Common Area & Turnover Cleaning Checklist

Pull the work order from AppFolio or Buildium and verify whether this is a routine common-area service, a vacant unit make-ready, or a post-eviction deep clean. Scope drives crew size, supplies, and the punch-list at the end.

If a third-party cleaner is dispatched, confirm the certificate of insurance lists the property as additional insured and has not lapsed. A lapsed COI on a slip-and-fall in the lobby leaves the manager personally exposed.

Load the cart with EPA-registered disinfectant, neutral floor cleaner, microfiber cloths, and HEPA vacuum bags. Post wet-floor signage at all entry points before mopping common areas — this is the cheapest liability reduction in the building.

Clear the front entry, breezeways, and any walkway leading to leasing office. Curb appeal at the path-of-travel is the first thing a prospect or owner sees on a drive-by.

Spot-treat oil stains in parking stalls and gum on sidewalks. Schedule pressure washing on a weekday morning to minimize tenant complaints about noise and water spray on parked cars.

Pull leaves and debris from gutters, downspouts, and any building storm drains. A blocked downspout in a winter freeze is the most common cause of avoidable interior water damage claims.

Cut back any growth blocking sidewalks, signage, or unit windows. Overgrowth touching the building is a CPTED issue (creates concealment) and a moisture issue against siding.

Flag any heaved or chipped paver creating a trip hazard. Photograph the defect, log it in the work-order system, and rope it off if you can't fix same-day. Trip-and-fall claims start here.

Touch up rust spots on metal railings and chipped paint on wood fencing. For pre-1978 buildings, follow EPA RRP rules — paint disturbance on lead-bearing surfaces requires certified renovators and containment.

Hit baseboards, door frames, mailbox alcoves, and the tops of fire-extinguisher cabinets. Use a HEPA vacuum on carpeted corridors — standard vacuums redistribute fine dust into unit doorways.

Use a neutral pH cleaner on LVT and a sealed-stone product on marble or terrazzo lobbies. Acidic cleaners etch natural stone — the repair quote will outweigh a year of cleaning savings.

Wipe elevator buttons, handrails, mailroom counters, package-locker keypads, laundry-room appliances, and gym equipment. Use an EPA List N disinfectant and observe the product's dwell time — a quick wipe doesn't disinfect.

Pull liners from lobby, mailroom, gym, and any breezeway receptacles. Wipe down the bin itself before re-lining — odor complaints almost always trace to a never-cleaned bin, not the trash.

Top to bottom: ceiling fans, vent registers, blinds, window sills, baseboards, then floors. Pull closet shelving and vacuum corners — prospects open every closet on a tour.

Pull the oven racks and clean inside; degrease the range hood filter; wipe inside cabinets and drawers; clean the refrigerator including the gasket and drip tray. A dirty oven on a move-in walk-through is the #1 trigger for an immediate punch-list complaint.

Scrub tub, tile, grout, toilet base and bolts, vanity, mirror, and exhaust fan cover. Re-caulk any moldy or pulling-away bead at the tub-to-tile joint; mold complaints from incoming tenants escalate fast under warranty of habitability.

Most states require working smoke and CO detectors at every move-in. Replace batteries, press the test button, and log the date on the detector itself. A failed detector during a fire incident is a habitability defense and a major liability exposure.

Inspect carpet for staining, pet damage, and matting. Shampoo if salvageable; replace if damage exceeds normal wear-and-tear so deductions can be supported against the prior tenant's deposit per state itemization rules.

Walk the unit or common area with a printed punch list. Anything caught here is a fix the cleaning crew handles before they leave the property — anything missed becomes a maintenance ticket and burns vacancy days.

Re-dispatch the original crew when possible — a different crew rarely understands what the coordinator flagged. Set a same-day or next-business-day rework window so marketing photos and showings aren't pushed.

Update the unit status to Ready in AppFolio, Buildium, or Yardi so leasing can release marketing photos and open showings. The economic-vacancy clock keeps running until this flag flips — don't sit on it.