Punch list template for handymen and property managers (free)

By Nicholas Lipari, founder of PlainJob · Updated October 22, 2026 · 4 min read

Short answer: a punch list is a room-by-room list of small items to fix before a job, sale or move-in is finished: touch-up paint, loose hardware, caulk, a sticking door. A good one has the room, the item, the fix, who does it, the status and the price, so it doubles as a quote and a sign-off sheet.

Handymen get punch lists from property managers between tenants, from real estate agents before a sale, and from homeowners at the end of a bigger job. Use the template to walk the property, then price each line.

The template

PUNCH LIST
Property: ______________________   Unit: ______
Walkthrough by: ________________   Date: __________
For: move-out / move-in / pre-listing / end of job

#  ROOM        ITEM                      FIX                     PRICE   DONE
1  Kitchen     __________________        __________________      $____   [ ]
2  Kitchen     __________________        __________________      $____   [ ]
3  Bath        __________________        __________________      $____   [ ]
4  Bath        __________________        __________________      $____   [ ]
5  Bedroom 1   __________________        __________________      $____   [ ]
6  Bedroom 2   __________________        __________________      $____   [ ]
7  Living      __________________        __________________      $____   [ ]
8  Hall/entry  __________________        __________________      $____   [ ]
9  Exterior    __________________        __________________      $____   [ ]
10 ________    __________________        __________________      $____   [ ]

Total: $________
Approved by: ________________  Date: ________
Completed: ________________    Date: ________   Photos: yes / no

What usually ends up on a punch list

Walls: nail holes, dents, scuffs, touch-up paint. See drywall repair cost.
Doors and hardware: sticking doors, loose knobs, missing stops, rekeying locks.
Kitchen and bath: caulk, dripping faucets, running toilets, loose towel bars.
Windows: broken blinds, torn screens, painted-shut sashes.
Safety: smoke and CO detectors, loose railings, missing outlet covers.
Outside: gutters, loose boards, lights, the mailbox.

How to price a punch list

Walk it once and note every item before pricing anything.
Price common items from a rate card so managers can approve quickly.
Group by room so you work in one area at a time, and quote the whole list with a single trip charge.
Take before-and-after photos of each line; property managers pay faster with proof.

For managers sending regular work, see commercial handyman work.

Questions

What is a punch list?

A list of small items to fix or finish before a job, sale or move-in is complete, such as touch-up paint, loose hardware, caulking and sticking doors.

What should a punch list include?

The room, the item, the fix, who does it, the status, the price, and approval and completion signatures, ideally with photos.

How do handymen price punch lists?

Walk the whole list first, price common items from a rate card, quote the list as one job with one trip charge, and send before-and-after photos.