Punch list
The final list of small items a contractor must finish or fix before a job counts as complete and the last payment is released.
A punch list (or snag list) is the walkthrough document you and your contractor create near the end of a project: the touch-up paint, the misaligned cabinet door, the missing outlet cover, the caulk line that needs redoing. Tying your final payment to completion of the punch list — rather than paying in full the day the big work looks done — is what gives you leverage to get those last details right. Combine it with a final [lien waiver](/glossary/lien-waiver) before you hand over the last check. See [how to vet a contractor](/guides/how-to-find-and-vet-a-contractor).