MN Lic. QC807391 Licensed & insured Serving the Twin Cities since 2008

multifamily · 8 min read

Apartment Turn Checklist and Realistic Timelines by Unit Type

Room-by-room make-ready checklist plus honest day counts for studios through three-bedrooms, light turns through heavy rehabs.

Published August 29, 2026

Use this as the printable standard for your building. Timelines assume trades are scheduled in advance and materials are stocked.

Realistic day counts

Unit typeLight turnStandard turnHeavy turn
Studio2–3 days4–5 days8–12 days
1 bedroom3–4 days5–7 days10–14 days
2 bedroom4–5 days6–8 days12–18 days
3 bedroom5–6 days8–10 days15–21 days

Light = clean, touch-up paint, minor repairs. Standard = full paint, patching, some flooring. Heavy = full flooring, cabinets or counters, bath work, or damage restoration.

Room-by-room checklist

Entry and living

  • Door, frame, weatherstrip, deadbolt, peephole, threshold
  • Rekey or re-core lock
  • Walls patched, sanded, painted
  • Base and casing tight, caulked, painted
  • Outlets and switches functional, covers new
  • Smoke and CO alarms tested, batteries dated
  • Blinds intact and operating
  • Flooring inspected at transitions

Kitchen

  • Cabinet doors aligned, hinges tight, hardware complete
  • Cabinet interiors cleaned, shelf paper removed
  • Counter and backsplash caulked
  • Sink, faucet, sprayer, aerator, and stops operational
  • Under-sink cabinet floor checked for water damage
  • Disposal tested
  • Appliances cleaned, gaskets intact, level, and tested
  • Range anti-tip bracket installed
  • Exhaust vent clear

Bath

  • Tub or shower surround caulked, no gaps at tile or base
  • Grout intact, no soft spots at the tub deck
  • Toilet solid, not rocking, wax seal good, shutoff works
  • Vanity, top, faucet, drain, stops
  • Exhaust fan clean and vented to exterior
  • Mirror, bar, hooks, TP holder
  • Flooring checked at toilet base for prior leaks

Bedrooms

  • Closet doors and tracks
  • Shelving and rods secure
  • Window operation, screens, locks
  • Egress window operable if a garden-level or basement unit
  • Paint and base complete

Mechanical and systems

  • Furnace filter replaced and dated
  • Water heater checked for corrosion and drip
  • Thermostat functional, set to 55°F+ while vacant
  • All supply stops turn freely
  • Dryer vent cleaned if in-unit

Final

  • Full clean including inside appliances and fixtures
  • Punch walk with written list
  • Complete photo set for the file
  • Keys, fobs, mail key counted and logged

The three items that come back most

  1. Caulk at the tub deck. Missed here, and you are doing a subfloor repair in 18 months.
  2. Under-sink cabinet floors. The earliest visible sign of a slow supply leak.
  3. Exhaust fans venting into the attic. Causes moisture, mold, and ice dams — check during turns, since nobody checks otherwise.

Want this run for you?

We handle turns across the Twin Cities metro with per-unit pricing and a documented punch list. Call 612-400-8036.

Want an exact number for your project?

Free on-site estimate across the Twin Cities metro — no pressure, no obligation.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a two-bedroom apartment turn take?

A standard two-bedroom turn runs 6 to 8 days with materials stocked and trades scheduled. Heavy turns with flooring, cabinets, or bath work run 12 to 18 days.

What gets missed most often in apartment turns?

Caulk at the tub deck, water damage on under-sink cabinet floors, and bath exhaust fans venting into the attic instead of outside.

Do you provide per-unit turn pricing?

Yes. We quote make-ready work per unit by unit type and scope so budgeting is predictable across a building.

Need a quote today?