Apartment turnover checklist for the install and repair work
By Pro Install Greg · Updated · 2 min read
A unit turn moves fastest when the repair and install work is batched and sequenced: inspect and list everything at move-out, fix walls and trim, paint, then swap fixtures, blinds and hardware, and finish with a walk-through before the cleaners. One crew working the whole list in that order avoids the days lost waiting between separate trades.
Key takeaways
- The move-out inspection should produce one complete punch list before any work starts.
- Wall repairs and trim fixes come before paint, and paint comes before fixtures, blinds and hardware.
- Standardizing paint colors, sheens and hardware across units makes every turn faster and touch-ups invisible.
- Batching small repairs into one visit removes most of the waiting time between trades.
- Licensed work such as plumbing behind walls, gas and HVAC needs its own trade and should be scheduled from the punch list on day one.
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The sequence
- Move-out inspection. Walk every room and build one punch list, photographing damage for the deposit file.
- Schedule licensed trades. Anything needing a plumber, electrician or HVAC tech gets booked first, because it sets the timeline.
- Walls and trim. Patch holes, repair drywall, replace damaged baseboard and casing.
- Paint. Full repaint or touch-ups, in the unit's standard colors and sheens.
- Fixtures and hardware. Light fixtures, blinds, curtain rods, cabinet hardware, door handles and locks.
- Walk-through. Check the punch list item by item, then hand the unit to the cleaners.
The punch list, by area
| Area | Typical items |
|---|---|
| Walls | Nail holes, anchor holes, dents, scuffs, damaged corners |
| Trim and doors | Damaged baseboard, loose casing, doors that stick or will not latch |
| Paint | Touch-ups or full repaint, ceilings with stains, trim |
| Fixtures | Burnt-out or broken light fixtures, missing globes, loose ceiling fans |
| Windows | Broken blinds, bent curtain rods, missing hardware |
| Kitchen and bath | Cabinet doors, hardware, towel bars, toilet paper holders, shelving |
Standardize to turn faster
The single biggest time saver across a portfolio is standardization: one wall color and sheen, one trim color, one blind size per window type, one cabinet pull. Touch-ups then blend without repainting full walls, and replacement parts are always on hand. We cover sheens in the right paint finish for rentals.
We take on the install and repair side of unit turns for property managers and apartment communities — see apartment and commercial installation — and smaller one-off fixes fit the handyman list approach.
