The Landlord's Turnover Checklist for DeKalb County Rentals

Every vacant day is rent you don't collect. Around NIU, where DeKalb leases mostly turn over in a rush, the landlords who win are the ones with a checklist and a crew booked before the old tenant is out. Here's the list we work from.

The walkthrough (do it before move-out if you can)

• Photograph every room — your baseline for the deposit and your punch list in one pass.
• Test every door, window, faucet, toilet, outlet cover, and appliance.
• Check smoke and CO detectors — batteries and expiration dates. Illinois law is not flexible here.

The standard turnover scope

• Patch and paint — nail holes, scuffs, the wall behind the couch. Full repaint every few tenants, touch-up between.
• Doors and hardware — tighten hinges, replace worn locksets, re-key or swap locks.
• Plumbing small stuff — running toilets, drippy faucets, slow drains, fresh caulk in the tub surround.
• Fixtures and safety — dead bulbs, loose towel bars, wobbly railings, GFCI tests.
• Flooring — re-stretch loose carpet, replace damaged planks, deep clean.

Document everything

Photos of completed work attached to one clear invoice per unit — that's what keeps deposit disputes short and your files clean. It's standard on every rental turnover we do, and multi-unit owners get one point of contact and batched pricing. For ongoing needs, see our property management services.

The math that matters

A turnover crew that compresses two weeks of piecemeal fixes into a few scheduled days pays for itself in saved vacancy alone — before you count your weekends back. Send us the punch list (photos help) and you'll get a free written quote — one clear number — usually within 24–48 hours.

Get your turnover quoted or text (331) 265-7388. We turn units in DeKalb, Sycamore, Des Plaines, and across Northern Illinois.