What should I check before making final payment to a contractor?

Six things, in order: (1) equipment matches the contract spec — right brand, right model, right finish; (2) everything functions — water runs, drains, lights work, grab bars hold a firm pull; (3) no damage to surrounding finishes — walls, floors, fixtures outside the work area; (4) all permits are closed out with a passed final inspection from the city or county; (5) warranty paperwork delivered and manufacturer warranties registered in your name; (6) lien waivers signed confirming subs and suppliers are paid. Hold the final 10 percent retainage until all six pass.

What is a punch list?

A punch list is the written list of items that remain incomplete or need correction at the end of a project — a paint touch-up, a loose trim piece, a missing cabinet handle, a grab bar that needs re-tightening. You and the contractor walk the project together, you note every item, and the contractor completes them before final payment. The punch list is your leverage: the 10 percent retainage is not released until the list is cleared.

How much should I hold back until final inspection?

A 10 percent retainage of the total contract value, held until the punch list is cleared and any required permit final inspection passes. This is the homeowner's primary leverage to ensure the contractor actually finishes — once a contractor is fully paid, their motivation to return for small corrections drops sharply. The retainage should be written into the contract's payment schedule from the start.

Do I need the permit to be closed before I pay?

Yes, for any permitted work. The permit final inspection is a city or county building official confirming the work meets code — it is your only independent third-party verification. An open permit can become your problem when you sell the home (it shows up in title/disclosure) and means the work was never inspected. Do not release the final payment until the permit shows a passed final inspection. Request the inspection certificate or permit-closed documentation in writing.

What if the contractor refuses a final walkthrough?

A contractor refusing a walkthrough is hiding incomplete or defective work — treat it as a serious red flag. Insist on the walkthrough before final payment; it is standard practice. If they still refuse, withhold the final retainage, document the refusal in writing, and file a complaint with the state contractor licensing board if needed. The walkthrough is non-negotiable for senior projects where a defect (a grab bar that pulls loose) is a fall risk, not just a cosmetic issue.

What warranty paperwork should I receive at completion?

Two sets. (1) The contractor's written labor warranty (1-2 years standard) stating what is covered and for how long. (2) Manufacturer warranties for every piece of installed equipment — grab bars, walk-in tub, stair lift, faucets, HVAC — with registration completed in your name (not the contractor's). Also collect: the closed permit certificate, the final lien waiver, and model/serial numbers of installed equipment for future service calls. Store everything together; you will need it if you sell the home.

Can I do the final walkthrough if I help my parent remotely?

Partly. Some checks need a person on site — testing that grab bars hold a firm pull, that water runs and drains, that finishes are undamaged. If you cannot be there, have a trusted local person (another family member, a neighbor, or an independent home inspector for $150-$300) do the physical walk while you join by video call. The paperwork checks — permit closure, warranty registration, lien waiver — you can verify remotely by email and phone.

Final Inspection Checklist Before You Pay a Contractor

The short version: Before you release the final 10 percent retainage, walk the project with the contractor and verify six things: equipment matches the contract spec, everything functions (especially that grab bars hold a firm pull), no surrounding finishes are damaged, permits are closed with a passed inspection, warranty paperwork is delivered and registered in your name, and lien waivers confirm subs are paid. Write a punch list of anything incomplete; release the retainage only when it is cleared. The retainage is your last point of leverage — once a contractor is fully paid, their motivation to fix small problems drops fast.

The retainage is your leverage — use it

By the time a project nears completion, you have paid 90 percent. The final 10 percent retainage is the only leverage you have left to ensure the contractor actually finishes — every loose end, every touch-up, every “I’ll come back for that.” Once that final payment clears, a contractor’s willingness to return for small corrections drops sharply.

The walkthrough plus punch list is how you spend that leverage well. This article is the last step in the contractor lifecycle: after you found the contractor, compared three quotes, signed a contract with the right clauses, and managed change orders, the final inspection is where you confirm you got what you paid for.

The six-point walkthrough

Do this with the contractor present, before releasing the final payment, with a printed copy of the contract scope in hand.

1. Equipment matches the contract spec

Check every installed item against the contract line items: brand, model number, finish, size. Contractors sometimes substitute a cheaper item than specified, betting the homeowner won’t check.

Grab bars: the specified brand/length/finish?
Toilet: the specified comfort-height model?
Walk-in tub / stair lift: the exact model in the contract?

A substitution means the contractor owes you the difference or a correct replacement. For senior safety equipment, the spec matters — a lower-rated grab bar is a real safety downgrade.

2. Everything functions

Test it all, physically:

Run water at every fixture; confirm it drains
Flush toilets
Switch every light and outlet
Pull firmly on every grab bar — it should not flex or loosen
Operate the stair lift or walk-in tub through a full cycle
Open and close every door and drawer

The grab-bar pull test is the single most important check in a senior bathroom. A bar that looks installed but was not anchored to framing will pass a glance and fail a fall.

3. No damage to surrounding finishes

Check walls, floors, trim, and fixtures outside the work area for damage caused by the work: scratches, dents, cracked tile, paint scuffs, dust pushed into HVAC vents. Damage the contractor caused is theirs to repair.

4. Permits closed with a passed final inspection

For any permitted work (panel work, new circuits, plumbing changes, structural), confirm the city or county building official did a final inspection and the permit is closed.³

This is your only independent, third-party verification that the work meets code. An open permit:

Means the work was never code-inspected
Becomes your problem at resale (shows up in title/disclosure)
Can complicate a future insurance claim

Get the inspection certificate or permit-closed documentation in writing before final payment.

5. Warranty paperwork delivered and registered

Collect, in writing:

The contractor’s labor warranty (1-2 years standard)
Manufacturer warranties for every installed item, registered in your name
Equipment model and serial numbers for future service calls

A contractor who installs equipment without registering manufacturer warranties leaves you unable to claim warranty replacement later. See Contractor Insurance & Bonding for the parallel coverage you should have verified before the project.

6. Lien waivers confirm subs are paid

Get an unconditional lien waiver confirming all subcontractors and suppliers are paid for the project. Without it, an unpaid sub can file a mechanics lien against your home even though you paid the general contractor — meaning you could pay twice.⁵ This is the final-payment version of the lien-waiver clause from the contract.

The punch list

As you walk, write down every item that is incomplete or needs correction:

PUNCH LIST — [project] — [date]
□ Master bath: caulk gap at left edge of shower pan
□ Grab bar at toilet: re-tighten (slight flex on pull test)
□ Hallway: paint scuff near new threshold, touch up
□ Vanity: missing left cabinet handle
□ Permit: obtain closed-permit certificate from city
□ Warranty: register Kohler tub warranty in owner's name
□ Provide unconditional lien waiver

The contractor completes the punch list before you release the retainage. Re-walk to confirm each item is fixed. Pay the final 10 percent only when the list is fully cleared and all paperwork is in hand.

What to keep after the project

Store these together — you will need them if you sell the home or call for warranty service:

Signed contract + all signed change orders
Final paid invoice
Closed permit certificate(s)
Contractor labor warranty
Manufacturer warranties + registration confirmations
Equipment model/serial numbers
Unconditional lien waiver
Before/after photos

Remote walkthrough for caregivers

If you are coordinating for a parent from a distance:

Physical checks (grab bar pull test, water/drain, finishes) need someone on site — a local family member, a trusted neighbor, or an independent home inspector ($150-$300) on a video call with you
Paperwork checks (permit closure, warranty registration, lien waiver) you can verify by email and phone yourself

Do not let “I couldn’t be there” become “the contractor was paid before anyone confirmed the grab bars hold.” The pull test in particular is worth arranging a live person for.

The 6-point final check:

Equipment matches contract spec (brand, model, finish)
Everything functions — especially the grab-bar pull test
No damage to surrounding finishes
Permits closed with passed final inspection
Warranties delivered + registered in your name
Unconditional lien waiver in hand

Release the final 10% retainage only when the punch list is cleared and all paperwork is collected.

How to Find a Senior-Friendly Contractor — master pillar
Reading the Contract: 7 Clauses to Watch — the retainage + lien clauses start here
Contractor Change Orders: Avoid Surprise $5K Bills
Contractor Insurance & Bonding: What to Verify
Three-Quote Method: Fair Pricing for Seniors
Contractor Red Flags That Cost Seniors $50,000
Best Grab Bars for Elderly — the pull-test standard explained

Citations

Hiring a Contractor: Tips for Avoiding Home Improvement Fraud. U.S. Federal Trade Commission, 2024. consumer.ftc.gov.

Home Improvement Scams Targeting Older Adults. AARP Fraud Watch Network, June 2024. aarp.org/fraud-watch.

Building Permits and Inspections Overview. International Code Council, retrieved May 24, 2026. iccsafe.org.

NARI Standards of Practice. National Association of the Remodeling Industry, retrieved May 24, 2026. nari.org.

Mechanics Lien and Final Payment. National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies, retrieved May 24, 2026. nascla.org.