Rental turnover punch list
A rental turnover punch list is the make-ready list of repairs, cleaning and replacements between one tenant moving out and the next moving in. A rental turnover has one deadline, the next move-in, and a lot of small items. The quickest turnovers use the same list every time, walked the same way. Then nothing depends on memory, and every unit goes a little faster. The JobsiteHQ rental turnover punch list below has 18 checks in 6 areas, ready to print.
Walls and paint
- Nail holes and anchors patched.
- Scuffs touched up, or rooms repainted.
- Cracked or painted-over cover plates replaced.
Floors
- Carpet cleaned or replaced; stains and burns noted.
- Hard floors cleaned, scratches noted, transitions secure.
Kitchen
- Appliances cleaned inside and out, all working.
- Cabinets cleaned, doors adjusted, hardware tight.
- Faucet and disposal working, no leaks under the sink.
Bathrooms
- Tub and shower re-caulked where moldy or pulling away.
- Toilet secure and not running; fan working.
- Mirror, towel bars and accessories secure.
Doors, windows and locks
- Locks rekeyed or changed.
- Blinds working and intact; screens in place.
- Doors latching with no damage.
Safety and systems
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms tested, batteries replaced.
- HVAC filter changed, system running.
- Bulbs replaced, every fixture working.
- Water heater set and working.
How do you use this checklist?
Print the 18-check rental turnover punch list from JobsiteHQ, or keep the page open on your phone, and walk the job in the order of the sections. Tick each line once you've checked the work. Anything that needs work goes on your own list, with the room and what's wrong. Hand your list to the trade who fixes the items, then walk the fixed items again.
How do you run the final walkthrough?
Walk every unit in the same order from the front door, with the same list every time. The 6 areas of the JobsiteHQ checklist above follow the same route.
- Photograph every room at move-out into the job in JobsiteHQ. The photos back up any deposit deductions and are your before pictures.
- Walk every unit in the same order, starting at the front door and working through the 6 areas on this list. A fixed route is what makes a turnover list fast.
- Note wear and tear separately from damage as you go. The owner or property manager will ask.
- Keep a small kit of the 4 parts you replace every time: bulbs, filters, cover plates and stoppers. A turnover parts kit saves a trip on every unit.
What gets missed on a rental turnover?
On a rental turnover, the misses are mostly the spots nobody looks at on the way out. The 6 items below are the ones that come back as a call after the final invoice.
- Alarm expiry dates
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have an expiry date on the back: smoke alarms last about 10 years, CO alarms often 5 to 7. Check the date, not just the test button.
- Keys and remotes
- Count all 4: door keys, mailbox keys, fobs and garage remotes. A missing one means a rekey or a reorder.
- Filters
- Hood filters, fridge water filters and dryer lint traps get forgotten. Clean or replace all 3.
- Outside the unit
- Patios, storage lockers and parking spaces are part of the rental unit. Walk all 3 too.
- Pests
- Look under the sinks and behind the appliances for droppings or insects. Treating before move-in is easier.
- Paint colors
- Touch-ups only blend with the same paint. Keep each property's standard colors written down.
How do you close out the punch list?
Closing out a rental turnover punch list means finishing every open item, showing the client the finished work, and handing over what the client needs to look after the work. The 3 steps below come before the final invoice.
- Photograph the finished unit as the move-in record.
- Send the owner the work done and anything charged to the deposit.
- Note what wore out in the turnover, so you can plan the replacement next time.
Skip the clipboard
Walk the rental turnover with JobsiteHQ open and say what you see, room by room. JobsiteHQ writes the punch list, sorted by area, for you to check over, then turns the list into a client summary, an estimate and an invoice. JobsiteHQ works with no signal.
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Questions
- How is a turnover punch list different from a move-out inspection?
- The move-out inspection records the unit's condition. The turnover punch list is the work that comes out of the move-out inspection: what needs fixing, cleaning or replacing before the next tenant.
- How do you speed up turnovers?
- A standard list and a fixed route. When every unit is walked the same way, the list practically writes itself and the crew knows what to expect.
- What counts as normal wear and tear?
- Gradual wear from ordinary living, like faded paint or light carpet wear. Holes, burns and stains are usually damage. US state and local rules decide, so note both with photos.
- Who should get the turnover list?
- The owner or property manager should get the rental turnover list. Send the list from JobsiteHQ with photos, the work done, and anything charged to the deposit.
- How long should a turnover take?
- How long a rental turnover takes depends on the unit and how much needs doing. A standard list and a fixed route are what make turnover time predictable.
- Should every unit get the same list?
- Every rental unit should get the same 6-area turnover list as a starting point. Add the items only one unit has, like a fireplace or a balcony.