Job site supervisors and workers know exactly what a punch list is. Property owners are usually puzzled. Yet it’s an important tool for finishing a job to the satisfaction of both parties. Punch lists are particularly important when restoring structures after a disaster. So, what are they and why should you find a restoration company that always uses one?
Usually created during a project’s final stages, a punch list spells out all the individual tasks that need to be finished before a project is declared complete. Often, supervisors, contractors and customers create the list jointly as the end of the project draws near. They meet at the job site as a group, inspect the site, compare the completed work against the contract and note down any remaining deficiencies that need to be addressed. Interestingly, the list received its peculiar name because historic contractors punched a hole in the paper next to the item as they finished each task. Nowadays, most punch lists are computerized or managed on a smartphone via a convenient app.
It’s best to hire a restoration company that uses a punch list. First, it demonstrates that the company is prepared to collaborate and communicate effectively with all members of the restoration team: specialists, insurance companies, contractors and property owners. Most restorations entail many people with different responsibilities working on different tasks from different locations toward a common goal. A punch list is an excellent sign that this cooperation will take place and is well-organized.
Second, a punch list helps ensure that property owners will be satisfied with the completed restoration. For top quality restoration companies, that’s a key outcome. “When we perform restoration work, we serve customers who are often traumatized and uncertain whether their properties and lives will ever return to normal,” says Art Dickerson, Paul Davis Senior Vice President, Commercial. “A punch list is another way we care for their wellbeing: by showing that what happens next is positive, proceeds at a steady pace, will end at a certain time and will meet their expectations.”
Some companies create punch lists in the early stages of the project – a practice called the “rolling punch list” – as a helpful guide to project completion. It’s an approach that construction and restoration experts praise. An early punch list informs everyone about project particulars, assigns responsibilities, identifies potential problems and aligns the team for better cooperation.
Grappling with the need for restoration after a disaster? Count on Paul Davis experts to team up with property owners, insurance companies, contractors, specialists and more to finish the job to exact specifications swiftly, completely and satisfactorily.
