A pre-listing punch list should make the property easier to present and the remaining questions easier to explain. It should not be used to conceal a defect or replace professional inspection, disclosure, permitting, or licensed-trade advice. The most effective list is organized around actual milestones: before photography, before showings, before inspection, and before handoff.

Before photography: remove visual distractions

  • Touch up obvious wall holes or small damaged areas after the surface is reviewed.
  • Align visibly crooked cabinet doors, pulls, switch plates, curtain hardware, and shelves.
  • Check entry numbers, mailbox, gate hardware, doorbell, and exterior lighting appearance.
  • Repair damaged window or door screens that stand out in bright photographs.
  • Confirm that customer-supplied bulbs, plates, hardware, and paint actually match.

Photographs reward consistency. A rushed spot repair can be more visible than the original mark when texture, sheen, or paint age does not match. Ask whether the desired result is a small repair, paint-ready preparation, or repainting an entire wall before the deadline is set.

Before showings: test ordinary operation

Walk the same path a visitor will take. Open and close doors, windows, drawers, gates, and closet systems without forcing them. Note loose hand-contact hardware, missing stops, sticking latches, damaged screens, trip concerns, and fixtures that do not stay secure. Record concerns even when they will not be included in the small-repair scope.

Before inspection: separate safety and regulated work

  • Review smoke alarms according to manufacturer instructions; the U.S. Fire Administration recommends monthly testing and replacement at 10 years from manufacture.
  • Treat active water, visible microbial growth, electrical concerns, gas, structural movement, roofing, HVAC, and plumbing-system questions as specialist items.
  • For pre-1978 painted surfaces, review EPA lead-safe renovation requirements before sanding, cutting, window replacement, or other paint-disturbing work.
  • Check with Long Beach Building & Safety when a repair may require a building, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical permit.
  • Ask about preservation review before exterior changes to a property in a designated historic district.

For a designated landmark or a property in a historic district, check the City of Long Beach preservation requirements before treating an exterior change as a routine cosmetic repair. The City explains that a Certificate of Appropriateness can be required even when the work does not otherwise need a building permit.

Keep repair records with the property timeline

Save the approved scope, product names, paint information, before-and-after photos, invoices, permits when applicable, and any specialist recommendations. Clear records help the seller and agent distinguish completed work from observations that remain open. They can also make the move-out or closing handoff less dependent on memory.

Confirm who can approve a change

Name the person authorized to approve materials, added work, access changes, or a revised plan before the visit. An agent may be coordinating the timeline without having authority to change the owner’s scope. Renters, occupants, property managers, sellers, and buyers can also have different responsibilities. Put the authorization path in the request so an on-site question does not become a chain of unanswered calls.

Build one decision-ready request

Give the service team the photography, showing, inspection, and closing dates—but label which one is the true deadline. Prioritize the work, attach photos by room, identify occupied areas and access restrictions, and state who can authorize changes. Use the real-estate repair support page to start the conversation. Paloma Pro can review appropriate punch-list items, but timing and completion are not promised until scope, materials, access, and availability are confirmed.