Short answer: A Detroit move-out turnover has five steps: document the unit with dated photos, trash-out what was left, deep clean room by room, patch and repaint, then fix the small items (smoke detectors, outlet covers, blinds, bulbs). Michigan gives landlords 30 days after move-out to return the security deposit or send an itemized list of damages, so take the photos and estimates first.
Before you clean: protect the deposit decision
- Walk the unit with the move-in checklist and take dated photos of every room before anything is touched.
- Michigan law gives landlords 30 days from move-out to return the deposit or mail an itemized list of damages. The tenant has 4 days to give a forwarding address in writing (Michigan Legal Help; Michigan Legislature guide).
- Deductions are for unpaid rent, unpaid utilities, or damage beyond normal wear and tear. Get repair and cleanup estimates early so the list goes out on time.
1. Trash-out first
Haul out furniture, bags and basement leftovers before the cleaners start. Detroit's curbside bulk limit is about 2 cubic yards, and the City only collects from the curb, so a full trash-out is usually a hauling job. See our Detroit bulk trash rules guide.
2. Kitchen
- Oven, range, hood and drip pans degreased; fridge emptied, defrosted and wiped inside and out
- Cabinets and drawers wiped inside, shelf liner replaced if worn
- Sink, faucet and disposal cleaned; counters and backsplash degreased
- Pull out appliances where you can and clean behind them
3. Bathrooms
- Tub, tile and grout scrubbed; caulk replaced if moldy or cracked
- Toilet cleaned top to base; vanity and mirror cleaned
- Exhaust fan cover cleaned; check for slow drains and running toilets
4. Every room
- Walls spot-cleaned, nail holes patched, same-color repaint where needed
- Baseboards, doors, frames, switch plates and outlet covers wiped
- Windows, sills and tracks cleaned; blinds cleaned or replaced
- Floors vacuumed and mopped; carpet shampooed if needed
- Closets emptied and wiped
5. Safety and small fixes
- Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors tested, batteries replaced
- Missing outlet covers, bulbs, cabinet hardware and door stops replaced
- Locks rekeyed or changed between tenants
- Electrical, plumbing and HVAC problems go to licensed trades
Detroit-specific: the rental inspection
Detroit requires a Rental Certificate of Compliance: register the property in eLAPs, pass a 15-point property condition inspection, then the City (BSEED) issues the certificate. A clean, repaired unit is the right starting point. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead paint, and paint work that disturbs it falls under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, so we use lead-safe (EPA RRP) certified painters.
Want all of this done as one job? See apartment turnover in Detroit for a free quote per unit.
Sources
- Michigan Legal Help: An Overview of Security Deposits for Landlords
- Michigan Legislature: A Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords (PDF)
- City of Detroit BSEED: Rental Certificate of Compliance
- City of Detroit DPW: Curbside Collection Do's and Don'ts (2025)
- U.S. EPA: Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the official sources above before you rely on them.
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