The final phase of a construction project is the construction project closeout.

This phase

takes place between the end of the physical building construction and the release of the building

to the owner. The construction closeout phase is very important in the making or breaking of a

project.

The first essential component of a successful construction closeout is the compilation and

completion of the punchlist. A punchlist is developed after a walkthrough of the project site and

denotes any mistakes, changes, and concerns on the site that need to be addressed. Such items

could be missing door handles, incorrect light fixtures, or broken furniture items. All of these

items will need to be addressed while also considering the time and cost restraints of the project.

The second essential component of a successful construction closeout is inspection.

Inspections will begin once the physical construction of the building is complete. Inspections can

and will be performed by many parties, including the project manager and the owner or owner’s

representative. In this step, the inspector will create a punchlist of their own, noting any issues

they see so that they can be addressed before the handover of the building.

The third essential component of a successful construction closeout is documentation

transfer. While technological advancements have made this step much easier than it has been in

the past, documentation collection and storage can be very time consuming and tedious. This is

also one of the most important steps in the construction closeout process because it saves the

company from possibly liability. Having an organized and complete record of the entire project

is vital in the event of a disagreement after the completion of the project. Documents transferred

will also include any manuals or guides for operating the equipment in the building.

The fourth component that is essential to a successful construction closeout is site clean-

up. When the property is turned over to the owner, it should not look like it is still under
construction. The site clean-up phase of the closeout process is where temporary buildings and

utilities are removed, rented equipment is returned, and any protective films or coverings on the

job site are taken down. All restroom facilities for workers and protective fencing will be

removed in this stage as well.

Finally, the fifth component for a successful construction closeout is training. Even

though operating manuals will be left for the occupants as stated in the documentation transfer

step, the owner and any new employees should be trained in order to promote a successful

transition of the building from the project team to the owner and owner’s team.

An unsuccessful construction closeout can quickly lead to a failed project. Potential

issued that could arise during closeout are punchlist delays, missed items in the closing

inspections, and incomplete training. If the project becomes unsuccessful at any point and a

closeout is necessary, the contractor should contact an attorney for the company, continue to

communicate with the owner, and end all construction work immediately.