Turnover guidance for independent landlords
Turnover, done right.
Get the unit rent-ready the right way: a clear playbook for what to fix, which finishes actually hold up, and the vetted crews to trust with the work.
Philly Metro
guidance tuned to your region
90+
vetted pros for maintenance, paint & clean
Streamlined
turn chaos into order
Make-ready, in the right order
Document condition with dated photos
Repairs, Paint, then Deep Clean
Warning: Don't paint before repairs — you'll just patch and repaint the same wall twice.
What You Need to Know
Learn How to Manage a Turnover
The turnover playbook
A clear, ordered walkthrough from the day notice hits to the day new keys change hands — so nothing important gets skipped.
What to repair vs. replace
Where your money raises rent — and where it's over-improving a rental. Understand what's worthwhile before you spend your money.
Compliance requirements
Security deposits, paperwork, and timing mishaps can cost landlords. Avoid those costly mistakes.
Who to work with
A vetted network of cleaners, painters, and handymen matched to your job. Skip the search and guesswork.
Finishes built for rentals
The paint, flooring, and fixtures that survive turnover after turnover.
Turnover checklists
Move-out inspection and make-ready checklists you can use on every turn.
Avoid These
Mistakes that cost landlords
Most turnover money is lost in a few predictable ways. Here are the big ones we flag before you hit them.
! Missing the deposit deadline
Pennsylvania gives landlords 30 days to return the deposit with an itemized list. Miss it and you can owe the tenant double.
! No documented move-in condition
Without dated move-in photos, a deposit deduction may be hard to defend. If contested, you could lose.
! Doing the work out of order
Paint before repairs and you'll patch and repaint the same wall. Clean before paint and you'll clean twice. Planning is everything.
! Hiring the cheapest vendor
An unreliable crew between tenants can cost you far more in lost rent and stress than you can save. Trust experience.
What success looks like
- 1Prioritizing work by urgency, compliance, rent impact, and long-term durability
- 2Using an experienced turnover crew that knows local rental standards
- 3Running a full pre-inspection with photos and scope before work begins
- 4Following a detailed checklist covering paint, clean, repairs, and a full-unit inspection
- 5Pre-scheduling vendors so the turnover starts the day keys are returned
- 6Using the turnover window to handle compliance, safety items, and upgrades
We Can Help
Guidance first, then the right pros
Tell us about the turn
You submit the info - the size, the location, the condition.
We review the submission
We match you to the crews that can do the job.
Connect with a pro
You talk to the vetted pros and choose who to hire.
Get the Right Pro for the Job
Don't gamble on who works on your rental.
We help you take the guesswork out of turnovers. Real Landlording connects you with reliable pros who understand rental properties, tenant-occupied work, investor budgets, and the urgency of getting the job done right.
From landlords who stopped guessing
"Shout out to Sheryl and her amazing referral program!!"
Dana F.
Philadelphia, PA
"I've been quite happy with the connection made for apartment turnovers through Real Landlording Philly."
Adrienne H.
Philadelphia, PA
"The Real Landlording roofer did a great job of saving my roof. It's been over 2 years since he repaired it and no issues so far. Very timely and efficient."
Ashley L.
Philadelphia, PA