Preparing an Apartment for the Next Tenant in Warsaw

Between one tenant moving out and the next moving in, a landlord usually has a week or two — and a long list: wall-plug holes, scuffed paint, a swollen laminate board in the kitchen, loose hinges and a dripping tap. We take that whole list off your hands: we come in, repair, paint and bring the apartment back to “ready for photos and viewings”. We work across Warsaw, including when the owner is out of town — access by keys and a photo report afterwards. The faster the apartment is ready, the shorter the void period — and a void almost always costs more than the repairs themselves.

What it costs and what drives the price

There is no flat “per apartment” price — it all depends on scope: how many walls need painting, how many laminate boards need replacing, what state the doors and plumbing are in. Most turnovers are a set of small jobs, each priced separately. Current rates for the main items are in the table below. Standard fixings are usually included; materials, waste removal and carrying materials in are charged extra. Send photos of the defects through the order form and we will quote the whole list at once.

Service	min	max
Filling holes and damages	20 zł/m²	35 zł/m²
Painting walls / ceilings in one color (2 coats)	30 zł/m²	45 zł/m²
Floor panel replacement	70 zł/m²	100 zł/m²
Furniture repair	150 zł	350 zł
Door adjustment	30 zł	60 zł
Lock replacement	180 zł	350 zł
Trap replacement	120 zł	220 zł
IKEA furniture assembly	20% of price	25% of price

How the turnover preparation works

1. You send photos and a list of defects through the form — we estimate the scope, timing and materials needed.
2. We agree the work list and the order: what is critical before move-in day and what can wait.
3. We arrive with tools; floors and furniture get covered with protective film.
4. We work top-down: walls and ceilings (filling, painting) → floors (laminate, tiles) → doors, furniture, hardware → plumbing and small fixes.
5. We clean up after ourselves; waste removal can be arranged as an extra.
6. You get a photo report — the apartment is ready for listing photos and viewings.

Kept leftover materials from the renovation? Tell us straight away

If you still have spare laminate boards, tiles, a can of the original paint, the renovation plans or even just product codes and packaging — let us know before we start. It directly affects the price and the timeline.

• Laminate: once the damaged board is removed, the locking system and thickness are impossible to identify without the packaging. With a spare board the repair is practically invisible, with no need to re-lay the floor.
• Tiles: collections are discontinued within two or three years, and shade and calibre vary between batches. One spare box solves the problem.
• Paint: with the colour code or the original can we can touch up locally instead of repainting the whole wall.
• Plans and product codes: they let us match hardware, boards and colours precisely, without experiments.

Typical landlord mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• Throwing away leftover materials after a renovation. A spare laminate board or a box of tiles later saves both money and days of vacancy.
• Painting over stains with a colour that is “roughly the same”. In side light such patches show immediately — the wall ends up needing a full repaint anyway.
• Ignoring the small stuff: a dripping tap, a squeaky door, a loose handle. That is exactly where a new tenant starts their list of complaints and rent negotiation.
• Painting over dirty walls without washing and priming — the paint goes on patchy and starts peeling within months.
• Masking instead of repairing: a rug over a swollen laminate board is found at the first viewing.
• Delaying the start. A week of vacancy in Warsaw usually costs more than the entire refresh.
• Ordering a “full renovation” where cosmetics are enough — filling, painting and a few targeted replacements.

What to prepare before the handyman arrives

• A room-by-room list of defects — phone photos are enough.
• Leftover materials: laminate, tiles, paint, packaging and product codes.
• The renovation plans or manufacturer names, if you still have them.
• The next tenant’s move-in date — we plan the schedule around it.
• Decisions on furniture: what to repair, what to remove, what to buy and assemble.
• Access if you will not be there: keys, a lockbox or the concierge.
• Clear access to walls and floors — we can move heavy furniture ourselves (extra service).
• Priorities: what must be ready for move-in and what can come second.
• If you are planning listing photos — say so in advance and we will get the apartment camera-ready.

A real case from Warsaw

The owner of a two-room apartment in Praga-Południe wrote to us right after his tenants moved out: ten days until the new ones arrived. From photos we made a list: wall-plug holes and scuffs in both rooms, two swollen laminate boards by the balcony, sagging hinges on the kitchen fronts, a stiff lock and a leaking siphon. Luckily, a spare pack of laminate and a can of paint with the colour code had survived the original renovation. In two days we filled and touched up the walls, replaced both boards, adjusted the hinges and doors, and changed the siphon and the lock cylinder. We also assembled a new IKEA cabinet to replace the sagging old one. The owner took photos on day three and signed with new tenants before the end of the week. The takeaway is simple: kept materials plus a fast start — and the apartment barely stands empty.

Frequently asked questions

How long does turnover preparation take between tenants?

A small list takes one or two days: filling, touch-up painting, adjustments, minor plumbing. If full repainting or floor repairs are added, it is usually three to five days including drying time.

Can everything be done in one visit?

A short list — yes. Painting needs drying time between coats, so it is more often two visits. We build the schedule around the new tenant’s move-in date.

What if no spare laminate is left?

We match a substitute by thickness, locking system and decor — but it takes longer and is rarely perfect. Sometimes we move a full board from under a wardrobe or bed and lay the substitute where it is not visible. That is why leftovers are worth keeping.

Can you paint over individual stains without repainting the whole wall?

Only if the original paint or the exact colour code is available. Otherwise the patch will differ in shade and sheen — then it is more honest to repaint the wall corner to corner.

Do you work in an empty apartment without the owner?

Yes, it is standard practice: access by keys or a lockbox, contact by messenger, and a photo report afterwards. Convenient if you live in another city or country.

Whose materials — yours or mine?

Whichever suits you: we use your leftovers or buy everything ourselves against an agreed list. Materials are paid separately; standard fixings are mostly already included in the price of the work.

Do you remove the waste afterwards?

Yes, waste and packaging removal is charged extra. Carrying heavy materials into the apartment is also priced separately.

Do you assemble new furniture?

Yes: IKEA, JYSK and others. We assemble, install, anchor to the wall what needs anchoring — and take away the packaging by arrangement.

Can you get the apartment ready for listing photos?

Yes. Final details — handles, skirting boards, fresh silicone in the bathroom, working bulbs — make a big difference in photos. Tell us in advance and we will get the place camera-ready.

Which districts of Warsaw do you cover?

All of Warsaw — Praga, Mokotów, Wola, Ursynów, Bielany, Bemowo — and the nearest suburbs.

The work is done by our service’s handymen, who prepare rental apartments for owners and property managers across Warsaw every week. We work to an agreed list: you know in advance what will be done and which line items the price is based on — current rates are in the table above. We protect surfaces, bring our own tools and standard fixings, and discuss the limits of responsibility honestly before the work starts, not after. Leave a request through the order form — describe the apartment, attach photos, and we will come back with a quote and the nearest available slot.