NYC Apartment Turnover & Make-Ready Glossary

Apartment turnover

The full process of getting an apartment from one tenant to the next, from notice or move-out through inspection, scope, work, and handoff when the unit is ready to lease. See the complete guide to apartment turnover in NYC.

Make-ready

The physical work that prepares a vacant unit for the next tenant, typically debris removal, basic repairs, patching and painting, and cleaning. Often used interchangeably with turnover; see turnover vs. make-ready.

Rent-ready

The condition of a unit that is clean, working, and presentable enough to show and lease. It is the goal of a make-ready.

Turnover cleaning

A top-to-bottom clean of a vacant unit that reaches inside appliances, cabinets, drawers, and closets, plus baseboards, sills, fixtures, and tile. It is done once, after repairs and paint. See apartment cleaning between tenants.

Vacant unit

An apartment or commercial space with no occupant and, ideally, no belongings left inside. Turnover work is done in vacant units so every surface can be reached.

Move-out inspection

A walkthrough of the unit after the tenant leaves to record its condition and list what needs to be done. Photos taken here also serve as the "before" record. See the move-out inspection checklist.

Unit condition

The state of the apartment at move-out: walls, floors, fixtures, appliances, and cleanliness. It is the main factor in how much work a turnover needs.

Scope of work

A written list of the specific tasks a vendor will perform in a unit. A clear scope prevents disputes over what was and was not included.

Scope tier

A preset level of work (for example, clean only, clean and touch-up, or full repaint and repairs) that some property managers use to scope units quickly and consistently. See standardizing apartment turnovers.

Punch list

A list of specific items that must be fixed or finished before a unit is considered done, such as a loose hinge, a missing outlet cover, or a paint drip on trim.

Change order

A written approval to add or change work after the original scope was agreed, usually because something new was found once work started.

Final walkthrough

The last check of the unit against the approved scope before it is handed off to leasing or the next tenant.

Before-and-after photos

Photos of each room taken before work starts and after it finishes, giving the owner or manager a record of what was done without a site visit.

Patch and paint

Filling nail holes, dings, and minor cracks, priming the patches, and then painting. See painting an apartment between tenants.

Touch-up

Painting only damaged or patched spots instead of whole walls. It works when the existing color and sheen are known and the paint is in good shape.

Rekeying

Changing a lock's internal pins so old keys no longer work, without replacing the whole lock. Many owners rekey or change locks between tenants.

Turnover vendor

A company hired to perform or coordinate the work on a vacant unit. Some owners use separate vendors for cleaning, painting, and repairs; others use one company for all of it. See one turnover company vs. multiple vendors.

Turnover time

How long it takes to get a unit from move-out to rent-ready. It depends on unit condition, scope, access, and vendor availability. See how long an apartment turnover takes.

Vacancy

The period when a unit has no paying tenant. Turnover time is part of it, along with marketing and leasing time.

Days vacant

The count of days a unit sits empty between leases, often tracked by property managers to spot slow turnovers. See reducing apartment turnover time.

Multifamily turnover

Turnover work across a building or portfolio with many units, where consistent scopes, standard paint colors, and scheduling across units matter. See multifamily turnover services.

Managing agent

The company or person that manages a building for its owner or board, often setting vendor rules such as work hours and insurance requirements.

Super

The building superintendent, who typically handles day-to-day building operations and is often the contact for keys, access, and the service elevator.

Certificate of insurance (COI)

A document showing a vendor's insurance coverage. Many NYC managing agents require vendors to provide one before they can work in the building.

Walk-up

A building with no elevator, common among NYC brownstones and older tenements. Materials and debris go up and down the stairs by hand, which affects planning and time.

Need help with a unit between tenants in Manhattan or Brooklyn? See our apartment turnover services and apartment make-ready services.