Apartment Turn Cost Guide: What Property Managers Should Budget in 2026
Apartment turnovers are one of the largest controllable expenses for multifamily property managers. With labor costs rising and resident expectations higher than ever, understanding the true cost of a turn — and how to optimize it — can save your portfolio tens of thousands of dollars per year.
What Is an Apartment Turn?
A "turn" (also called a make-ready or turnover) is the process of preparing a vacant apartment unit for the next resident. It includes everything from cleaning and repairs to painting and flooring replacement.
Average Apartment Turn Costs in 2026
The national average cost to turn a single apartment unit ranges from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on:
- Unit size (studio vs. 3-bedroom)
- Unit condition (light refresh vs. full renovation)
- Location (labor rates vary by market)
- Scope of work (paint, flooring, appliances, etc.)
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | Low End | High End | |---|---|---| | Paint (walls + ceilings) | $300 | $800 | | Flooring (vinyl plank install) | $500 | $1,500 | | Cleaning (deep clean) | $150 | $400 | | Appliance replacement | $400 | $2,000 | | Drywall repair | $100 | $500 | | Blinds/window treatments | $100 | $400 | | Plumbing fixes | $100 | $600 | | Electrical fixes | $50 | $400 | | HVAC servicing | $75 | $300 | | Trash haul-away | $75 | $250 |
Hidden Costs Most Managers Miss
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Vacancy loss — Every day the unit sits empty costs you rent revenue. A 7-day turn vs. a 14-day turn can mean hundreds of dollars saved.
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Coordination overhead — Juggling 5+ vendors per turn means your team spends hours scheduling, following up, and inspecting.
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Scope creep — Without a standardized checklist, vendors find "additional" work that inflates the invoice.
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Re-do work — When multiple vendors overlap (e.g., painter damages new flooring), you pay twice.
How to Cut Turn Costs by 30%
1. Standardize Your Turn Checklist
Create a fixed scope of work for every turn. When vendors know exactly what's expected, there's no guesswork — and no surprise charges.
2. Bundle Services with a Single Provider
Instead of hiring separate contractors for paint, flooring, drywall, and cleaning, use a turn services provider that handles everything. This eliminates coordination overhead and reduces the number of invoices to process.
3. Set a Turn Deadline
Establish a target turnaround time (e.g., 5 business days for a standard turn) and hold vendors accountable. Every day saved is a day of recovered rent.
4. Use Technology to Track Turns
A vendor management platform like Auxi Services lets you create work orders, dispatch vendors, track progress in real-time, and process payments — all from one dashboard. No more phone tag or spreadsheet tracking.
5. Negotiate Volume Pricing
If you manage 50+ units, negotiate a flat per-unit turn rate with your vendor. Volume commitments unlock discounts of 10–20%.
The Auxi Services Advantage
Auxi Services connects property managers with vetted, multi-trade turn vendors across the country. Here's how we help:
- One work order, one vendor — Paint, flooring, drywall, and cleaning handled by a single crew
- Real-time progress tracking — See photos and status updates without visiting the site
- Transparent pricing — Know the cost upfront, no surprise invoices
- Quality guarantee — If it's not right, we make it right
Free to Use
The Auxi Services platform is completely free for property managers. You only pay for the work itself — no platform fees, no subscriptions, no hidden charges.
Ready to Reduce Your Turn Costs?
Stop overpaying for apartment turns. Request a quote today and see how much you could save on your next turnover.