Free printable · For property managers and landlords
The Rent-Ready Checklist. “Done” should mean this.
If your vendor didn’t check it, congratulations: you’re the inspector now. This is the walk a turn should pass before you ever step on site.
- 26 pass/fail checks
- One page
- Works with any vendor
Free PDFThe checklist
Eight parts. Every line pass or fail.
Built from the most-repeated punch items on our own rental turns.
Doors & locks
- Every door closes and latches. No sticking, no ghost-closing.
- Doorstops on every door, closets included.
- All locks keyed to the front door key, knob and deadbolt.
- Exterior weatherstripping intact. Garage door runs, sensors work.
Safety & devices
- Smoke/CO detectors installed and press-tested. Nothing hanging by the wires.
- Doorbell pressed and the chime heard. Not tested = not done.
- Every light and fan turned on. GFCIs test and reset.
- New HVAC filter. Thermostat runs heat and cool.
Paint & walls
- Touch-ups match color and sheen. Flashlight check every wall.
- No brush marks on walls. Patches primed, sanded, no nail pops.
- Caulk clean at tubs, sinks, counters and trim.
Kitchen & appliances
- Every appliance installed, plugged in and turned on: oven heats, fridge cools, dishwasher cycles.
- Disposal runs. Dryer vent connected.
- Inside cabinets, drawers and appliances wiped clean.
Baths & plumbing
- Run every faucet and shower one full minute, then look underneath.
- Toilets flush, refill and don’t rock. Caulk at the base is clean.
- Shower heads, escutcheons and towel bars tight.
Windows, blinds & outside
- Windows open and lock. Screens on.
- Blinds work; cords cut to 8″ from the top.
- Exterior lights work. Gates latch. Yard clear.
Clean & clear
- Final clean: registers, baseboards, door trim, blinds.
- No trash: inside, garage, attic or yard.
- Floors and carpet clean. Trash cans empty.
Proof before you pay
- A photo of every finished scope line.
- Pass/fail on every item above, not “looks good.”
- Anything still pending, in writing, with a date.
Sequence
The order most vendors get wrong.
Walk the house before it’s cleaned and you’ll walk it twice. Every failed walk is another trip, and every vacant day costs you rent ÷ 30.
How most turns finish
- Crew finishes
- Walk
- Trash-out
- Appliances in
- Clean
- Walk again
Two walks, a return trip and at least one more vacant day.
The right order
- Crew’s last dayTrash-out happens the same day, before the crew leaves. Appliances go in the same day whenever possible.
- CleaningAlways the last trade in the house. Nothing gets installed after the clean.
- Final walkOne walk, on a clean house. Pass or fail every line.
The printable version
Take it on your next final walk.
One page. Pass and fail boxes on every line, a spot for the address and date, and a sign-off line. Hand it to your vendor and hold them to it.
- All 8 sections plus the right walk order
- Prints on one letter-size page
- Works with any vendor, not just us
Failed walks are one leak. Find the rest.
Send us your last 10–20 turns. Our free Days-Back Diagnostic shows where your vacant days go and gives you a recommended schedule to get them back.
Rent-ready FAQ
The final walk, answered.
What does rent-ready mean?
The home is ready for a new resident to move in today: everything works, everything is clean and nothing is left for someone else to finish. If it fails any line on this checklist, it is not rent-ready yet.
When should the final walk happen?
Last. After the crew’s last day, the trash-out, the appliances and the cleaning. Walk it before the clean and you will walk it twice.
Who should do the final walk?
Your vendor should walk it and mark every line pass or fail before they call it done, with photos. Your walk should be a check of their work, not the first inspection.
What does a failed final walk cost?
Another trip for the vendor and at least one more vacant day for you. Each vacant day costs about your monthly rent divided by 30.
Can I use this with my current vendor?
Yes. Print it and hand it to them. Most of the items are the ones crews miss most often on turns.