Is a punch list the same as a home inspection?

A punch list is not the same as a home inspection. The punch list is the builder's own list of unfinished or defective work, usually made with the buyer before closing. A home inspection is an independent check. Many buyers have both, and inspection findings often end up on the punch list.

How long should a new construction walkthrough take?

A new construction walkthrough should take long enough to see every room with the lights on and every fixture running. Rushing the walkthrough is how items get found after closing, when repairs are harder to schedule.

How should items be split between trades?

Split new construction items between trades by writing each item against one of the 6 areas on this checklist, with a short description of what's wrong. Sorting by type afterwards - paint, drywall, plumbing - turns one punch list into one for each trade.

What is a builder's warranty walkthrough?

A builder's warranty walkthrough is a second walkthrough after the owner has lived in the house. Many builders schedule it at 11 months, before the 1-year warranty ends. Items found then go on a new punch list.

New construction punch list

A new construction punch list is the builder's list of unfinished or defective work, found on the final walkthrough before closing or handover. A new construction punch list covers the whole house, so keep the walkthrough under control with a fixed route. Go outside first, then room by room in the same order, then the systems. Write every item against the room where you found the problem, and the punch list sorts itself for the trades. The JobsiteHQ new construction punch list below has 25 checks in 6 areas, ready to print.

Make this list by talking

Exterior

Grading slopes away from the foundation; downspouts extended away from the house.
Siding, trim and soffits complete, joints caulked, no missing pieces.
Windows and exterior doors sealed, flashing in place.
Driveway, walks and steps finished with no cracks or trip edges.
Hose bibs, exterior outlets and lights working.

Entry and living areas

Doors latch and close without rubbing; stops and hardware installed.
Drywall free of nail pops, visible seams and dings in side light.
Paint coverage complete with clean lines at ceilings and trim.
Floors complete, transitions secure, no squeaks or soft spots.
Trim and casing tight, nail holes filled and painted.

Kitchen and bathrooms

Cabinet doors and drawers aligned and adjusted.
Every fixture running with no leaks, drains clear.
GFCI outlets trip and reset; exhaust fans ducted outside.
Tubs and showers caulked, glass sealed and not dripping.

Bedrooms and closets

Closet shelves and rods secure.
Windows open, close and lock; screens installed.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed and tested where required.

Mechanical and electrical

Furnace or air handler running, filter in, thermostat set up.
Water heater set, relief valve discharge piped where required.
Panel labeled, a cover on every box, every switch and outlet working.
Every light fixture working.

Garage, attic and basement

Garage door opener reverses on an obstruction; sensors aligned.
Attic insulation to depth, hatch insulated and weatherstripped.
Basement or crawlspace dry, sump pump running if installed.
Door between the garage and the house closes and latches where required.

How do you use this checklist?

Print the 25-check new construction punch list from JobsiteHQ, or keep the page open on your phone, and walk the job in the order of the sections. Tick each line once you've checked the work. Anything that needs work goes on your own list, with the room and what's wrong. Hand your list to the trade who fixes the items, then walk the fixed items again.

How do you run the final walkthrough?

Walk the outside first, then every room from the front door in the same order, then the mechanical systems. The 6 areas of the JobsiteHQ checklist above follow the same route.

Walk the same 3-part route in every new house: outside clockwise, then the rooms in order from the front door, then the systems. Your punch lists come out in the same order from job to job, which makes every list quick to read.
Carry a roll of blue tape and mark each item on the wall with a 2-inch strip as you call the item out. The trades find the spot, and the client sees the builder caught the problem.
Turn on every light, run every fixture, and press the test button on every GFCI and AFCI. A switch that does nothing is still an item.
Walk a new house in daylight and use a flashlight anyway. Drywall and paint problems hide under overhead light and jump out under a beam held along the wall.

What gets missed on a new construction walkthrough?

On a new construction walkthrough, the misses are mostly the spots nobody looks at on the way out. The 5 items below are the ones that come back as a call after the final invoice.

Attic insulation: The last trades through the attic hatch disturb the insulation. Check the insulation depth and coverage, not just that insulation is there.
Wall penetrations: Dryer vents, hose bibs and cable entries go in late. Check all 3 kinds of penetration are sealed where the vent, pipe or cable passes through the wall.
Closets: Nobody walks into closets on a walkthrough. Open every door and check the shelves, rods and lights.
The garage: The garage gets walked last, when everyone's tired. Test the opener's auto-reverse with a 2x4 laid flat under the door, and check the door into the house.
Grading after landscaping: Sod and beds can change the grade. Check water still runs away from the foundation; a fall of about 6 inches in the first 10 feet is a common rule.

How do you close out the punch list?

Closing out a new construction punch list means finishing every open item, showing the client the finished work, and handing over what the client needs to look after the work. The 3 steps below come before the final invoice.

Agree the list with the buyer or owner and set a date for each trade - 'paint, Tuesday the 14th'.
Photograph every finished item, so the sign-off doesn't need another walk.
Hand over manuals, warranties, paint colors and spare materials at closing.

Skip the clipboard

Walk the new construction walkthrough with JobsiteHQ open and say what you see, room by room. JobsiteHQ writes the punch list, sorted by area, for you to check over, then turns the list into a client summary, an estimate and an invoice. JobsiteHQ works with no signal.

Try it free for 14 days

A punch list written by JobsiteHQ from a recorded walkthrough

Questions

Is a punch list the same as a home inspection?: A punch list is not the same as a home inspection. The punch list is the builder's own list of unfinished or defective work, usually made with the buyer before closing. A home inspection is an independent check. Many buyers have both, and inspection findings often end up on the punch list.
How long should a new construction walkthrough take?: A new construction walkthrough should take long enough to see every room with the lights on and every fixture running. Rushing the walkthrough is how items get found after closing, when repairs are harder to schedule.
How should items be split between trades?: Split new construction items between trades by writing each item against one of the 6 areas on this checklist, with a short description of what's wrong. Sorting by type afterwards - paint, drywall, plumbing - turns one punch list into one for each trade.
What is a builder's warranty walkthrough?: A builder's warranty walkthrough is a second walkthrough after the owner has lived in the house. Many builders schedule it at 11 months, before the 1-year warranty ends. Items found then go on a new punch list.