Rental Turnover Checklist: Preparing for the Next Tenant

1. Start With a Complete Walk-Through

Before sending cleaners or contractors into the property, walk through the entire home.

Go room by room and make a list.

Look beyond obvious cosmetic issues and check how things actually function.

Open doors.

Open drawers.

Turn on lights.

Run faucets.

Flush toilets.

Look inside cabinets.

Check appliances.

Test locks.

Walk the exterior.

Photographs can be useful both for documenting condition and communicating repairs to the people who will be completing the work.

The goal is to create one master turnover list rather than discovering additional problems every time someone visits the property.

2. Look for Water Problems First

Water-related issues deserve particular attention.

Check underneath sinks and around toilets, tubs and showers.

Look for evidence of leaks around appliances that use water.

Inspect ceilings and walls for stains or other signs of moisture.

Outside, look for obvious drainage issues, damaged gutters or areas where water may be entering the structure.

A small leak can become a much larger repair, so we prefer to address water-related problems before moving on to cosmetic improvements.

3. Check Doors, Windows and Locks

Every exterior door should close and secure properly.

Check deadbolts, handles and other locking hardware.

Open and close windows and make sure their locks function where applicable.

Interior doors deserve attention too. A bedroom door that rubs badly, a closet door that won't stay on its track or a bathroom door that won't latch can be frustrating for a new renter from day one.

Turnover is a good time to correct these small problems.

4. Address Access Between Tenants

Physical and electronic access should be reviewed when a tenancy changes.

If the property uses traditional keys, determine what needs to be done with the locks and keys before the next tenant receives possession.

If the property uses a smart lock, remove access that should no longer exist and create the appropriate new access when needed.

Also remember secondary access points such as garage remotes, gates, storage areas or other secured spaces associated with the property.

The goal is to know who has access when the new tenancy begins.

5. Test the Plumbing

Run water at every faucet.

Check both hot and cold water.

Look underneath sinks while the water is running.

Flush every toilet and make sure it stops running afterward.

Check drains for obvious slow drainage.

Look at faucets, showerheads and supply connections for dripping or leaking.

A five-minute plumbing check can reveal problems that might otherwise become a maintenance request shortly after move-in.

6. Check Appliances

If appliances are provided with the rental, make sure they're functioning.

Depending on the property, that may include:

• Refrigerator
• Range or cooktop
• Oven
• Dishwasher
• Microwave
• Garbage disposal
• Washer
• Dryer

Don't assume an appliance works simply because it turns on.

For example, a dishwasher can power up while still failing to drain correctly.

Clean appliances thoroughly as part of the turnover and make sure any provided components, shelves or racks are present.

7. Check Lights, Switches and Outlets

Walk through the home and turn on the lights.

Replace failed bulbs where appropriate and investigate fixtures that don't operate as expected.

Check for obviously damaged switches, outlet covers or fixtures.

GFCI outlets in appropriate areas may have been tripped and simply need to be reset—or there may be another issue requiring attention.

Electrical problems should be handled by an appropriately qualified person when required.

8. Inspect Walls, Trim and Paint

Normal living leaves marks.

Walk through the home in good lighting and determine what needs cleaning, touching up or repainting.

Look at walls, ceilings, baseboards, doors and trim.

Not every mark requires repainting an entire room. Sometimes cleaning or a small touch-up is sufficient.

Other times, trying to patch dozens of individual areas creates a worse result than simply painting the wall.

The appropriate choice depends on the condition of the room.

9. Inspect the Flooring

Look at every type of flooring in the property.

Check carpet for staining or damage.

Look for damaged or lifting planks in LVP, laminate or engineered flooring.

Check tile for cracks and loose pieces.

Pay attention to transitions between flooring materials and areas around exterior doors where water may have entered.

If flooring is damaged, determine whether it can be repaired or whether replacement makes more sense.

10. Check Cabinets, Drawers and Hardware

Open every cabinet and drawer.

Make sure hinges work, drawers operate correctly and handles or knobs aren't loose.

Check bathroom vanities and kitchen cabinets for evidence of previous leaks.

Clean cabinet interiors as part of the turnover.

These are small details, but a drawer that won't open or a cabinet door hanging crooked can make an otherwise clean property feel poorly maintained.

11. Review Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Check required alarms as part of every turnover.

Make sure they're present where required and operating properly.

Replace batteries or units when appropriate.

Requirements for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms vary by jurisdiction and property type, so property owners should make sure their properties meet applicable requirements rather than relying on a generic checklist.

12. Look at the HVAC System

Check that heating and cooling equipment appears to operate properly.

Inspect the filter and replace it when appropriate.

Make sure vents haven't been blocked or damaged.

If the system requires scheduled professional maintenance, turnover can be a convenient time to coordinate it.

A comfortable new tenant shouldn't have to discover on move-in day that the air conditioning or heat isn't functioning.

13. Walk the Exterior

Don't let the interior consume all of your attention.

Walk around the entire property.

Look at:

• Steps and railings
• Walkways
• Exterior lighting
• Gutters
• Siding and trim
• Doors
• Landscaping
• Fences and gates, when present
• Decks or porches
• Visible drainage problems

Also make sure vegetation isn't creating obvious access or maintenance problems.

The exterior is the new tenant's first impression of the property.

14. Clean After the Repair Work

The order matters.

If contractors are going to patch drywall, replace flooring, repair cabinets or perform other messy work, it generally doesn't make sense to complete the final cleaning first.

We prefer to finish the repair work and then have the property cleaned for move-in.

After cleaning, do another walk-through.

Contractors and cleaners are human. Things can be missed.

15. Don't Forget the Little Things

Some turnover items take only a few minutes but make a noticeable difference.

Look for things such as:

Loose toilet seats.

Missing door stops.

Dirty air vents.

Loose cabinet knobs.

Burned-out bulbs.

Missing refrigerator shelves.

Damaged blinds.

Loose towel bars.

Old items left in cabinets or closets.

None of these individually constitutes a major renovation, but together they affect how finished and cared-for the home feels.

16. Do a Final Move-In Walk-Through

When all repairs and cleaning are complete, walk the property one final time.

At this point, don't think like the person who has been coordinating the turnover.

Try to see the property as someone walking into it for the first time.

Does the front door operate smoothly?

Does the home smell clean?

Are the floors clean?

Do the lights work?

Are appliances ready?

Are bathrooms clean?

Is anything obviously unfinished?

This final walk-through is your opportunity to catch the things everyone else missed.

Keep a Record of What Was Done

Turnover documentation can be useful long after the work is completed.

Consider keeping records of:

• Repairs completed
• Items replaced
• Contractor invoices
• Appliance information
• Paint information
• Photographs
• Maintenance performed
• Dates of significant work

Over time, those records make it easier to see patterns.

If the same appliance has required several repairs, replacement may make more sense next time.

If the same area repeatedly experiences water problems, there may be an underlying issue that hasn't been corrected.

Good records can make future property-management decisions easier.

Create a Standard Checklist

Once you've completed several turnovers, you'll probably notice that many of the same tasks occur every time.

That's a good reason to create a standard checklist for your own properties.

The checklist doesn't replace judgment.

Every house and every turnover will have unique issues.

It simply prevents the routine things from being forgotten while you're dealing with everything that isn't routine.

A Good Turnover Starts the Next Tenancy

Turnover isn't just the end of the previous tenancy.

It's the beginning of the next one.

Starting with a property that is clean, functional and ready for occupancy creates a much better experience for the incoming renter and gives the property owner a clear baseline for the new tenancy.

Not everything has to be brand new.

But everything that should work should work, legitimate maintenance issues should be addressed, and the home should be ready for someone to make it theirs.

A Note About Our Landlord Resources

We share landlord and property-management ideas based on our experience owning and managing rental homes, along with research into issues we believe may be useful to other rental-property owners.

Rental-property requirements, landlord responsibilities, building codes and laws vary by location. This information is general and isn't a substitute for applicable law, your lease, or advice from qualified legal, tax, building or other professionals.