Guide · For owners
Getting a Home Ready for New Tenants
A friendly, practical turnover checklist for repairs, cleaning, safety, documentation and a warm welcome.
Where to start
- Just got the keys back?
Start with step 1, walk and document.
- Something isn’t ready for move in day?
- Working through a turnover now?
Tick your way through the turnover checklist.
The short version
A good turnover means every new resident walks into a home that is safe, clean and ready, and it comes from following the same steps every time.
Start by walking and photographing the home, then make repairs and check safety items like alarms, locks, outlets and the water heater.
Finish repairs before the final clean, then clean top to bottom, including inside appliances, cabinets and window tracks.
Complete a move-in report with a comment on every item, and leave a welcome sheet with shutoffs, trash day and the repair contact.
Turnover rules differ from place to place, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at your local rules. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.
Four simple rules
- 1Same steps, every time
A written checklist followed in the same order for every home is the best way to make sure nothing is missed.
- 2Safety comes first
Alarms, locks, electrical and gas items get checked before any cosmetic work.
- 3Repair, then clean
Finish repairs and painting before the final clean, so dust and debris don’t undo good work.
- 4Document everything
Photos and a move-in report, with a comment on every item, protect everyone and start the relationship fairly.
The six steps, in order
- Walk and document. Walk the home right after the last resident moves out, with their move in report in hand. Photograph every room from the same angles as last time, and list what needs a repair, a replacement or a closer look.
- Make the repairs. Schedule licensed professionals for electrical, gas and plumbing work. Look under every sink for drips, soft cabinet floors and musty smells.
- Check every safety item. Test or replace every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, rekey or change the locks, and check GFCI outlets, the water heater, heating and cooling, and gas appliances.
- Clean from the top down. Ceilings, fans and light fixtures first, then walls and counters, and floors last.
- Run everything once. Every faucet, toilet, the dishwasher, washer and dryer, and every burner.
- Records and a warm welcome. Take dated photos after cleaning, complete the move in report together, and leave a simple welcome sheet.
Same steps, every time. Safety comes before any cosmetic work, and repairs come before the final clean.
Turnover checklist
From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.
All done. The new resident walks into a home that is safe, clean and ready.
If something isn’t ready
- Take a breath. Even careful turnovers miss something now and then.
- Write down what isn’t ready, with photos, and share it in writing right away.
- If it is a safety item, like an alarm, a lock, a gas smell or an electrical problem, say so first and treat it as urgent.
- Agree on a date for the fix and note it on the move in report.
- Follow up in writing once it is done.
A clear plan turns a disappointment into trust.
For new residents: your first week
- Walk the home on move in day and make sure every item on the report has a comment and a photo. Don’t sign a report for rooms you haven’t walked through.
- Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms during the walk through, and find the water shutoff, breaker panel and gas shutoff.
- Ask how to report repairs and save that contact in your phone. If something isn’t working, share it in writing within the first few days.
- Please don’t paint, change locks or make other changes without written permission, and never disconnect an alarm.
Keep a turnover kit in a bin: bulbs, alarm batteries, HVAC filters, outlet covers, caulk, touch up paint and basic tools. Tape a card inside the lid with each home’s paint color, sheen and mix code.
Guides that go well with this one
How much do you remember?
4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.
Go deeper with The Perfect Rental Owner Checklist Workbook
Simple, step by step checklists you can write in for owners who rent out a home: contractors, insurance, fair pricing, records, showings and more.
Keep the full guide handy
The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.
Download the PDFTake it with you
- The Perfect Rental Owner Checklist WorkbookA fillable workbook with a screen version and an ink saver print version.See it in the shop
More guides
This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal or safety-code advice. Bunklow does not inspect properties or decide deposits.