order for a unit turn:
- Move out inspection and photos (property manager)
- Trash out of items the resident left (property manager or a hauling vendor)
- Repairs and maintenance (maintenance team)
- Paint and touch up (painter)
- Turnover clean (cleaner)
- Carpet cleaning or floor care, if needed (flooring vendor)
- Final walk and signoff (property manager)
What does the cleaner do, and what does the property manager do?
The cleaner owns every cleaning task inside the unit. The property manager owns access, utilities, work orders for repairs and the signoff. Writing both columns on one sheet stops the common turn delay where a crew arrives to a locked unit, or a cleaner is asked to patch a wall that was never in the cleaning scope.
| Area | Cleaner | Property manager |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Picks up and returns keys or codes as agreed | Provides keys, lockbox code or gate access; confirms the unit is vacant |
| Utilities | Reports anything that is off | Keeps power, water and lights on through the clean |
| Kitchen | Cleans appliances inside and out, cabinets, counters, sink and backsplash | Orders appliance repairs or replacements |
| Bathrooms | Cleans tub, shower, toilet, sink, vanity, mirror, fan cover and fixtures | Orders recaulking, plumbing and fixture repairs |
| Walls and trim | Wipes baseboards, doors, frames, switch plates and outlet covers | Orders patching and paint |
| Windows and blinds | Cleans sills, tracks, glass and blinds | Replaces broken blinds or screens |
| Floors | Vacuums and mops every room | Books carpet cleaning or replacement |
| Closets | Wipes shelves, rods and floors | Fixes doors and tracks |
| Completion | Texts when the unit is done | Walks the unit, signs off or sends a punch list |
What is included inside appliances and cabinets?
Inside appliances means the oven and racks, range top and drip pans, the hood and filter, fridge and freezer shelves and drawers, the microwave, and the dishwasher interior and door edge. Cabinets and drawers get wiped inside, outside and on top, along with the shelf liner if one is left. These spots are what a new resident opens first.
The places that most often fail a walk are the top of the fridge and the gap beside it, the oven drip pans, the inside of the dishwasher door, and the shelf under the kitchen sink. Name each of those on the checklist. The make ready cleaning checklist has the full room by room list.
How do cleaning, repairs and painting differ?
Cleaning removes dirt, grease, dust and residue from surfaces that are already in working order. Repairs fix things that are broken, such as a leaking faucet or a cracked tile. Painting covers worn or damaged walls. A cleaner wipes scuffs off washable paint, but patching holes, recaulking and painting belong to maintenance or a painter.
Southern Charm Cleaning does the cleaning part of a turn. It does not do painting, repairs or carpet replacement. Put those on separate work orders so the cleaning quote stays a cleaning quote. For how a vacant unit clean compares with a deep clean of an occupied home, see move out cleaning vs deep cleaning.
Who supplies keys and utilities?
The property manager supplies access and keeps utilities on. Give the cleaner the keys, a lockbox code or a gate code, plus the unit number and alarm details, before cleaning day. Power and water must be on, and the lights need to work, because a crew cannot clean appliances or floors properly in a dark unit with no water.
Before each turn date, confirm:
- The unit is vacant and the resident has returned keys
- Power and water are on, and the breaker for the kitchen is on
- The gate, building and unit codes are current
- The cleaner knows where to leave keys when the clean is done
- Anything that must stay in the unit, like appliance manuals, is marked
What photos and inspection signoff document completion?
Take matching photos at move out and after the clean: each room from the doorway, the inside of the oven, fridge and dishwasher, under the kitchen sink, and the tub and toilet. Then walk the unit with the checklist and sign it, or send the cleaner a short punch list with photos and the room name for each missed item.
Photos matter for the deposit as well as the cleaning. Texas Property Code section 92.104 prohibits deductions for normal wear and tear and generally requires a written description and itemized list of deductions when a landlord retains a deposit. The itemization requirement has an exception when the tenant owes rent at surrender and the amount owed is undisputed. Clear move out photos help the leasing office tell damage from wear. Ask your attorney or association how your leases handle cleaning charges.
How can several units share a schedule?
Keep one list per property with the unit numbers, the move out date and the date each unit must be ready. Send it to the cleaner each week. The crew can then group units in the same building on the same day and work through them in order, which cuts trips and helps every unit hit its ready date.
| Unit | Move out | Repairs and paint done | Clean date | Ready by | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | |||||
| 211 | |||||
| 318 |
Southern Charm Cleaning prices move out and make ready cleans per unit and can schedule several units in one property together, then text you as each unit is done.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a turnover clean take?
It depends on the unit size and how the last resident left it. A lightly used one bedroom is a much shorter job than a three bedroom with a heavy kitchen. Send photos or let the cleaner walk the unit first, then build the turn schedule around the time window in the quote.
Is apartment turnover cleaning the same as a make ready clean?
They describe the same job. Make ready cleaning is the name many leasing offices use, and apartment turnover cleaning is the same vacant unit clean between residents. If you are booking make ready cleaning in Dallas or Fort Worth, either name gets you kitchens, appliances, bathrooms, floors, closets, windows and fixtures.
Should carpet cleaning happen before or after the turnover clean?
After. The cleaning crew walks every room and wipes baseboards next to the carpet. Carpet cleaning should come last, right before the final walk, so the carpet is dry and untouched when the new resident moves in.
Do you clean rental homes as well as apartments?
Yes. Southern Charm Cleaning cleans apartments and rental homes between tenants across Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving and the cities around them, priced per unit.
How do I request a turnover cleaning quote?
Text the property, the unit numbers and the turn dates to (469) 383 8216, or use the quote form. Southern Charm Cleaning does move out and make ready cleans for property managers across Dallas and Fort Worth, priced per unit. See all services.