The 48-Hour NYC Vacant Unit Make-Ready Checklist for Landlords, Superintendents & Leasing Brokers

In New York City’s peak rental market, leases frequently end on the 30th or 31st of the month while the incoming tenant’s movers are booked for the 1st or 2nd. Waiting a week for a general contractor to send an estimate, order paint, and subcontract a cleaner means lost rent and unhappy incoming residents.

Here is the exact 48-hour NYC vacant unit make-ready checklist used by CleanWhale’s NYC Apartment Turnover Teams across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

Phase 1: Drywall Spackling, Sanding & Trim Prep (Hours 1–3)

• Inspect all living room, bedroom, and hallway walls under bright light for picture hooks, drywall anchors, TV mount brackets, and furniture scuffs.
• Remove metal anchors, countersink edges, and apply fast-setting professional spackle flush with the drywall or plaster.
• Sand patched spots smooth and prime stained areas so cosmetic white paint blends cleanly.

Phase 2: Bathroom Ceiling Repaint & Waterproof Silicone Re-Caulking (Hours 3–5)

• Scrape any flaking paint on the bathroom ceiling caused by steam buildup, prime, and apply moisture-resistant crisp white bathroom paint.
• Cut out 100% of old, yellowed, or mildewed caulk along the bathtub rim, shower enclosure, and sink vanity backsplash.
• Sanitize the joint with high-temperature steam and alcohol, then apply a smooth, continuous bead of 100% waterproof sanitary white silicone.

Phase 3: Wall, Window & Radiator Paint Touch-Ups (Hours 4–6)

• Apply contractor-grade white paint touch-ups across patched walls, window sills, skylight frames, radiator covers, doors, and baseboards.

Phase 4: Vacant Move-Out Deep Clean & Steam Sanitization (Hours 6–8)

• Kitchen: Deep degrease inside the oven, range hood, stovetop, refrigerator, freezer, microwave, dishwasher, and all empty cabinets and drawers.
• Bathroom: Descale shower glass, ceramic tile, grout lines, chrome fixtures, toilet, and vanity mirrors.
• Whole Unit: Clean interior window glass and tracks, wipe closet shelves, switches, and baseboards, HEPA vacuum, and microfiber mop all floors.

Flat-Rate 2026 Pricing for All-in-One NYC Make-Ready

Need a $2M COI and instant scheduling? Book your unit directly on CleanWhale’s NYC Apartment Turnover Page or read our NYC Landlord Make-Ready Guide.