Making the perfect Punch List with NestForms

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So what is the Snag or Punch list when used in construction project management? What is the difference between the two? How important is the punch or snag list with regards to Quality Control and building completion?

Essentially the snag and punch list are both the same thing and form a list of work repairs, a to-do list, that needs to be addressed to ensure contractual specifications are met. This inspection/checklist needs to be carried out, actioned or mitigated against before a building can be signed off by a qualified architect or project manager as completed before being handed over to the new occupants.

The snag list will contain any defects and errant workmanship such as incorrect skirt fitting, incomplete groutwork on tiles or insufficient roof space insulation. There might be structural problems. Incorrect or defective materials may have been used. Outside rendering may require attention as well as interior paintwork.

Quality Control
The punch list then, is very important to the building project and is a significant factor with regard to Quality Assurance standards set and Quality Control. This defects list could be considered as the bridge between architect or main contractor and the subcontractors carrying out the work on the ground. It is vital that issues be corrected or mitigated against at the earliest opportunity conforming with any Quality assurance plan.


Ultimately these actions will hugely impact upon the time for project completion and estimated or actual costs. Added to that everyone ultimately wants to get paid. Time and money are vital factors in the construction industry.

There are many apps now within the building trade to assist companies on projects. Being able to share problems or defective work and appliances instantly with subcontractors ensures that completion dates can be met with little and hopefully no cost over run.

Checklist! Checklist! Checklist!
The NestForms mobile survey app provides a great platform to ensure that snag or punch list checks can be carried out efficiently and in real time. Contract administrators can compile checklist forms that allow the architects, foremen, site supervisors and contractors to seamlessly input information on walkaround inspections.

Describe a problem or defect quickly……..take an image! The NestForms Notes and Images component allows inspectors to walk around a building and take multiple images of defects as they see them. Comments as well as an Audio description can be provided to give further clarification on detail.



An administrator can also compile a checklist form in a way that allows the inspecting person to input data efficiently whilst moving from room to room. By Cloning a section the responder doesn't have to insert repetitive detail whilst on the walk around. You should include this feature if you require multiple but different answers to the same questions within the form. This component when inserted into the form is known as the Feature button. By using the ‘Save’ button within this component you can come back to the form later.

So how will a basic Snag or Punch list form look when compiled using the NestForms components?
First of all we need to know who is carrying out the inspection, their position and company. The NestForms Edit component allows free text to be inserted into the document.

We need to know the date on which the inspection takes place. It is sometimes the case that a punch list can be arranged for a period of time after the property has been completed and inhabited to allow for any further issues down the line that need to be addressed. The Date and Time component allows the responder to insert the information in different formats according to which country you are based. You can show the date or time only or a combination of the two.

The property or project address/details and any reference number should be included on the form. These can be inserted using the same Edit component.

The reader needs to know which area is being inspected according to the plans. The snag is pinpointed or highlighted within the area. Are we indoors or outside? It is not sufficient to say there is a problem with a certain fixture in bedroom 3. There may be more than one light switch in the room, which one? Is the problem on all the windows in the room or just one? Be specific. Some text might suffice, perhaps accompanied with an image.

You need to include what type of issue we are dealing with. Is the paint peeling? Is the grout work patchy? Has there been a problem with installation? Has damage occurred to a fixture or fitting? Again embellishing an image with comments and/or audio should make it clear for subcontractors on the ground doing the work.
Do you have any recommendations for defect or problem resolution? Is there a specific sub contractor required for this task?

Finally NestForms provides a Signature component that will enable the responder to sign off and by doing so can state that the inspection list has been completed and on what date.

A company logo can be inserted into a final customised PDF of the checklist.




A simple snag/punch list:

1. Who is carrying out the inspection/company name?
2. Date and time of inspection?
3. Property address or project number
4. Which area?
5. Description of the problem - images/comments/audio
6. Suggested reconciliation or task delegation
7. Digital sign off

There is a popular saying within the building trade. Keep it simple! This is a very basic example for a punch or snag list at the end of the construction phase.

There is no need here for complicated or expensive software packages to get this inspection list completed, implemented and actioned. The NestForms offline mobile survey app is more than up to this task. With NestForms you can also work offline with data being synced once a connection has been established. You can easily compile a simple snag list form during the 14 day free trial period. Just give it a go while you're on the job to see if the platform meets your requirements!




A larger project, a more complex form?
It might be the case that a punch or snag list is being created at different stages of the build so that problems are being rectified as the job progresses. It's very easy for an administrator to share a form with the parties involved. If foremen, site supervisors, contractors or the tradesman himself have downloaded the app to their phone or tablet they can carry out the snag list on completion of each specific phase assisting in meeting targets and lowering the cost.

Do you want to be reminded as and when a task highlighted on the list has been completed? It is possible to embed Triggers within a form that will flag up when a job has been completed on the ground, speeding up the process of generating a final report on the current or end phase of a new build.

A trigger can also be included within a form to flag up when a problem or danger has been encountered that would require immediate attention. For example this could be a health and safety issue where there is a substantial risk of injury to personnel on site or to future occupants.

A company logo can be inserted into a final customised PDF of the checklist. Construction companies should carry out a final check on the snag list to ensure nothing has been missed.

It could be the case that new calculations need to be made by the person carrying the inspection. The Calculate component is intended to perform simple or complex calculations on values taken from data within the same form. There is also a Number component to assist with how any numerical data is presented.

Skip logic also known as conditional logic or branch logic is another more advanced feature that would allow auditing or inspection parties to bypass any irrelevant detail. It could be that some problems highlighted have been already rectified and so this particular item on the snag list can be ignored.

Custom DB allows you to prefill your own internal data into your Nest Forms responses. This would be extremely useful when there are multiple client locations or regular site visits to one location that may require additional data. Custom DB removes the need for excessive data entry.

I’m the new occupant, can I carry out the snag list myself?
I would never say cut corners in order to save time and cost. This is an important phase in the conclusion of the work. It's always best to involve the experts. However, as the new owner you might have been involved from the beginning of the project or have plenty of experience in construction. You may want to carry out your own walkthrough to see how your snag list marries up with the builders punch list. You might just be seeing things you don't like. Try to be as thorough as you can. With NestForms the initial free trial will allow you to carry out your own walk around uploading images and making comments on any defects. You can share your findings with anyone on site who has downloaded the app to their tablet or phone.




If you would like a chance to try out NestForms, you can sign up for free and your first two weeks begin with a free trial of the system as a premium user.

If you would like to try out the various features that you might find helpful as you create your Punch list or carry out any kind of walk around inspection you can find out more on the NestForms mobile survey app website.

You can also view a short video on how the app works on the homepage.

You can also learn more on how to use our formbuilder by getting a better understanding of NestForms

 
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