9 Step Apartment Turnover Checklist

What is an Apartment Turnover? Apartment Turnover happens when the renter chooses to move out instead of renewing their lease. There are a few steps to complete before you , as a property manager or landlord, can accept a new tenant. Knowing what steps to take and how to accomplish it properly is crucial.

Before you can let a tenant move out of a rental property, you have to find and fix any damage the previous renter has left behind. In addition to cleaning the unit, this includes making any necessary improvements. The next step is to advertise the property, find new renters, and see to it that they are successfully relocated.

People who rent apartments don't pay rent while they clean them up and look for a new renter. Because of this, apartment turnover is very important. The longer it takes to find a new tenant for your home, the less money you will make each year. You can hire a cleaning company in Minneapolis and St. Paul area as most of our previous and current clients did. The best luxury apartments in Minneapolis such as Boutique 28, Edition Residences, etc. would understandably require the best apartment cleaning.

It can be hard to avoid long turnover times when the rental market is bad or a lot of work needs to be done to make the house look good. Landlords, on the other hand, try to keep vacancies as short as possible to keep things profitable.

The process of selling a home can be broken down into nine main steps. As you move through these steps, keep in mind that each property is different. 

Even though it's a good idea to have a general turnover plan that you will follow, you'll need to be a little more flexible.

  1. Upon receipt of Notice

You should obtain written confirmation from the renters when they inform you that they will not be renewing their lease agreement. Make sure they understand the time and date they have to return the keys and have all of their belongings removed before you proceed. Keep the written notice in the tenant file and continue the paper trail by sending them a written response acknowledging that you have received their notice and that you will be in touch shortly to go over the move-out procedure.

2. Give clear move-out instructions.

When it comes to moving out of apartments, many tenants are unsure of the sequence of procedures that must take place. In addition to the move-out inspection, they should be informed that their rental property may be shown to new prospective tenants on an occasional basis. 

Remind them that the move-out inspection must be completed in your presence, and that they must organize a time and date that is convenient for you. In most cases, landlords like to do the move-out inspection around two weeks prior to the scheduled move date. They also need to be prepared for you to show candidates the property after giving them 24 hours written notice, so that they aren't taken by surprise when you arrive with strangers.

You may also suggest for them to hire a move out cleaning company to ensure that everything on the list is taken care of. Perhaps they do not have the time to do the move out cleaning themselves because they are moving out of the country to accept a new job or simply too busy with all the move. This is why it is important to hire professional cleaners to do the cleaning.

3. Schedule for touch-ups and maintenance work.

Call painters, maintenance workers and others to come to the rental a day or two after the tenant leaves. This will save you time because you won't have an empty rental while your vendor's calendar clears.

4. Make an advertisement for new tenants.

Advertise your rental home in all the leading rental property periodicals, both traditional and online. Employ a mix of networking and informing friends, family, and coworkers about your future vacancy.

5. Conduct a move-out inspection.

Bring a copy of the move-in inspection documents to compare and check for faults. Examine each room and its subcategory. Be sure to inform tenants that any additional damages discovered will be included in the inspection paperwork as an amendment, as furniture may hide some damages. Both you and the tenant should sign and date the move-out inspection documents.

6. Find new tenants.

Use effective screening techniques to select the best candidates for background checks and interviews. In a few weeks, you should be able to get new tenants who can move in on the date you choose, usually a week after your existing tenants leave.


7. Conduct a final inspection.

On the day your present tenants move out, meet them at the rental property to get the keys and inspect the walls, carpets, doors, etc. Even if you've previously done a full move-out inspection, you still want to make sure that the tenant hasn't left anything behind or caused any additional damage. 

Don't forget to include the recipient's forwarding address. Once you've gathered all of the damages (if there are any), prepare to return their security deposit, less the cost of any repairs that may have been necessary. Make sure you know your state's rules and procedures for repaying security deposits.

8. Coordinate with vendors to polish all paperwork needed for the next tenant.

In order to get the rental property in tip-top shape, you only have a limited amount of time to coordinate with all of your vendors. It's best to have all the necessary contractors on hand before the vacant unit is rented out so that they can go to work on making it habitable for the next set of occupants. A wonderful time to make any changes or additions to the property like putting in a new refrigerator is also available now.


9. Meet the New Tenants

Always meet with new tenants to sign the lease, collect the security deposit, and complete a move-in inspection before turning over the rental property. 

Examine the lease and address any concerns they may have. The move-in inspection is most effective when done before moving in any belongings. Of course, both parties should sign the papers before handing over the keys.

Like many apartment move-in and move-out, turning over a property can be very stressful if you are not organized. Knowing these steps will help you in keeping track of your goals. Just remember, you can always call for help if the unit is not cleaned by the previous renters to your satisfaction. The goal is to restore the unit as best as possible so potential renters can visualize themselves in their new homes.