Make Ready Technician

Job Title: Make-Ready / Turn Technician (Apartment Homes)

Department: Maintenance

Reports To: Maintenance Manager / Property Manager

Position Summary

The Make-Ready / Turn Technician is responsible for preparing vacated apartment homes for new residents by ensuring each unit meets company safety, security, quality, and appearance standards. This role focuses on timely inspections, lock and security compliance, painting coordination, carpet care, mechanical inspections, cleaning, odor remediation, and final market-ready preparation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Apartment Home Inspection & Access

• Inspect newly vacated apartment homes on the day of move-out or as soon as possible thereafter.

• Access vacant apartments using vendor locks, access codes, or approved entry devices.

• Remove any additional locks installed at the former resident’s request.

• Perform routine inspections to ensure plumbing, electrical systems, hardware, appliances, fixtures, and other components are functioning properly.

Security & Lock Standards

• Rekey all locks prior to new resident move-in.

• Ensure each exterior door is equipped with:

  • Keyless deadbolt

  • Keyed deadbolt

  • Door viewer (clear glass pane or one-way mirror)

• For sliding glass doors:

  • Install pin locks or a Charley Bar

  • Ensure pin locks pass through the sliding track and doorframe at the bottom

  • Install a deadbolt where applicable

• Key back doors and garage doors to match the front door.

Pest Control

• Identify signs of infestation and promptly schedule a pest control vendor to treat the apartment home as quickly as possible.

Painting & Wall Restoration

• Determine the level of painting required to return walls to a condition showing no evidence of prior residents.

• Prioritize in-house touch-up painting whenever possible to control costs.

• Limit full paint jobs; contract full painting only when necessary.

• When exact paint matching is not possible, paint the entire wall (“wall it in”) and cut in at corners.

• Coordinate contractor painting as directed by staffing availability and Property Manager instructions.

Painting Standards

• Repair, sand, and texture all holes or damaged sheetrock—no untextured patches permitted.

• Protect all surfaces (carpet, appliances, fixtures) using drop cloths.

• Paint or touch up walls, ceilings, doors, frames, and woodwork as needed.

• Remove or tape door hardware, thermostats, electrical fixture bases, and sprinkler heads prior to painting.

• Paint doors on both sides if required; remove door numbers, sand rough areas, and fill imperfections.

• Correct paint on exposed cabinet frames by removing it or repainting to match cabinetry.

• Paint cabinet interiors and sheetrock behind cabinets when directed by the Property Manager.

• Clean paint from carpets and cabinets.

• Paint closet shelves and stain clothes rods as needed.

• Use:

  • Latex flat paint on walls

  • Semi-gloss enamel on kitchens, bathrooms, doors, and frames

Carpet Care & Flooring

• Schedule appropriate carpet treatment (shampooing, pet treatment, repair, or replacement).

• Salvage existing carpet padding whenever possible.

• Walk carpets with vendors prior to shampooing.

• Prevent unauthorized spot-treatment upcharges; obtain approval before additional services.

• Seek vendors with inclusive pricing and cost-effective practices.

• Obtain Property Manager approval before carpet replacement.

• Polish or wax vinyl/tile floors as needed.

Cleaning & Odor Control

• Conduct a final, comprehensive cleaning to ensure move-in readiness:

  • Clean appliances, sinks, tubs, and fixtures

  • Vacuum all carpets, including new or recently shampooed carpets

  • Replace or clean electrical, TV, and telephone plates

  • Clean and/or install mini-blinds

  • Replace light bulbs per company policy

  • Install new faucet aerators

• Address odor issues using ozone machines or specialized products when needed.

• Clean air conditioner evaporator coils to remove odor-causing residue.

Safety & Final Preparation

• Check and document smoke detector functionality on the Francis PM Market-Ready Checklist.

• Inspect blinds and window coverings for cleaning or replacement needs.

• Ensure all work meets company standards whether completed in-house or by vendors.

Final Inspection & Documentation

• Participate in or support the final walk-through inspection conducted by the Property Manager or Maintenance Manager.

• For leased apartments, ensure inspections occur at least 24 hours prior to move-in.

• Once approved, designate the apartment home as “Ready” in Yardi.

Qualifications & Skills

• Knowledge of apartment maintenance, painting, and basic repairs

• Ability to follow detailed standards and procedures

• Strong attention to detail and time management skills

• Ability to work independently and with vendors

• Familiarity with property management software (Yardi preferred)

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift, bend, climb, and perform physical tasks related to maintenance and cleaning

• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying conditions