Vacancy is expensive. In Los Angeles County, every extra week of downtime can wipe out the benefit of a rent increase. The quickest way to improve rental performance is a predictable turnover process that gets the home rent ready fast without creating repeat maintenance problems.
This checklist is built for landlords who want faster leasing, fewer move in complaints, and fewer surprise repairs in the first month.
Step 1: Document the move out condition before work starts
Take clear photos and notes before repairs begin. This protects deposit reconciliation and prevents vendor confusion later.
Step 2: Scope the work in one walkthrough
Most delays come from missed items and extra trips. Do one full walkthrough, create the scope, and plan the sequence.
Step 3: Repairs first, then cosmetics, then cleaning
Fix functional issues first. Then paint and finish. Then deep cleaning. If you paint first and repair later, you lose time and money.
Step 4: Fix the five complaint zones
If you want fewer maintenance tickets after move in, focus your turnover attention on these five zones.
- Plumbing leaks in kitchens and bathrooms
- Appliances and items near failure
- Locks, doors, windows, and screens
- Electrical basics such as outlets, lights, and GFCI where needed
- Ventilation and moisture control in bathrooms
Step 5: Do a real rent ready clean
Tenants notice details. A rent ready clean should cover kitchens, bathrooms, floors, and the small touch points that shape first impressions.
Step 6: Final walkthrough, photos, and listing prep
Confirm everything works, then take fresh listing photos. Good photos only matter if the home is truly ready for showings.
How Palomar Oaks helps
We manage turnovers like a system. We coordinate scopes, vendors, timelines, and documentation so the home gets listed quickly and tenants move in with fewer reasons to complain.
