Tenant turnover is the highest-volume work Red Stag does for property managers and multifamily owners in LA. The unit walk-out, inspection, and re-prep cycle is a 7-day window in most properties — and the handyman work is what determines whether the unit re-lists on schedule or slips. Here's the 12-point checklist a Red Stag turnover crew runs on every unit.
12-point tenant turnover handyman checklist
- 01Drywall patching from picture hooks, anchors, and TV mountsMesh-tape patches, hot mud, sand smooth, texture-match (orange peel or knockdown), prime, paint touch-up.
- 02Hardware tightening and replacementDoor hinges, knob screws, cabinet hinges and pulls, drawer slides — re-torque or swap as needed.
- 03Door alignment and weatherstrippingPlane any sticking doors, replace failed weatherstripping at unit entry, replace thresholds if worn.
- 04Bathroom re-caulk inspectionVisual check on shower, tub, sink, toilet base, floor-to-tile joint. Re-caulk any failed joint with industrial-grade silicone.
- 05Light fixture and ceiling fan checkAll fixtures operating, all bulbs replaced with matching LED, all fan blades balanced.
- 06Outlet and switch plate replacementCracked covers, painted-over switches, missing plates — replace with builder-grade matching covers.
- 07Window screen rebuildRe-mesh and re-spline any torn screens, straighten bent frames, re-install in tracks.
- 08Closet and bifold door realignmentBifold pivot pins, slider track cleaning, sliding glass door rollers — re-align all moving doors.
- 09Smoke and CO detector test and battery swapCalifornia Tenant Protection Act compliance — operational detectors, fresh batteries, current expiration date.
- 10Paint touch-up on scuff and ding areasCommon entry hallways, behind doors, stairwell walls, around switches. Match wall color from the property paint records.
- 11Final hardware operational checkEvery door opens and closes, every cabinet pull works, every faucet runs, every window operates. Sign off the punch list.
- 12Photo documentation for the property fileBefore/after photos for the property management software so the work is documented for the security deposit accounting.
The 7-day turnover window
Day 1: outgoing tenant moves out, walk-through inspection. Day 2: handyman walk-through and quote. Day 3–4: punch list executed. Day 5: paint touch-up cures. Day 6: final cleaning and listing photos. Day 7: unit goes live for the next tenant.
The handyman work compresses into Day 3–4 — about 32 hours of work-window per unit. The 12-point checklist has to fit inside that window, which is why every step is sequenced for efficiency.
Cost structure for property managers
Standard turnover packages run $485–$1,285 for a 1-bedroom unit and $685–$1,985 for a 2-bedroom in LA. The wide range reflects unit condition — a well-maintained unit with light cosmetic work runs at the low end; a unit that's been abused or has cumulative deferred maintenance runs at the high end.
Most property managers we work with budget on a per-unit-type flat rate and treat anything over the flat rate as a separate scope item billed back to the security deposit when applicable. Recurring monthly maintenance contracts ($385–$985/month for typical small commercial) absorb the standard turnovers and reduce the per-unit cost over time.