Free Contractor Template
Punch List Template
Build the walkthrough list on site, group it by trade so each sub makes one return trip instead of three, and see at a glance which items are actually blocking closeout and final payment.
Built by SubcontractorHub — the software contractors use to quote, finance, and run every job.
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Kitchen
| Done | Item | Trade | Priority | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjust upper cabinet doors — uneven reveal at sink run | Cabinets | Standard | ||
| Faucet base loose, re-seat and re-caulk | Plumbing | Blocks closeout |
Living Room
| Done | Item | Trade | Priority | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Touch-up at window casing, roller marks visible | Paint | Cosmetic |
Primary Bath
| Done | Item | Trade | Priority | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grout haze on shower floor, second clean needed | Tile / Flooring | Cosmetic | ||
| GFCI not resetting at vanity outlet | Electrical | Blocks closeout |
This list lives in your browser for this session only — nothing is uploaded or saved to an account. Print the page or copy the items into your project record before you close the tab.
How to Run a Punch List That Actually Closes
The punch list is where a profitable remodel can quietly turn into an unprofitable one. The work itself is usually minor; the cost is in coordination, repeat trips, and a final payment sitting unreleased for six weeks. Four habits separate the jobs that close cleanly from the ones that drag.
1. Group by trade, not by room
A walkthrough naturally produces a room-by-room list, which is the worst possible order for scheduling. Your painter does not care that two of their items are in the kitchen and one is in the hall — they care about making a single trip. Toggle this tool to group by trade before you send anything out.
2. Separate blockers from cosmetics
A non-functioning GFCI and a paint touch-up are not the same urgency, but on a flat list they look identical. Flagging what genuinely blocks closeout lets you release crews from the cosmetic items and still hit the completion date.
3. Close the list at the walkthrough
The most expensive punch list is the one that keeps growing. Agree in writing that the list captured at the walkthrough is the list, and that anything raised afterwards is evaluated as a change order. This is a contract clause, not a conversation to have in week three — our remodeling contract checklist covers where it belongs.
4. Do not let change orders hide here
"While you're here, could you also…" is new scope. It is billable work, and putting it on the punch list converts it into free work. If it was not in the contract, price it with the change order calculator and get a signature.
This template is a planning and coordination aid, not an inspection or code compliance record, and it does not replace the closeout documentation your contract or jurisdiction requires. All calculations are estimates based on historical information and should be verified by the user. This tool is provided as a free service for planning purposes only and is not a substitute for a professional assessment or professional legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a punch list in construction?
- A punch list is the itemized record of work that remains incomplete, defective, or not to specification at the end of a project. It is generated at a walkthrough near substantial completion, assigned by trade, and worked to zero before final payment is released. On residential remodels it is usually the last thing standing between the contractor and the final draw.
- Who creates the punch list?
- On residential work the contractor and homeowner typically walk the job together and build it jointly, which is the version least likely to be disputed later. On larger or commercial projects the architect or owner's representative issues it. Either way the list should be written and agreed at the walkthrough rather than assembled afterwards from memory or from a series of text messages.
- What is the difference between a punch list item and a change order?
- A punch list item is contracted work that was not completed correctly, and you fix it at your own cost. A change order is new or altered scope the client requested, and it is billable. Letting new requests enter the punch list at closeout is one of the most common ways remodelers give away work — if it was not in the contract, it belongs on a change order, priced and signed, not on the punch list.
- How long should a punch list take to complete?
- On a typical residential remodel, one to two weeks is reasonable once trades are scheduled. The delay is rarely the work itself — it is coordinating several trades back to a site they have already left. Grouping items by trade rather than by room is what shortens the timeline, because each sub makes one return trip instead of three.
- Should final payment be tied to the punch list?
- Usually yes, and the contract should say how. Common approaches are releasing final payment on completion of the agreed list, or holding a retainage amount proportional to the remaining work rather than the full final draw. The problem to avoid is an open-ended list that keeps growing — agreeing the list is closed at the walkthrough, with later requests treated as change orders, protects both sides.
Quote, Finance, and Run Every Job in One Platform
SubcontractorHub is the platform contractors use to turn takeoffs like these into a branded proposal, financing the customer can accept on the spot, and a scheduled job — without re-entering the job anywhere. This tool is free to use; the platform is here if you want a closer look.
Book a DemoMore for remodelers: Home Improvement Contractor Software · How to Price a Remodeling Job · Best Remodeling Software in 2026
All calculations are estimates based on historical information and should be verified by the user. This tool is provided as a free service for planning purposes only and is not a substitute for a professional assessment or professional legal advice.