As a Rental Owner, What Are the Minimum Costs I Should Be Prepared to Cover for Each Tenant Turnover?

Audience: rental property owners who want to understand the baseline, unavoidable expenses associated with tenant turnover — regardless of tenant behavior, property age, or wear levels.

Even the best tenants leave some level of wear behind. Turnover is simply part of owning a rental property, and certain expenses occur every single time a tenant moves out.

Here’s what every owner should expect.

FAQs ❓

Does every turnover cost money, even with great tenants?
Yes. some expenses are unavoidable.

Can turnover ever cost $0?
Extremely unlikely. Even spotless tenants leave normal wear.

Do long-term tenants increase or decrease turnover cost?
They typically increase it — because more years = more wear.

Can I decline optional upgrades?
Yes. but required cleaning, safety updates, and habitability repairs cannot be declined.

Minimum Turnover Costs Every Owner Should Expect ✔️

Below are the baseline categories the lowest possible costs associated with getting a home ready for the next resident.

1. Standard Cleaning 🧼

Even great tenants rarely return a home in listing-ready condition.

Minimum cleaning often includes:

Bathrooms
Kitchens
Baseboards
Windowsills
Light fixtures
Floors
Appliances

Typical minimum cost:
👉 $150–$350 for basic turnovers
👉 $350–$650 for larger or dirtier homes

2. Carpet or Floor Cleaning 🧹

Professional carpet cleaning is almost always needed.

Removes normal use dirt
Sanitizes for new tenants
Helps reduce odors
Meets listing standards

Typical minimum cost:
👉 $100–$250 depending on size

If carpet is older, frayed, or heavily stained, replacement may be recommended — but that is not a “minimum” cost.

3. Paint Touch-Ups or Full Repainting (Depending on Wear) 🎨

Even short-term tenants produce:

Scuffs
Nail holes
Marks near switches
Faded patches

Touch-ups may suffice, but if paint is more than 3–5 years old, a full repaint is often needed for market readiness.

Minimum expectation:
👉 Touch-ups: $50–$150
👉 Full repaint (if worn): $1,200–$3,000 (depends on size)

This is one of the largest owner expenses.

4. General Repairs for Normal Wear 🛠️

This includes:

Loose hinges
Minor wall repairs
Re-caulking
Replacing broken or aged blinds
Fixing doorknobs
Light fixture updates
Fixing minor leaks or drips

Even careful tenants produce small, cumulative items.

Typical minimum cost:
👉 $75–$300

5. Safety Compliance Updates (Required) 🔥

Turnover is the ideal and often required moment to update:

Smoke detectors
CO detectors
Batteries
Fire safety compliance per NC code

These items must be updated at regular intervals.

Typical cost:
👉 $30–$150

6. Landscaping & Exterior Tidy-Up 🌿

Homes must have curb appeal for showings.

Typical light work includes:

Lawn mowing
Leaf removal
Branch trimming
Weed clearing

Minimum cost:
👉 $50–$150

7. Utility Transfer Costs (Vacancy Period) 💡

Owners are responsible for utilities when the home is unoccupied.

Minimum expectations:

Electric
Water
Gas (if applicable)

Even a short vacancy period carries basic utility costs.

8. Marketing Readiness (Photos + Prep) 📸

High-quality photos increase rent and reduce vacancy.

Sometimes prep includes:

Light staging
Debris removal
Touch-up cleaning

Photo sessions themselves may be included but require the property to be fully turnover-ready.

Total Minimum Turnover Cost Estimate 💰

For a home in good condition, typical baseline turnover costs are:

$300–$1,000 for a low-wear turnover

$1,000–$2,500 for a standard turnover

$2,500–$5,000+ for long-term or high-wear turnovers

These numbers do not include major repairs or upgrades.

Factors That Cause Turnover Costs to Increase 🧠

Turnover costs are affected by:

Length of tenancy
Pets
Flooring age
Paint age
Appliance condition
Number of residents
Property age

And especially:

Whether the home was last updated before the previous tenancy.

What Items Are Not Optional for Owners ❗

These must be completed before re-renting:

Deep cleaning
Carpet cleaning
Safety device updates
Repairs impacting habitability
Mold/moisture remediation
Flooring repairs to avoid trip hazards
Leak or plumbing repair
Functioning appliances essential to habitability

As a Rental Owner, What Are the Minimum Costs I Should Be Prepared to Cover for Each Tenant Turnover?

In light of post COVID realties, these numbers need to all be adjusted 20% higher. Understanding these “minimum costs” helps owners plan ahead and make financially sound decisions.