For a "reno" the contractor is expected to "broom clean" the area(s) where work was done and any area used for preparing the materials (cutting lumber/painting trim before install) such as the garage or patio. Any minor damage (small wall scrapes etc.) and dust removal elsewhere are on you.

The punch list depends upon what was renovated. Did they renovate: foyer, stairs, kitchen, bathroom(s), knock down walls, electrical work, plumbing work, add a second floor, flooring???, etc...

Thanks shirlpp. the Biggest piece was a gut kitchen reno which involved taking down a wall to what was our laundry room, moving the laundry room to what was a powder room, and then taking out two closets and space from our master bathroom to create a new powder room and hall closet, and then moving the toilet in the master bathroom (oh the dominoes to get what we wanted). So in total they worked in:

kitchen

family room (closing up a wall where the closet was and paint)

foyer (moving the closets and openings and moving an air return)

master bathroom

new powder

new laundry room

basement (for all the plumbing and electrical being moved!)

the finished basement is is where there’s plaster dust in the tile grout...

As mentioned broom clean and you can mention the garage paint but don’t hold your breath since there is no proof they did it. I am not sure about the grout issue since there are no pictures .But any reno will produce the need for a big cleaning when it is over and that is on you. I want to check the painting to make sure all the things to be painted were. The cabinet install and counters backsplash all done right take pictures of all the things you notice. The thing is a punch list is usually for a new build where you are not on site daily. In a reno there are so many things that were not new to begin with so often those things you notice are really not going to get fixed perfectly thatis why being on site daily is important.

Whether or not the contractor chooses to handle the cleaning and touchup of paint will not change by putting it onto a punch list. Some contractors believe that any space should be left better than it was when they arrived and others have the "not my problem" approach. You may pull out the touchup paint and request that their painter spend a couple minutes on improving the look of the damaged area. He may or may not do the work but if you don't ask, you won't get anything done.

If the contractor is a premium price firm whose approach is all you have to do is pay our bill, then yes, they should provide a good cleanup as part of the service. However if your GC is a person with a clearly defined scope and list of tasks, the other tasks are on your list.

Punch list is a separate payment on my payment schedule so I do believe they’ll honor that and they’ve been really responsive so far... so I think they would do things, just want to know what’s reasonable to ask I guess

I put blue tape at each and location where there is an actual issue and take a picture as well to include with the punch list. My contractor brought in a construction clean up crew for one day. I hired them for an additional day myself.

I would carefully inspect the cabinets and make sure there are no dings from the installation, check the paint job on the walls and trim for clean edges, and make sure all electrical switches and outlets are working. Check to make sure no plumbing is leaking, and that all the valves are working. I'm guessing the minor scrapes would not be a hardship for the painters to touch up if there are other touch-ups happening elsewhere before the final. But I wouldn't hold my breath to expect them on site if that's the only bit that needs to be fixed.

Amazing list, thank you!