What do make ready services cover in an apartment community?

Make ready time lines in state landlord law, with sources

Download this table: CSV or JSON.

What do make ready services include, and how do you get them bid?

In Arizona, for any dwelling unit other than a single family residence, Arizona Revised Statutes 33-1324(D) sets when the tenant may take on repair or maintenance work in place of the landlord's vendors: “The landlord and tenant of any dwelling unit other than a single family residence may agree that the tenant is to perform specified repairs, maintenance tasks, alterations or remodeling only if: 1. The agreement of the parties is entered into in good faith and not for the purpose of evading the obligations of the landlord and is set forth in a separate writing signed by the parties and supported by adequate consideration. 2. The work is not necessary to cure noncompliance with subsection A, paragraphs 1 and 2 of this section. 3. The agreement does not diminish or affect the obligation of the landlord to other tenants in the premises.” (Arizona Revised Statutes 33-1324), read 2026-10-28.

For an Arizona apartment owner who buys the make-ready from vendors instead, the written scope lists each task of the turnover: cleaning, paint touch-up, repairs, pest treatment, trash hauling and a final walk-through, unit by unit. In Arizona, as anywhere, describe that scope once and let contractors bid in writing on the same lines, so the bids for a dwelling unit other than a single family residence compare line by line; tenant-done work stays out of the vendor scope only if the 33-1324(D) conditions hold.

To get written bids on a full make ready, from cleaning and paint touch-up to repairs and trash hauling, you can post the unit turnover on InstaBids.

Turnover cleaning

Nevada's chapter 118A sets the clean state of the building and grounds when a tenancy starts, in NRS 118A.290(1): “A dwelling unit is not habitable if it violates provisions of housing or health codes concerning the health, safety, sanitation or fitness for habitation of the dwelling unit or if it substantially lacks: (a) Effective waterproofing and weather protection of the roof and exterior walls, including windows and doors. (b) Plumbing facilities which conformed to applicable law when installed and which are maintained in good working order. (c) A water supply approved under applicable law, which is: (1) Under the control of the tenant or landlord and is capable of producing hot and cold running water; (2) Furnished to appropriate fixtures; and (3) Connected to a sewage disposal system approved under applicable law and maintained in good working order to the extent that the system can be controlled by the landlord. (d) Adequate heating facilities which conformed to applicable law when installed and are maintained in good working order. (e) Electrical lighting, outlets, wiring and electrical equipment which conformed to applicable law when installed and are maintained in good working order. (f) An adequate number of appropriate receptacles for garbage and rubbish in clean condition and good repair at the commencement of the tenancy. The landlord shall arrange for the removal of garbage and rubbish from the premises unless the parties by written agreement provide otherwise. (g) Building, grounds, appurtenances and all other areas under the landlord’s control at the time of the commencement of the tenancy in every part clean, sanitary and reasonably free from all accumulations of debris, filth, rubbish, garbage, rodents, insects and vermin.” (Nevada Revised Statutes 118A.290), read 2026-10-28.

So a Nevada turnover cleaning scope under chapter 118A reaches past the unit's floors and kitchen to the building, grounds and other areas under the landlord’s control at the commencement of the tenancy, cleaned of debris, garbage and vermin. Write those Nevada areas into the scope line by line, with photos of each room and area before and after, so a dwelling unit that substantially lacks that clean state at move-in is caught before the new tenant arrives, not after.

To compare written bids on turnover cleaning of a unit and the areas around it, describe the cleaning job once on InstaBids and add photos of each room.

Apartment make ready

Nevada's chapter 118A states the standing duty behind an apartment make ready in NRS 118A.290(1): “The landlord shall at all times during the tenancy maintain the dwelling unit in a habitable condition.” (Nevada Revised Statutes 118A.290), read 2026-10-28.

The same Nevada section, NRS 118A.290(1)(f), adds garbage and rubbish, unless the parties by written agreement provide otherwise; the rules block below quotes it. For a Nevada apartment make ready under chapter 118A, the scope lists trash hauling, receptacles left in clean condition, and the repairs that keep the dwelling unit in a habitable condition, each priced on its own line so the contractors' bids line up.

When a vacated unit needs habitability repairs and trash hauling before move-in, you can post that make ready on InstaBids and compare the written bids.

Apartment maintenance services

Florida's landlord and tenant statute, section 83.51(2)(a), lists what the landlord of a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex makes reasonable provisions for, unless otherwise agreed in writing: “Unless otherwise agreed in writing, in addition to the requirements of subsection (1), the landlord of a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex shall, at all times during the tenancy, make reasonable provisions for: 1. The extermination of rats, mice, roaches, ants, wood-destroying organisms, and bedbugs. If the tenant must vacate the premises for such extermination, the landlord is not liable for damages but must abate the rent. The landlord must provide 7 days’ written notice, in person, by mail, or by e-mail in accordance with s. 83.505 , to the tenant if the tenant must temporarily vacate the premises for extermination pursuant to this subparagraph. A tenant is only required to vacate the premises for a period of time not to exceed 4 days. 2. Locks and keys. 3. The clean and safe condition of common areas. 4. Garbage removal and outside receptacles therefor. 5. Functioning facilities for heat during winter, running water, and hot water.” (Florida Statutes section 83.51), read 2026-10-28.

In a Florida apartment building those five items are the recurring service lines to buy and schedule under 83.51(2)(a): pest extermination, locks and keys, the clean and safe condition of common areas, garbage pickup with outside receptacles, and heat, running water and hot water, unless otherwise agreed in writing, for a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex. A Florida maintenance scope that names each of those lines, how often it is done and who answers a call after hours lets contractors bid on the same work.

For recurring apartment upkeep such as pest service, lock changes, common-area cleaning or hot-water repairs, post each scope on InstaBids for written bids on the same lines.

Tenant turnover

When a Florida turnover in a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex includes pest treatment that empties the unit, section 83.51(2)(a) of the Florida landlord and tenant statute sets the notice to the tenant: “The landlord must provide 7 days’ written notice, in person, by mail, or by e-mail in accordance with s. 83.505 , to the tenant if the tenant must temporarily vacate the premises for extermination pursuant to this subparagraph.” (Florida Statutes section 83.51), read 2026-10-28.

For extermination in a Florida dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex, 83.51(2)(a) caps the time out at a period not to exceed 4 days.

On a Florida tenant turnover in a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex, book the pest vendor's date with 7 days’ written notice to the tenant when the tenant must temporarily vacate, then line up the cleaning and repair crews after the treatment window.

To line up the pest treatment, cleaning and repair crews for a tenant turnover, post the job on InstaBids and get written bids from each trade on one scope.

Make ready cleaning

Nevada's chapter 118A ties make ready cleaning to the security deposit in NRS 118A.242(4): “Upon termination of the tenancy by either party for any reason, the landlord may claim of the security deposit or surety bond, or a combination thereof, only such amounts as are reasonably necessary to remedy any default of the tenant in the payment of rent, to repair damages to the premises caused by the tenant other than normal wear and to pay the reasonable costs of cleaning the premises. The landlord shall provide the tenant with an itemized, written accounting of the disposition of the security deposit or surety bond, or a combination thereof, and return any remaining portion of the security deposit to the tenant no later than 30 days after the termination of the tenancy” (Nevada Revised Statutes 118A.242), read 2026-10-28.

So for a Nevada unit the make ready cleaning invoice is part of the record: the cleaning part of a deposit claim is limited to the reasonable costs of cleaning the premises, and the itemized, written accounting goes to the tenant no later than 30 days after the termination of the tenancy under chapter 118A. Ask each Nevada cleaning bid for a dated, itemized price for each unit and photos before and after, so that accounting can show what the cleaning cost.

For move-out cleaning before a deposit is returned, post the cleaning job on InstaBids with photos and get itemized written bids for each unit.

Make ready steps and the state rules behind them

A make ready runs in about this order; each step below carries the state rule quoted on this page, read on the date in Sources, and each state's code also lists arrangements it does not cover.

1. Pest treatment that empties the unit (pest control vendor): For a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex, the Florida landlord must provide 7 days’ written notice to the tenant if the tenant must temporarily vacate the premises for extermination (83.51(2)(a)1).
2. Time out for the treatment (tenant and pest control vendor): For a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex in Florida, a tenant who must vacate for extermination is only required to vacate the premises for a period of time not to exceed 4 days (83.51(2)(a)1).
3. Cleaning of the unit and of the areas under the landlord's control (cleaning crew): Under NRS 118A.290(1) (chapter 118A), a dwelling unit is not habitable if it substantially lacks, among the listed items, “Building, grounds, appurtenances and all other areas under the landlord’s control at the time of the commencement of the tenancy in every part clean, sanitary and reasonably free from all accumulations of debris, filth, rubbish, garbage, rodents, insects and vermin.”
4. Garbage and rubbish hauling (hauler or the cleaning crew): Under NRS 118A.290(1)(f) (chapter 118A), the landlord shall arrange for the removal of garbage and rubbish from the premises unless the parties by written agreement provide otherwise.
5. Common areas (porter or janitorial vendor): Under Arizona Revised Statutes 33-1324(A)(3), the landlord shall keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition.
6. Deposit accounting with the cleaning invoice attached (manager): Under NRS 118A.242(4) (chapter 118A), the landlord may claim of the deposit only amounts reasonably necessary for unpaid rent, damage other than normal wear and the reasonable costs of cleaning the premises, and shall provide the tenant with an itemized, written accounting no later than 30 days after the termination of the tenancy.

Landlord code lines that bind the work

What to put in a written make ready scope

• The units and rooms: unit numbers, bedrooms and baths, square feet, and whether each unit is vacant or occupied on the work dates.
• Cleaning lines per unit: kitchen and appliances, baths, floors and carpet, windows, cabinets, and anything left behind, with photos before and after.
• Nevada, chapter 118A: the building, grounds and other areas under the landlord’s control in every part clean and sanitary, with no accumulations of debris, garbage, rodents, insects and vermin, at the commencement of the tenancy; a dwelling unit that substantially lacks that is not habitable (NRS 118A.290(1)).
• Florida, dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex: if the tenant must temporarily vacate for extermination, 7 days’ written notice to the tenant, and a time out not to exceed 4 days (83.51(2)(a)).
• Nevada, chapter 118A: who arranges garbage and rubbish hauling, unless the parties by written agreement provide otherwise (NRS 118A.290(1)(f)).
• Arizona, Arizona Revised Statutes 33-1324(A)(3): the common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition, with the hallways, stairs, laundry rooms and grounds named.
• Arizona, dwelling unit other than a single family residence: any repairs or maintenance tasks the tenant takes on go in a separate signed writing, only if the 33-1324(D) conditions hold.
• Nevada, chapter 118A: a dated, itemized cleaning invoice for each unit, for the itemized, written accounting no later than 30 days after the termination of the tenancy (NRS 118A.242(4)).
• Schedule and access: move-out date, keys or lockbox, start and finish dates for each unit, and the final walk-through before the next move-in.
• Payment by completed unit or stage, paid by the owner or manager to the contractor it hires, and any warranty in writing.

Download this checklist as text

Calling make ready vendors one by one, or one written scope?

Calling make ready vendors one by one gets each one's own idea of the turnover. With one written scope, you describe it once, contractors bid in writing on that scope, and you choose who gets your number.

Property managers can post a rental job on InstaBids today.

How InstaBids works

Related answers on other pages

• Repair deadlines after a failed voucher (Section 8) inspection are answered on their own page. How long does a landlord have to fix a failed Section 8 inspection?
• Who pays for a repair, the landlord or the tenant, is answered on its own page. Who pays for repairs in a rental?
• How many quotes a landlord gets for a repair is answered on its own page. How many quotes should a landlord get for a repair?

Sources

• Arizona Revised Statutes 33-1324, read 2026-10-28: www.azleg.gov
• Florida Statutes section 83.51, read 2026-10-28: www.leg.state.fl.us
• Nevada Revised Statutes 118A.290, read 2026-10-28: www.leg.state.nv.us