Punch list
The list of small items a contractor still needs to finish or fix at the end of a project. Final payment often waits until the punch list is clear.
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Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
At the end of pre-listing work, the punch list is what still needs finishing, and final payment usually waits on it. It is also what stops a contractor's loose ends from turning up in the buyer's inspection.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
The bathroom remodel is done except a missing towel bar, a drip at the new faucet, and paint touch-ups. The last $1,200 is paid when those are done.
| What is on the list | What it prevents |
|---|---|
| A drip at the new faucet | A line on the buyer's inspection report about your new bathroom |
| Paint touch-ups | A photo that shows the seams |
| Final payment held until clear | A contractor who moves on before finishing |
The punch list is the difference between done and finished.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That a punch list is nitpicking. It is the last five percent of the job, and the five percent buyers notice.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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