Published August 29, 2026
The difference between a 6-day turn and a 16-day turn is almost never labor availability. It is sequence. Here is the process that works building after building.
Stage 1 — Notice to vacate (day −30)
The turn starts the day notice is given, not the day keys drop.
- Schedule a pre-move-out inspection with the resident present
- Photograph the unit's current condition
- Identify long-lead items now: appliances, cabinets, tubs, special-order flooring
- Provide the resident a written list of items that will be charged if not corrected
That single walk removes most surprises and most damage disputes.
Stage 2 — Keys returned (day 0)
- Full photo set of every room, including inside cabinets, behind the toilet, and under sinks
- Meter photos and key/fob count
- Note anything with water history — check under sinks and behind the tub surround before pricing anything
Stage 3 — Scope and order (day 0, same day)
Write the scope from the photos, not from memory. Order everything immediately. This is the day most turns are won or lost — a scope written on day 3 finishes on day 16.
Stage 4 — Trades in sequence (days 1–6)
| Day | Work |
|---|---|
| 1 | Trash out, demo, appliance pull |
| 1–2 | Plumbing and electrical repairs, drywall patch |
| 2–3 | Paint (walls, ceilings, trim as needed) |
| 3–4 | Flooring |
| 4–5 | Doors, hardware, fixtures, blinds, appliance set |
| 5 | Final clean |
| 6 | Punch and photo set |
The rule: nothing installs on top of unfinished work. Flooring after paint. Hardware after flooring. Clean once, at the end.
Stage 5 — Punch and marketing (day 6–7)
- One punch walk with a written list, not three partial walks
- Marketing photos immediately after clean, before anyone re-enters
- Unit listed as available the same day it passes punch
Stage 6 — Deposit accounting
Minnesota requires the deposit and a written statement of any withholding within 21 days after tenancy ends and the landlord receives the forwarding address. Bad-faith withholding carries penalties, so keep the before-and-after photo sets and itemized costs attached to every deduction.
Where turns actually stall
- Scope written late — the single biggest cause
- Materials not standardized — every unit becomes a shopping trip
- Trades scheduled reactively — each handoff adds a day of dead time
- Multiple partial walkthroughs — one punch list, once
- Undiagnosed water — a leak found on day 4 restarts the turn
Standardize to go fast
One paint color and sheen for the whole building. One flooring SKU. One hardware finish. One door style. Keep a small on-site stock of blinds, outlet covers, and hardware. Standardization is worth more days than any crew is.
Need turns covered?
We run make-ready work across the Twin Cities metro — demo, drywall, paint, flooring, doors, punch — with per-unit pricing and a fixed schedule. Licensed MN remodeler QC807391, insured, W-9 and COI on request.
Call 612-400-8036.
Want an exact number for your project?
Free on-site estimate across the Twin Cities metro — no pressure, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
How long should an apartment turn take?
Five to eight days is achievable when scope is written the day keys drop and trades run in sequence. Reactively scheduled turns typically take 12 to 18 days.
When does the turn process actually start?
At notice to vacate, roughly 30 days out. A pre-move-out walk lets you order long-lead items and remove damage disputes before the unit is empty.
How long does a Minnesota landlord have to return a security deposit?
Within 21 days after the tenancy ends and the landlord receives the forwarding address, along with a written statement of any amounts withheld.