5 Quality Checklists Every Trade Contractor Needs on Every Job
Your best tech remembers every step. Your newest one doesn't. Checklists close the gap — and they're the fastest way to eliminate callbacks.
Here's a stat that should keep you up at night: the average trade contractor loses 8–15% of revenue to callbacks and rework. That's not a quality problem — it's a systems problem. The fix isn't hiring better people. It's giving every person on your team the same playbook.
Pilots don't skip pre-flight checklists because they've flown a thousand times. Surgeons don't skip surgical checklists because they're experienced. The best trade contractors shouldn't either.
Here are five checklists that will transform your quality — starting this week.
1. The Arrival Checklist
First impressions happen before you touch a single pipe or wire. This checklist runs from the moment your tech pulls up to the moment they start work.
- Confirm correct address and customer name before knocking
- Introduce yourself by name and company
- Put on shoe covers or booties (every time, no exceptions)
- Lay down drop cloths in work area
- Review the work order with the customer — confirm scope and expectations
- Take a "before" photo of the work area
- Identify the shutoff locations (water, gas, electrical panel)
Why it matters: 60% of negative reviews mention the tech's professionalism — not their technical skill. Nail the arrival and you're already ahead.
2. The Work-in-Progress Checklist
This is where callbacks are born — or prevented. Customize this for your trade, but the structure stays the same.
- Follow code requirements for your jurisdiction (keep a reference card in the van)
- Test each component as you install — don't batch testing to the end
- Document any unexpected conditions (photos + notes in the job record)
- If scope changes, stop and get approval before proceeding
- Keep the work area clean as you go — don't leave it for the end
- Log materials used (type, quantity, brand) for accurate invoicing
Pro tip: The "test as you go" rule alone can cut callbacks by 30%. Finding a leak at the wall is cheaper than finding it in the ceiling below — two weeks later.
3. The Completion & Walkthrough Checklist
Never mark a job "complete" until every item is checked. This is your quality gate.
- Run a full system test (pressure test, circuit test, airflow test — trade-specific)
- Take "after" photos of completed work
- Walk the customer through what was done and why
- Show them how to operate any new equipment
- Clean the work area — leave it better than you found it
- Collect customer signature or digital confirmation
- Ask: "Is there anything else you'd like me to look at while I'm here?"
That last question isn't just good service — it's a revenue generator. 20% of customers will mention something else they need done. That's upsell without the sleaze.
4. The Post-Job Documentation Checklist
The job isn't done when you leave the site. It's done when the paperwork is done. Skip this and you'll pay for it during tax season, warranty claims, or your next callback.
- Upload all photos (before, during, after) to the job record
- Update job notes with any deviations from the original scope
- Log actual time spent vs. estimated time
- Record warranty information (parts, labor, expiration dates)
- Send the invoice within 24 hours (same-day is better)
- Trigger the automated review request (wait 2–3 days after completion)
The time tracking item is gold. After 50 jobs, you'll know exactly how long each type of work takes — and you can price accurately instead of guessing.
5. The Weekly Van & Equipment Checklist
Nothing kills a job faster than showing up without the right parts. Run this every Monday morning (or Friday afternoon) to start each week ready.
- Restock consumables (fittings, connectors, tape, fasteners)
- Verify specialty tools are in the van (not in the shop, not in someone else's truck)
- Check power tool batteries — charge or replace
- Inspect PPE (gloves, safety glasses, hard hat, ear protection)
- Confirm vehicle maintenance is current (oil, tires, registration)
- Review next week's schedule — pre-order any specialty parts needed
- Clean and organize the van (10 minutes now saves 30 minutes searching later)
The pre-order step is a game-changer for specialty work. Nothing is worse than a $500 HVAC compressor sitting at the supply house while your tech is on-site waiting.
How to Actually Implement Checklists (Without Your Team Ignoring Them)
The hard part isn't creating checklists. It's getting people to use them. Here's what works:
Make them digital.
Paper checklists get lost, wet, or ignored. Digital checklists attached to the job record are always there — and they create an audit trail.
Start with one.
Don't roll out all five at once. Pick the Completion Walkthrough — it has the most immediate impact on callbacks — and run it for two weeks. Then add the next one.
Tie it to pay.
If callbacks drop below 5% for a tech, they earn a bonus. Checklists are the tool, but the incentive drives adoption.
Let your team edit them.
Your senior techs know things you don't. Let them add items. When people own the checklist, they actually use it.
The Bottom Line
Checklists aren't about micromanaging your team. They're about building a business that delivers the same quality whether you're on the truck or on vacation. The contractors who scale past $1M in revenue all have one thing in common: systems that work without them watching.
Start with one checklist. Run it for two weeks. Measure your callback rate. Then come back and tell us it didn't change everything.
Build Checklists Into Every Job — Automatically
JobWright lets you attach custom checklists to job types, so your team never misses a step. Photos, signatures, and completion tracking — all in one place.
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