Substantial Completion

The point at which the work is complete enough for the owner to use the space for its intended purpose, even if minor punch-list items remain.

Substantial completion is the trigger for a bunch of contract events: warranty start date, retainage release schedule, lien rights deadlines, and the transfer of risk for the property back to the owner.

It's also the most fought-over date in any commercial contract. The contractor wants it as early as possible (warranty clock starts, lien deadlines tighten). The owner often wants it later (punch items get more leverage).

Related

• Punch List — The list of small items that still need to be finished, touched up, or corrected before a job is considered complete.
• Retainage — A percentage of each progress payment (typically 5-10%) that the owner or GC withholds until the job is fully complete and accepted.
• Compare contractor CRMs — FieldKrew against Jobber, Housecall Pro and ServiceTitan
• Change Order — A written amendment to the original contract that adds, removes, or modifies scope of work — and the price.
• Scope of Work (SOW) — The written description in a contract of exactly what work will and won't be done, with what materials.
• Exclusions — Items explicitly NOT included in a quote or contract — listed up front to prevent scope disputes.