Apartment Turnover in Chicago: What It Costs and How to Turn Units Faster

The three core steps

1. Haul: remove left-behind furniture, trash and belongings.
2. Patch & paint: fill nail holes, repair minor drywall damage, and repaint walls, doors and trim in building-standard colors.
3. Move-out clean: kitchen, appliances, bathrooms, cabinets, windows and floors.

Repairs, carpet replacement and appliance swaps are separate trades.

What drives the cost

• Unit size and condition: a 3BR after a long tenancy costs more than a 1BR after one year
• Paint scope: touch-up only vs. full repaint, and color changes vs. building standard
• Volume left behind: a few bags vs. a full unit of furniture
• Building age: in pre-1978 buildings, paint disturbance triggers EPA lead-safe work-practice rules, so confirm your painting vendor's EPA Lead-Safe certification before work starts
• Access: walk-ups, alley access and elevator reservations

How to turn units faster

• Use standard colors and sheens across your portfolio
• Schedule haul → paint → clean back-to-back with no gaps between trades
• Use one vendor so nobody waits on anyone else
• Get photo confirmation, so you can list the unit the same day

Our Unit Turn Package does exactly that. See property manager services or request portfolio pricing.

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