Rental Property Make-Ready: The Complete Turnover Checklist

Why Make-Ready Matters

Every vacant day costs money. But rushing turnovers leads to unhappy tenants and expensive callbacks. The balance is a systematic approach.

The Make-Ready Sequence

Phase 1: Assessment (Day 1)

Walk the property and document:

• [ ] Walls: holes, marks, damage
• [ ] Flooring: wear, stains, damage
• [ ] Fixtures: operation, appearance
• [ ] Appliances: function, cleanliness
• [ ] Plumbing: leaks, drains, toilets
• [ ] HVAC: operation, filter condition
• [ ] Exterior: damage, cleanliness

Phase 2: Repairs (Days 2-4)

Address functional issues:

• Patch walls (overnight dry time)
• Fix leaky faucets
• Repair or replace broken fixtures
• Address electrical issues
• Fix door/window problems

Phase 3: Refresh (Days 4-6)

Cosmetic updates:

• Paint touch-ups or full rooms
• Deep clean all surfaces
• Replace worn caulk
• Install new outlet/switch covers
• Update hardware if dated

Phase 4: Deep Clean (Day 7)

Final preparation:

• Professional carpet clean
• Window washing
• Appliance deep clean
• Cabinet interior wipe-down
• Final inspection

Common Make-Ready Items

Almost Every Turnover

• Wall touch-ups/painting
• Carpet cleaning or replacement
• Deep cleaning
• New toilet seats
• Filter replacement
• Smoke detector batteries

Frequent Items

• Drywall repairs
• Light fixture updates
• Faucet cartridge replacement
• Weatherstripping
• Caulk refresh
• Outlet cover replacement

Occasional Items

• Flooring replacement
• Appliance replacement
• Full interior paint
• Cabinet repainting
• Fixture upgrades

Budget Guidelines

For Central Kentucky rentals:

• Basic turnover: $500-1,500
• Moderate refresh: $1,500-4,000
• Major update: $4,000-10,000+

Minimizing Future Turnovers

During make-ready, consider:

• Durable paint finishes (satin/eggshell)
• LVP instead of carpet
• Lever-style door handles
• Commercial-grade fixtures
• Neutral, timeless colors

Working with a Make-Ready Team

Benefits of a consistent contractor:

• Knows your properties and standards
• Faster mobilization
• Volume pricing
• Single point of contact
• Accountable for quality

Schedule make-ready service - we work with Central Kentucky landlords and property managers.