Every vacant day costs rent, and every item skipped during a turn tends to come back as a tenant call in the first month. This checklist is built to avoid both. Print it, or copy it into your property management software as a template.
Day one: the move-out walkthrough
- Compare the unit against the move-in report and photos, room by room.
- Photograph everything, including inside appliances, cabinets and closets, with the date.
- Test every light, outlet, faucet, toilet, appliance, door, window and lock as you go.
- Read the water heater label for age, and check the HVAC filter and the condensate line.
- List every item, then sort into: tenant-caused damage, normal wear, and deferred maintenance.
- Order anything with a lead time today: flooring, appliances, specific fixtures, blinds.
The order of work
- Trash-out. Remove anything left behind. Check your lease and local rules on abandoned property first.
- Repairs. Drywall, doors, trim, cabinets, plumbing leaks, and anything in walls or under floors.
- Paint. After patching and before flooring, so drips land on old floors.
- Flooring. Replace or repair once the messy trades are done.
- Fixtures and hardware. Lights, faucets, blinds, cabinet pulls, outlet covers.
- Safety and systems check. See the list below.
- Cleaning last. A clean before trades finish is a clean you pay for twice.
- Final walkthrough and photos. These become the next move-in record.
Safety items you should never skip
- Smoke alarms in the locations your local code requires, tested, with dates checked; replace units past their manufacturer life.
- Carbon monoxide alarms wherever there are gas appliances, a fireplace or an attached garage.
- Locks rekeyed or codes changed; every exterior door and window lock working.
- GFCI outlets tested in kitchens, baths, laundry, garages and exterior locations.
- Handrails and guardrails solid on every stair, porch and deck.
- Water heater relief valve and discharge pipe in place, no leaks, temperature at a safe setting.
- Dryer vent cleaned out to the exterior; lint buildup is a fire risk.
- Window blind cords made safe for children, or cordless blinds installed.
Room by room
Kitchen
- Appliances cleaned and working: oven elements, burners, fridge temperature, dishwasher drain, disposal, range hood light and filter.
- Under-sink check for leaks and soft cabinet floors; caulk at the sink and backsplash.
- Cabinet doors aligned, hinges tight, drawer slides working.
Bathrooms
- Re-caulk tubs and showers if the bead is cracked, moldy or pulling away. This is the cheapest way to prevent subfloor damage.
- Toilet: no rocking, no running, wax seal sound (soft floor around the base is a warning).
- Exhaust fan working and actually venting; in Alabama humidity a dead fan means mildew within weeks.
- Faucets and shower valves not dripping; drains running freely.
Living areas and bedrooms
- Walls patched, primed and painted; nail holes filled.
- Doors latching, closet doors on track, door stops present.
- Flooring: cleaned, repaired or replaced; transitions secure.
- Windows open, close and lock; screens intact.
Systems
- New HVAC filter; thermostat working; supply and return vents clean.
- Water heater age noted for your capital plan.
- Check for signs of pests and treat before the next tenant.
Exterior
- Walks and steps free of trip hazards; exterior lights working.
- Gutters clear, downspouts directed away from the foundation.
- Siding, trim and fascia checked for rot; mildew washed off.
- Coastal units: check shutters, hardware and rails for salt corrosion.
Small items that become big bills when skipped
- Tub and shower caulk: a failed bead lets water into the subfloor; replacing a rotted bathroom floor costs many times a re-caulk.
- Toilet wax seals: a slow leak at the base rots the floor without showing a drip.
- Supply lines: old braided or plastic lines to toilets, sinks and ice makers fail suddenly. Replace any that look corroded or are years old.
- Condensate lines: a clogged AC drain floods ceilings in summer. Flush it at every turn.
- Gutters and downspouts: overflow undermines foundations and porches and soaks crawlspaces.
- Exterior caulk and paint: bare wood at sills and trim rots quickly in Alabama humidity.
Standardize to turn faster
Choose one paint color and sheen for walls (eggshell or satin cleans better than flat) and semi-gloss for trim and doors. Use one faucet line, one cabinet pull and one luxury vinyl plank product across units. Keep a labeled spec sheet per property. Touch-ups then blend, parts are interchangeable, and crews do not waste a trip matching a color.
Document for the deposit and the next tenant
Keep the move-out photos, receipts and invoices with the unit file. Alabama law sets rules and a deadline for returning security deposits with an itemized list of any deductions; check the current Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act or your attorney for the details that apply to you. The final photos of the finished turn become the move-in condition record for the next tenancy.
For material estimates, the paint and drywall calculators turn room sizes into gallons and sheets.