How do you run a final walkthrough and punch list?

Work it through

You're the contractor. Pick what you'd do, then see how each choice plays out.

Sarah Mitchell

First-time homeowner who wants a kitchen renovation

Listen

1. AGo through every item on the list patiently. Fix the legitimate defects, explain construction tolerances for the others, and document everything in a punch list signed by both parties
   Correct

   A professional punch list process is how you close a job cleanly. Acknowledge legitimate items and commit to fixing them. For items within normal tolerances, educate politely — most homeowners don't know what 'within tolerance' means. Document everything: what you'll fix, what's within spec, and get both signatures. A signed punch list is your best protection against post-completion complaints.

2. BTell the husband the job meets code and you're not a perfectionist — construction has tolerances
   Terrible approach

   Even if you're technically right about tolerances, dismissing a client's concerns at the final walkthrough guarantees an unsatisfied customer. The scratched cabinet and uneven grout ARE your responsibility. Dismissing the husband as a nitpicker when some items are legitimate undermines your credibility on the tolerance arguments too. Fix what's broken, explain what's normal, move on professionally.

3. CFix everything on the list — all 23 items — to avoid any conflict
   Over-accommodating

   Fixing items that are within normal construction tolerances sets an unsustainable precedent and teaches clients that complaining equals free work. The professional approach is to distinguish between defects (fix them) and tolerances (explain them). A $200 cosmetic 'fix' that isn't actually defective costs time, money, and doesn't serve the homeowner's long-term understanding of their home.