A “punch list” is generally a register of tasks or "to-do" items. In the construction industry, a punch list refers to a contract document used in the architecture and building trades to organize the completion of a project. These days, unfortunately, due to the challenging economic times, lack of worker motivation or just plain unprofessional practices, many interior renovation and consulting companies do not perform at the high levels they once reached on a regular basis. Many times, projects are not completed on time, on budget … or, even at all!

The Contract Hospitality Services Group, Inc., a turn-key interior renovation firm, has a plan to change this unfortunate scenario with its new “Punch List Project Protection” program. The CHS Group’s “punch list” represents a perfect model for the contract interiors market to follow in order to ensure that projects are completed at optimal levels, on time and on budget. The concept has been designed to help the CHS Group continue to raise the bar within the contract renovation sector.

CHS Group CEO/President Jeff Caputo stated, “When we get involved with any client, we like to say that ‘your satisfaction is our victory.’ We really mean that. And after all these years working in virtually every aspect of the contract/commercial interiors renovation arena, we know that every single exercise displayed on a punch-list, even the smallest and seemingly, least important, must be properly addressed. At the CHS Group, once we close the door of each room – that’s it. That means everything is in place and the list has been completed. So now when we start any job, we not only put together a punch list, we submit it to our client. With it, we give our signed certificate, the “CHS Punch-List Project Protection Guarantee.” This is our pledge to the client that we’ll do the job and do it correctly. And, it’s also a daily reminder to all members of OUR team that we must be 100-percent accountable for our work. That we are accountable for our reputation. And of course, that we must function professionally 100-percent of the time."

Caputo went on to say that shoddy workmanship, the inability to meet deadlines or work within agreed-upon budgetary parameters, along with behind-the-scene deals and overall negative attitudes have brought down the image of the industry. “There are quite a few ‘bad guys’ in our business, which is a shame because what they do (or, don’t do) casts a negative shadow on the many professional, forthright and can-do people within our trade. Our Punch-List Protection program has been conceived to set a new standard. To alert both customers and contractors that they owe it to each other, to their respective trades … and, to the project currently in progress, to take their level of professionalism to the highest possible level.

CHS Group customers are given a Punch-List Protection report card and asked to critique virtually every phase of every project. “We want them to be involved. We want them to know what’s going on. We don’t want them to be surprised, and we don’t want to be surprised,” said Joane Franks, CHS Group’s West Coast Manager. “If we keep everyone in the loop, this helps a bit. But by declaring we want to be the best, please expect the following … we believe that really raises the standard.”

For more than 25 years, the Contract and Hospitality Services Group, Inc. has been providing world-class service relative to virtually every phase of contract/commercial interior renovations. The CHS Group understands the dynamics of transporting, receiving, warehousing, distributing and installing furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E). In the last decade, CHS Group has added a myriad of other services including complete project management, liquidation of existing FF&E, purchase order management with its patented 24/7 Track, Trace and Transport System™, carpentry services and millwork installation, painting and decorating, all types of flooring installation… and much, much more.

For more information, please contact Liza Mena at the CHS Group, Inc., 167 41 Street, Lower Level Brooklyn, New York 11232. Call: 800-357-7474, or email projects@contractandhospitality.com. www.contractandhospitality.com.