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NYC Unit Make Ready Services
Make ready is the work that turns a vacant apartment back into a rentable one: inspect, repair, paint, replace what is worn out, clean, and hand over. Vanta Surfaces provides NYC unit make ready services for property managers and owners across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, covering the repair, surface, and finish side of the job through one point of contact.
This page explains what a make ready normally includes, how the scope changes with the condition of the unit, which items to check before a unit is released, and what usually belongs to other vendors. It links to the services we use most, including drywall and painting.
NYC Unit Make Ready Services: What Is Included
The core scope
A make ready usually has five parts, done in this order:
- Inspection and punch list. Every room is checked and each defect is written down.
- Repairs. Walls, ceilings, doors, trim, and fixtures.
- Surfaces. Paint, plus flooring repair or replacement where needed.
- Kitchen and bathroom work. From re-caulking and new hardware to larger rebuilds.
- Final check. A last walkthrough before the unit is cleaned and released.
Three levels of scope
- Light. The unit is in good shape: patching, paint, and detail work.
- Standard. Light scope plus flooring repair or replacement, updated fixtures and hardware, and a minor kitchen or bathroom refresh.
- Heavy. Water damage, failed finishes, or a kitchen or bathroom that needs to be rebuilt.
We recommend a level only after seeing the unit. The same apartment can land in different levels depending on what the last tenant left behind.
Why a Make Ready Needs a Written Checklist
The move-out inspection list
- Walls and ceilings: holes, cracks, stains, and previous patches
- Floors: scratches, lifting, gaps, and water marks
- Doors, locks, and hardware
- Windows, screens, and sills
- Kitchen: cabinets, counters, sink, and appliances
- Bathroom: caulk, grout, fixtures, and signs of leaks
- Electrical: switches, outlets, and light fixtures
- Safety devices: smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and window guards where they apply
A written list with photos turns a vague “needs work” into a scope that can be priced, scheduled, and approved quickly.
Items to confirm before release
Check the requirements of NYC and your insurer. In buildings built before 1978, paid work that disturbs painted surfaces falls under the EPA’s lead-safe renovation rules, and New York City has additional lead-paint rules for older buildings, so confirm the details with your compliance team.
Repairs, Paint, and Finishes in a Make Ready
Walls, ceilings, and paint
Our drywall installation crews patch holes, repair cracks, and skim coat damaged areas. Before the finish coats, we prime stains and repaired spots so patches do not flash through. Our interior painting then covers walls, ceilings, and trim in one coordinated pass, which keeps the unit consistent and easy to touch up later.
Doors, trim, and hardware
Worn doors, scuffed trim, and mismatched hardware make a unit feel neglected. We repair and repaint them and replace hardware where needed, so the apartment reads as one finished space.
Kitchens
For a quick refresh, architectural film wraps can renew cabinets that are structurally sound. If the cabinets or layout have reached the end of their life, a full kitchen renovation is the better choice.
Bathrooms
Many bathrooms only need fresh caulk, regrouting, and new fixtures. When waterproofing has failed or fixtures are damaged, a bathroom renovation fixes the cause rather than the surface.
What other vendors usually handle
Deep cleaning, pest control, lock changes, and appliance delivery normally come from separate vendors. We schedule our finish work to wrap up first, so your cleaner can come in last.
How NYC Unit Make Ready Services Work With Us
Step 1: Walkthrough and punch list
Send photos of each room or book a visit. We build the punch list and propose a scope level for the unit.
Step 2: Quote and approvals
You receive a written scope with materials, schedule, and price. Once it is approved, we order materials and arrange access with the super or managing agent.
Step 3: Work in sequence
Repairs come first, then priming and paint, then final details. Cleaning follows our work, not the other way around.
Step 4: Final check and handover
We run a closing checklist, take completion photos, and hand the unit back ready for cleaning and listing.
Building Requirements to Plan For
Access and insurance
Most buildings require a certificate of insurance (COI), an elevator reservation, and work within set hours. Sending these details early avoids losing a day to paperwork.
Co-ops and condos
Many boards require notice or approval even for repairs and repainting. Ask the managing agent for the current rules when the unit is first scheduled.
Timeline and Cost of NYC Unit Make Ready Services
How long it takes
A light scope can be completed in days when materials are on hand. A heavy scope takes longer, and long-lead items such as cabinets or specialty tile can set the pace. We give you a schedule with the written scope.
What affects the price
Price depends on the unit’s size, the level of scope, the materials, and the building’s requirements. Photos of every room help us estimate accurately before a visit.
Why Choose Vanta Surfaces for NYC Unit Make Ready Services
One scope, one crew
A single project manager coordinates the trades, so you are not scheduling separate painters, drywall installers, and tile crews for every unit. You get one estimate and one team accountable for the finish.
Experience in occupied buildings
We protect common areas, follow building hours, and clean up daily. We are licensed and insured (NYC DCWP license 2137851-DCWP). See our page for property managers or browse finished work on our projects page.
NYC Unit Make Ready Services: Frequently Asked Questions
What does “make ready” mean?
It is the work required to bring a vacant apartment back to rentable condition: inspection, repairs, paint, flooring, kitchen and bathroom fixes, and a final check before cleaning and listing.
What is the difference between make ready and a full renovation?
A make ready restores a unit to a good, consistent condition. A renovation changes it, for example with a new kitchen layout or bathroom. Many units need only a make ready, but heavy damage or worn-out kitchens and baths may justify more.
Who does the final cleaning?
A separate cleaning vendor normally does it. We schedule our work to finish first, so the cleaner does not have to return after dust and deliveries.
What should I send to get an accurate quote?
Photos of every room, the unit size, the building address, and your target date. Close-ups of damage help us price correctly.
What happens if hidden damage is found?
We stop, document it, and send written options before continuing, so you can approve any change in scope.
Are rent-stabilized units treated differently?
They can be. Recovering renovation costs in a regulated apartment is governed by specific rules that have changed over time, so check current requirements with your counsel or DHCR before setting the scope.
Can you work in an occupied building?
Yes. We provide the certificate of insurance, reserve the elevator, follow quiet hours, and protect common areas.
How do I request NYC unit make ready services for several units?
Send photos and addresses through the form on this page, or call (646) 664-1696. We review each unit, propose a scope level, and reply with next steps.
