How Much Does a Unit Turnover Cost in San Diego?
Below are real numbers from apartment turnovers we've recently completed for a San Diego property management company. We've included photos, the actual scope of work and an itemized price for each one. Every unit is different, so use this as a guide, not a quote. It shows what drives the price and what you get for it.
Typical unit turnover price ranges
| Turnover type | Typical price | Labor / timeline | What it usually involves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light refresh | $1,500 – $2,500 | 1–2 tech-days; 2–3 days on the calendar | Assessment, touch-up paint, re-caulk tub and toilet, small repairs, smoke alarm check, professional cleaning |
| Standard turn | $3,000 – $5,000 | 3–4 tech-days; 2–5 days | Patching and painting several rooms, blinds, light fixtures, cabinet painting, door adjustments, cleaning |
| Heavy turn | $5,500 – $9,000 | 3–5 tech-days + flooring; 1–2 weeks | Full repaint, drywall repair, cabinet refinish, new carpet or flooring, fixture and cabinet replacements |
| Restoration | $15,000 – $30,000+ | 2–4 weeks | Water or mold damage, shower and bath rebuilds, plumbing repairs, subfloor or structural repairs, plus a full turnover |
Most of our recent standard turnovers have come in between about $1,600 and $5,000.
How we price a turnover
- Labor by the technician-day: $950 per full day, $550 per half day. Two techs for one day is two tech-days.
- Materials at cost plus handling: paint, caulk, blinds, fixtures, detectors and similar items.
- Flooring and carpet quoted per room when needed.
- Cleaning billed as its own line item.
- Licensed trades (plumbing, electrical) are subcontracted when needed and priced separately.
What moves the number
- How much paint is needed: touch-ups or a full repaint
- Flooring or carpet replacement, often the biggest single line
- Tenant damage: holes, anchors, broken blinds, doors and drawers
- Hidden conditions: water, mold, rot or failing showers. These can't be seen until walls or floors are opened.
- Access and timing: lockbox/keys and whether the unit is empty
Setting realistic expectations
We try to work within whatever budget you have for each unit, but each level of work gives a different result:
- Touch-up painting won't always match the existing walls. Paint fades and yellows over time, sheen varies, and the original color or brand often isn't known. Touch-ups can show up as patches, especially in daylight or on flat paint. For a uniform look, we recommend repainting whole walls corner to corner, or the full room.
- Refresh vs. refinish: rolling a coat on older cabinets or trim freshens them up, but it isn't a like-new factory or sprayed finish.
- Repair vs. replace: patching, re-caulking and adjusting extends the life of what's there. It won't make old finishes look new.
If you tell us how you want the unit to show and what your budget is, we'll recommend where it makes sense to spend more and where touch-ups are good enough.
Real unit turnover examples with prices
Prices are shown at our current standard rates.
Example 1 · Light refresh
Apartment unit, North Park
- Full unit assessment; wall furnace tested; 2 smoke alarms checked
- Replaced oven light bulb
- Scraped and re-caulked tub and toilet base
- Rolled a fresh coat on the kitchen cabinet faces. They were older and already painted, so this was a quick refresh, not a spray refinish.
- Touch-up paint on walls, sills, baseboards, doors and trim; baseboards wiped down
| Labor (1 full + 1 half tech-day) | $1,500.00 |
| Unit cleaning | $288.00 |
| Total | $1,788.00 |
Example 2 · Standard turn
Apartment unit, North Park
- Pulled anchors and screws, patched holes throughout
- Painted kitchen and dining area, bathroom walls, closet doors and door jamb; touch-ups throughout
- New living room blinds; replaced kitchen blind slats
- New bathroom light fixture; closet track installed
- Re-caulked sink, tub, toilet and pedestal; polished bath trim; deep-cleaned cabinets; furnace tested
| Labor (3 tech-days) | $2,850.00 |
| Materials (blinds, fixture, sealants, paint) | $542.00 |
| Unit cleaning | $288.00 |
| Total | $3,680.00 |
Example 3 · Heavy turn + full carpet replacement
Apartment unit, North Park
- Drywall repairs in the living room, bedroom and kitchen ceiling
- Full repaint: living room, kitchen, hall, closet, bedroom and bath
- Kitchen cabinets cleaned, primed and painted
- New medicine cabinet and vanity light; combo smoke/CO detectors installed
- Replaced all carpet in the unit (living room and bedroom; kitchen and bath are tile)
| Labor (2 full + 1 half tech-day) | $2,450.00 |
| Carpet replacement (entire unit) | $2,914.80 |
| Materials | $780.00 |
| Unit cleaning | $288.00 |
| Total | $6,432.80 |
When a turnover becomes a restoration
Example 4 · Restoration + full turnover
Older rental unit, North Park
This one started as a standard turnover. Once we did the moisture assessment and opened up the shower, we found mold, a plumbing failure and foundation problems under the shower. Here's what it took:
- Demolished shower and tub to the studs; treated mold
- Licensed plumber repair; new shower valve
- Reframed shower walls; repaired foundation under the shower
- Set and water-tested new tub; cement board and waterproofing
- New wall tile, grout and two coats of sealer
- New vanity, mirror and bathroom door; repainted
- Removed wet and damaged drywall and wood; extensive drywall repair
- Replaced all angle stops, kitchen faucet and disposal
- New microwave, 3 light fixtures, 3 interior doors, screen door, baseboard, blinds and window screens
- Degreased and repainted the whole unit, including French doors
- Smoke/CO detectors, haul-away and final cleaning
| Shower and plumbing restoration (labor + plumber) | about $11,000 |
| Unit turnover labor | about $9,000 |
| Materials (shower + unit) | about $5,000 |
| Haul-away and cleaning | about $1,150 |
| Approximate total at full pricing | ≈ $26,000 |
Typically included
- Room-by-room assessment with photos
- Labor, setup, floor protection and daily cleanup
- Debris removal from turnover work
- Job notes and photos for your records
Typically quoted separately
- Flooring/carpet, appliance replacement
- Licensed plumbing/electrical, permits if required
- Hidden damage found after opening walls or floors
- Large haul-aways (tenant belongings, full demo)
Unit turnover cost FAQs
How much does a unit turnover cost in San Diego?
Most of our standard turnovers cost between about $1,500 and $5,000. That covers patching, painting, small repairs, caulking and cleaning. Turnovers that include new carpet or flooring typically run $5,500–$9,000. Units with water damage, mold or a failing shower can run $15,000–$30,000 or more.
How long does a unit turnover take?
A light refresh usually takes 2–3 days on the calendar, and a standard turn takes 2–5 days. Heavier turns with flooring take 1–2 weeks. Restoration work can take 2–4 weeks depending on hidden damage and subcontractor schedules.
Will touch-up paint match my existing walls?
Not always. Paint fades and yellows over time, sheen varies, and the original color often isn't known, so touch-ups can show as patches. For a uniform look, we recommend repainting full walls or whole rooms.
How do you charge for unit turnovers?
Labor is billed by the technician-day ($950 full day, $550 half day). Materials, flooring and cleaning are separate line items. Licensed plumbing or electrical work is subcontracted and priced separately.
What happens if you find hidden damage?
We document it with photos and notes and send you a price before we do the extra work. Nothing beyond the agreed scope is done without your approval.
Need a unit turned?
Tell us about the unit and your move-in date, and we'll give you a realistic scope and price.
Call or text 858-800-4843 Learn about our turnover serviceExamples are real Huge Home Pros turnovers completed in 2026. Client and unit details have been withheld. Pricing reflects our current standard rates and is provided for budgeting only. Every unit is quoted after an assessment. Huge Handyman Home Service LLC DBA Huge Home Pros · Licensed General Contractor · CA License #1096361.