Published August 29, 2026
A routine Twin Cities apartment turn — clean, patch, paint, minor repairs — runs $650 to $1,800 per unit in 2026. A heavy turn with flooring replacement, drywall repair, and cabinet or counter work runs $2,500 to $6,000. Smoke or pet-damage turns can exceed $8,000.
Line-item budget
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full unit repaint (1BR) | $450–$900 | Walls only; add $250–$400 for ceilings and trim |
| Full unit repaint (2BR) | $700–$1,400 | |
| Drywall patch and texture | $150–$700 | Per unit, depending on hole count |
| LVP flooring replacement | $4.50–$8.00 / sq ft installed | Most common turn upgrade |
| Carpet replacement | $3.00–$5.50 / sq ft installed | Shorter life in rentals |
| Interior door replacement | $180–$350 each | |
| Cabinet refinish vs. replace | $600–$1,800 vs. $3,000–$7,000 | Refinish first unless boxes are wet |
| Countertop (laminate) | $700–$1,600 | |
| Bath vanity + top | $500–$1,200 | |
| Punch list / misc. hardware | $150–$400 | |
| Final clean | $150–$300 |
What drives the number
Age of finishes. Buildings that standardized on LVP and one paint color turn cheaper every cycle, because nothing gets matched and nothing gets ordered.
Length of tenancy. A 5-year tenant almost always means flooring and full paint regardless of care. Budget accordingly instead of treating it as damage.
Water history. If the unit has had a leak, the turn is not a turn — it is a repair. Check behind base cabinets and at the tub surround before you price it.
Timing. Turns booked in the August–September peak cost more and schedule slower than turns in February.
Cost per turn over ten years
Flooring choice is the single biggest lever on lifetime turn cost:
| Flooring | Installed cost | Turns before replacement | 10-yr cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Builder carpet | $3.25 / sq ft | 1–2 | Highest |
| Mid LVP | $5.50 / sq ft | 4–6 | Lowest |
| Sheet vinyl | $3.75 / sq ft | 2–3 | Middle |
Mid-grade LVP costs more once and survives three to five tenancies. On a 700 sq ft unit that is roughly $3,850 installed versus replacing $2,275 of carpet three times.
Keeping the turn on schedule
- Walk the unit the day notice is given, not the day keys drop.
- Price the turn from that walk; order anything long-lead immediately.
- Trades in sequence: repair → paint → flooring → clean → punch.
- One walkthrough at the end, not three partial ones.
Buildings that follow that sequence average 5 to 8 days. Buildings that bid each turn separately average 12 to 18.
Need turns covered?
We run make-ready work across the Twin Cities metro — paint, drywall, flooring, doors, and punch list — under MN license QC807391. Call 612-400-8036 for per-unit pricing on your building.
Want an exact number for your project?
Free on-site estimate across the Twin Cities metro — no pressure, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to turn an apartment in Minnesota?
A standard Twin Cities turn runs $650 to $1,800 per unit for clean, patch, and paint. Heavy turns with flooring and drywall work run $2,500 to $6,000.
How long should an apartment turn take?
Well-sequenced turns finish in 5 to 8 days. Turns that are bid individually after keys drop typically take 12 to 18 days.
Is LVP or carpet cheaper for rentals?
LVP costs more up front but survives three to five tenancies versus one to two for builder carpet, so its ten-year cost is lower in almost every unit.