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Rent-Ready Budget Calculator

Build a line-item make-ready budget for prepping a rental between tenants. Smaller than a full rehab — paint, deep clean, small repairs, lock change, landscaping, marketing, and a contingency cushion.

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Total rent-ready budget

$3,535

across 7 line items

Line-by-line

Deep clean$325
Paint$1,450
Carpet / flooring$0
Appliances$0
Lock change / rekey$180
Small repairs$750
Landscaping / curb appeal$250
Marketing$180
Contingency$400

Rent-ready budgets are smaller than full rehab budgets — typically $1,500–$5,000 for a turnover, not a major renovation. Most of the cost is paint, deep clean, and small repairs that touch every room.

How to Use

  1. Enter the cost for each line item — leave $0 for items that don't apply.
  2. Be honest about contingency — turnovers often turn up small repairs not visible during walkthrough.
  3. Read the total — feed it into your turnover cost calculation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a typical rent-ready budget?

$1,500–$5,000 for a typical 1–3 bedroom turnover. Higher for older properties, more bedrooms, or if you're upgrading rather than just refreshing. Lower if the previous tenant left things in great shape.

What if the previous tenant damaged the unit?

Use security deposit and damage charges to recover what you can. The rest belongs to the cost basis (capital improvements) or operating expense (repairs) for tax purposes.

Should I always paint between tenants?

Most landlords paint at least the high-traffic areas every 2–3 turnovers. Full repaint between every tenant is overkill but strategic touch-ups (entryway, scuffed walls, ceilings) signal a well-maintained unit and can support higher rent.

Why include marketing in rent-ready budget?

Photos, listings, and possibly virtual tour costs are part of the cost of getting a unit re-leased. Often $100–$300 — small but real.

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