What is a punch list?

A punch list is the list of items that do not yet conform to the contract, incomplete, damaged or wrong, compiled near the end of a project so the contractor can fix them before final acceptance and final payment. The owner's representative or architect usually writes it, the contractor works it, and the same list is called a snag list in the UK and a deficiency list in Canada. Each item needs a number, a location, a photo, a description, a responsible party and a due date.