Construction Punchlist Guide & Template
In a perfect world, there would be no need for a construction punchlist form. As a project neared completion, everyone would sign off on the build, shake hands, and call it a day.
But we don’t live in a perfect world.
In the real world, things rarely go exactly as planned. As a result, the punchlist (also known as a punch list or snag list) is a standard feature of construction project closeout.
The Trouble With Punchlists
A punchlist gives the client or owner an opportunity to check whether a completed construction project meets expectations. However, sometimes punchlists feel more like an obstacle or a chore.
There are a number of reasons for this:
A Punchlist Means More Work
Both creating the punchlist and addressing the line items take time and effort. A construction punch list form template can help, but creating the list still means you have to schedule walkthroughs with the client/owner, architect, designer, and any other stakeholders.
After that, you assign punchlist items to teams or subcontractors and follow up until they’re addressed. Altogether, it’s a lot of work!
It Points Out Errors
You’ve worked hard on a project, and you’re so close to done. Just when the finish line is in sight, however, here comes the punchlist—an itemized collection of things that don’t meet expectations.
This can be tough once a project has reached substantial completion, especially if the punchlist items require a lot of effort to rectify.
Punchlists Affect Budget & Payment
In most cases, punchlist items come out of a project’s bottom line. This means the longer the punchlist, the less money you take home.
What’s more, most contracts include a retainage clause, meaning you don’t get that final payment until all punchlist items have been signed off. As a result, punchlists often feel like a barrier to hard-earned money.
Substantial Completion and Tips on Going for Zero
Understandably, many contractors dream of ‘going for zero’. This means reaching substantial completion with a zero-item punchlist.
Going for zero is harder than you might think. You can’t wait until a project is nearly complete and hope there’s no need for punchlist items – you have to plan for it.
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you plan to go for zero on your next project:
1. Get Clarity During Pre-Build
Before a project begins, review all plans, specs, and contracts carefully. You’re looking for omissions or inconsistencies. Use an RFI or similar communication process to clarify these issues before starting the project to reduce the chance of errors once on site.
2. Prioritize Quality Control
Ensure high-level quality at each phase of construction before moving on to the next stage. Conduct regular inspections to catch potential errors early, and do not accept inferior work. The sooner you catch issues, the easier they are to fix. Don’t wait until project completion to acknowledge issues.
3. Use Rolling Punchlists
Try implementing a punchlist-as-you-go process. Use our free construction punch list form and share it with the designer, architect, and client/owner at the beginning of a project. Explain that you’d appreciate their input at the end of each stage before moving to the next step.
4. Assign a Punchlist Manager
If this sounds like a lot of work, that’s because it is! Going for zero takes intentional effort, so it’s best to assign someone to manage rolling punchlists. This person should have a pretty good understanding of the overall project and who is responsible for what parts. They should also be an excellent communicator.
Download a free punchlist template
Use your free digital punchlist template as a standalone template, or in our Forms software.
Best Practices for Efficient Punchlist Management
Managing a punchlist, especially a rolling punchlist, requires a lot of attention. Here are the best practices for keeping your construction punch list forms under control:
Enable a Shared View
Make punchlists visible to everyone involved in creating and addressing them. From the designer and architect to the client and subcontractors, you should have a system in place that makes it easy for everyone to:
- Find relevant punchlists.
- Sign off on items as they’re completed.
- View those signoffs.
Use Form Management Software
Some contractors use spreadsheets and/or email to achieve a shared view of construction punch list forms. However, most find that this approach makes it impossible to go for zero. Rolling punchlists are much easier to manage with dedicated software. One survey even found that 75% of contractors use software to manage their punchlists.
Make Mobile Access Available
Mobile matters when it comes to punchlists. Obviously, construction professionals are often away from their desks. Being able to access punchlists on your phone makes all the difference in ensuring quick turnarounds on item assignments and signoffs. Construction form management software like DADO comes with mobile capabilities to enable this level of real-time efficiency.
Reclaim Wasted Time With Smart Punchlists
Smart punchlist management today requires sophisticated digitization. When time is of the essence, you can’t afford to be looking for buried emails and spreadsheets or worse, physical papers.
This is especially true when managing multiple projects or going for zero. With multiple punchlists in play at any given time, manual tracking is simply impossible.
Using digital forms and management software makes it easy to see all construction punch list forms at a glance. Not only does it assist with tracking and management, but these platforms even make it possible to analyze trends across punchlists to identify inefficiencies.
Document management software like DADO helps you analyze your punchlists and punch list process, as well as identify common causes of long lists and delayed responses. Once addressed, you can shorten your punchlists and enjoy faster turnaround time to signoff.
With the help of smart punchlist management software, you can cut down on wasted time and punch list line items, helping you close out your projects and collect payment sooner.
Go for zero with smart punchlists
Streamline and simplify punchlist management – save on time, money and frustration. See how DADO can help.