Commercial and retail
Commercial Space Turnover Services in NYC
When a retail or commercial tenant leaves, the space usually needs clearing, cleaning, patching, and paint before it can be shown or handed to the next tenant. Empire Turnover prepares vacated storefronts and commercial spaces in Manhattan and Brooklyn for landlords, owners, brokers, and property managers.
- Cleaning, patching, paint, and debris removal
- Clear written scope of what is and is not included
- Before-and-after photos for owners and brokers
One call. One team. Turnover ready.
Serving Manhattan and Brooklyn
Who commercial turnover is for
Empire Turnover is a New York City property turnover company that helps landlords and property managers prepare apartments and commercial spaces between tenants. On the commercial side, we work with:
- Retail landlords with a ground-floor storefront between leases
- Commercial property owners preparing a vacated space for a new tenant or a leasing campaign
- Brokers coordinating with the owner to get a listing ready to show
- Property managers handling vacancies across mixed-use or commercial buildings
The goal is a space that is empty, clean, freshly painted where needed, and in good basic repair, so the next tenant or prospect sees the room rather than what the last one left.
Scope
The work
Debris removal
Packaging, broken displays, trash, and debris the previous tenant left, cleared from the sales floor, back rooms, and basement storage.
Left-behind items
We coordinate removal of abandoned fixtures, shelving, and furniture once the owner confirms what stays and what goes.
Cleaning
Sales floor, back of house, restrooms, storefront glass, and the entry. Floors, baseboards, doors, sills, and light fixtures.
Patching
Anchor and screw holes from removed fixtures, slatwall, shelving, and interior signage, filled and sanded before paint.
Painting
Touch-ups or full wall repaints so the space reads clean and neutral in listing photos and showings. See painting.
Basic make-ready and photos
Hardware, outlet and switch covers, door adjustments, and caulking in scope, then a final check and before-and-after photos.
What we do and what we don’t do
We prepare a vacated space: clear, clean, patch, paint, and basic repairs. We do not do build-outs, demolition, permitted construction, or MEP and other licensed trade work unless it is confirmed in writing.
| Area | What we do | What we don’t do |
|---|---|---|
| Walls | Patch anchor holes, prime, paint | Move or build walls, structural work |
| Floors | Sweep, vacuum, wash | Refinish, sand, or replace flooring |
| Storefront | Clean glass, entry, and door | Exterior signage, gate repair, high-rise window washing |
| Restrooms | Deep clean, recaulk, simple fixture swaps | Plumbing beyond simple fixture swaps |
| Electrical and HVAC | Replace outlet and switch covers | Electrical, HVAC, or gas work |
| Construction | Basic make-ready items in scope | Build-outs, demolition, permitted work |
Anything in the right-hand column may need a licensed contractor. If it comes up, we discuss it case by case during the quote and only include it when confirmed in writing.
Showing-ready for brokers and leasing
A vacated storefront with dirty glass, holes where the old signage hung, and a back room full of boxes is hard to lease from a listing photo. Brokers and owners usually want a few things before the first showing:
The retail space turnover checklist walks through each area in more detail.
How a commercial turnover works
Step 1: Send the space details
Address, approximate size, what was left behind, what needs work, and your target date. Photos help.
Step 2: Scope review
We ask questions and may walk the space, since commercial vacancies vary widely.
Step 3: Written quote
A list of included work and a proposed schedule. Nothing starts until you approve it.
Step 4: Work and handoff
Debris, repairs, patch, paint, then clean. We notify the property contact when finished and send photos.
Timing depends on availability, access, and project scope. Building rules matter here too: freight elevator or loading access, landlord work hours in mixed-use buildings, and any certificate of insurance the building requires. See retail and commercial services for more.
FAQ
Commercial turnover questions
Do you handle build-outs for the next tenant?
No. We prepare the vacated space. Build-outs, demolition, and permitted construction belong to a general contractor and are not part of our scope unless confirmed in writing.
Can you remove fixtures the last tenant left behind?
We coordinate removal of left-behind items once the owner confirms what goes. Anything wired or plumbed in may need a licensed trade to disconnect first.
Do you work in Queens or the Bronx?
Not at this time. We currently serve Manhattan and Brooklyn. See our service area.
How is a commercial turnover priced?
Every quote is based on the actual space: size, how much was left behind, wall condition, paint scope, and access. We send a written quote before any work starts.
Landlord resources
Guides for this kind of turnover
Commercial Turnovers4 min read
Retail Space Turnover Checklist for NYC Landlords
A printable checklist for preparing a vacant NYC storefront or small commercial space for the next tenant or leasing campaign.
Read the guideProperty Management5 min read
One Turnover Company vs. Multiple Vendors: What Works Better for Landlords?
A balanced look at hiring separate cleaners, painters, and handymen versus one turnover company, including hybrid setups and questions to ask any vendor.
Read the guideCleaning & Make-Ready6 min read
Painting an Apartment Between Tenants in NYC: What Landlords Should Know
When to touch up or fully repaint a vacant NYC apartment, how to patch plaster and drywall, where paint fits in the turnover, and lead paint rules to check.
Read the guide
Getting a space ready to lease?
Tell us the address, size, and what was left behind. You get a written scope and proposed schedule before work begins. One call. One team. Turnover ready.
Or talk to our team: 212-991-9809