Guide · Completion
The final walkthrough before you pay
The short answer
Compare the completed work with the signed scope and approved changes. Record unfinished items, agree who will resolve them and collect applicable inspection records, manuals and written warranties. Check the contract and local rules before deciding a payment dispute; do not rely on a verbal promise that documents will follow.
Editorial status: source-checked on 2026-10-07; not reviewed by a lawyer, licensing authority, engineer or trade professional. United States. Licensing, contract and permit requirements vary by state, locality and trade.
Walk the original scope
Use the same scope that accompanied the bid, plus signed changes. Check finish work, operation, cleanup and any areas the crew agreed to restore. Photograph issues and identify their location so everyone is discussing the same item.
Collect a useful closeout pack
List the permits and inspections relevant to the job and ask the issuing department how to confirm their status. Save product details, service instructions and warranty contact information. A contractor invoice alone is not an inspection record.
Keep a short outstanding-items list with the person responsible and an agreed response date. Do not describe a disputed issue as accepted simply because it appeared on a final invoice.
Address disagreements promptly
Raise specific concerns in writing and keep copies. FTC guidance advises against final payment before completion and satisfaction; state law and your agreement govern the actual payment obligations and remedies. Ask a local consumer office or attorney for help when those obligations are disputed.
Sources
Primary government and consumer-protection sources checked for this guide:
- How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam, Federal Trade Commission. Accessed .
- Warranties, Federal Trade Commission. Accessed .
- State consumer protection offices, USAGov. Accessed .