Every day a unit sits empty costs rent. Here is a practical unit turn checklist for Chicago apartments, what drives cost per unit, and how to keep turn times short.
For a property manager, a unit turn is measured in days of lost rent. The work itself is rarely complicated. What makes turns slow is waiting: for an inspection, for a decision on the floor, for the painter, for the cabinet delivery. A clear checklist and a standard scope fix most of that.
Step 1: the move-out walk
Walk the unit the day keys come back, and photograph every room. The photos settle security deposit questions and give the crew a scope before they arrive.
- 1Walls and ceilings: holes, cracks, water stains
- 2Floors: scratches, stains, damaged planks or tile
- 3Kitchen: cabinet doors and hinges, countertops, appliances, sink and faucet
- 4Bathroom: caulk, grout, fixtures, exhaust fan, signs of leaks
- 5Doors, locks, and hardware
- 6Windows, blinds, and screens
- 7Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- 8Outlets, switches, and light fixtures
Step 2: sort the scope
Group what you found into three levels:
- Make-ready. Paint, patching, cleaning, caulk, small repairs. Most turns.
- Refresh. Make-ready plus flooring refinish or replacement, new fixtures, or cabinet repairs.
- Renovation. Kitchen or bath replacement. Treat this as its own project with its own schedule.
What drives cost per unit
- Paint condition: a touch-up versus full repaint with primer over stains
- Flooring: refinishing hardwood versus replacing it
- Kitchen and bath: repairs versus replacement
- Damage beyond normal wear
- Access: walk-up buildings, parking, and where debris goes
Setting a standard scope per building, with the same paint colors, fixtures, and finishes, makes pricing predictable and speeds up decisions.
Keeping turn times short
- Schedule the move-out walk before the tenant leaves when possible
- Approve the scope from photos the same day
- Keep standard materials on hand: paint, caulk, hardware, fixtures
- Run trades in order without gaps: repairs, paint, flooring, cleaning
- Do the final walk with photos, so the leasing team can market the unit right away
In practice
On an apartment turnover in Ukrainian Village, the work included new oak flooring and refinishing, paint and trim, and new kitchen cabinets and backsplash, with stain samples tested on the floor before the final finish went down.
For portfolios that need turns on a schedule, see our multifamily unit turns.
About Field Notes
Field Notes is published by 32 Build, a licensed, bonded & insured Chicago general contractor working in residential renovation, gut rehabs, multifamily repositioning, and commercial construction. Every article is written or reviewed by our field team based on actual project experience — not national averages or general advice.
If you have a project in mind after reading, we offer free on-site estimates for all project types across Chicago and the suburbs. Our team responds the same day.
