Your house is nearly finished, and the contractor schedules a final walkthrough. You notice several concerns: Uneven paint A cabinet door that does not close properly Missing electrical covers Hollow-sounding tiles An unfinished drain A leaking faucet Construction debris in the yard The contractor may say: “Do not worry. Those items are covered by the warranty.” That response should be clarified. A punch list and a construction warranty are not the same thing. The punch list

The house may already look complete. The walls are painted. The tiles are clean. The lights are installed. The cabinets are finished. The contractor is requesting the final balance. But before releasing the last payment, ask one important question: Has the contractor completed everything required under the construction agreement? Final payment is one of the homeowner’s strongest remaining protections. Once the full balance has been paid, obtaining corrections, missing documen