Contractor Glossary — Vancouver, WA

A 35R report is a property assessment tool that categorizes repair needs into three buckets: Repair, Replace, and Restore. It gives sellers and buyers...

An annual maintenance plan is a subscription-based service where homeowners pay a recurring fee in exchange for scheduled seasonal visits, preventive ...

An as-is sale means the seller is listing the property in its current condition without making repairs or offering concessions. Common for estate sale...

Automated follow-up sends pre-written emails or texts to customers at scheduled intervals — quote follow-ups, review requests, and seasonal reminders ...

Backerboard is a rigid, moisture-resistant panel installed beneath tile in wet areas like showers, bathroom floors, and kitchen backsplashes. Unlike d...

A bid is a firm, fixed price offer. An estimate is an approximation that may vary based on actual conditions. Clients often confuse the two, leading t...

A bulk maintenance contract is a service agreement between a property manager and a contractor covering scheduled maintenance and priority response ac...

A buyer repair request is a formal written request asking the seller to fix specific items identified in the home inspection before closing.

Capital expenditure (CapEx) refers to major property improvements that increase long-term value, like a new roof or HVAC system. Operating expenses (O...

Caulking and sealing fills gaps and joints around windows, doors, bathtubs, sinks, and exterior penetrations to prevent water intrusion, drafts, and p...

A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a one-page document issued by an insurance carrier that proves a contractor carries active general liability and w...

A certificate of occupancy is an official document certifying that a building meets all required codes and is safe for occupancy. Required after signi...

A change order is a formal written document that modifies the original scope, cost, or timeline of a construction project. Industry data shows that 60...

A change order is a written amendment to the original contract documenting changes to scope, materials, timeline, or price. Both parties must sign bef...

A client portal is a secure login where homeowners, realtors, and property managers can view job status, approve estimates, sign documents, make payme...

Code compliance means ensuring a property meets all applicable building codes and regulations. Issues like unpermitted additions or outdated electrica...

Common area maintenance refers to the upkeep of shared spaces in multi-tenant properties — hallways, lobbies, parking lots, stairwells, and landscapin...

A CMA is a realtor's assessment of property value based on comparable recent sales. The repair impact component shows how property condition affects m...

Time and materials (T&M) charges based on actual hours and materials used. Fixed price charges a single agreed amount for a defined scope. T&M suits o...

Cosmetic updates are non-structural improvements to improve appearance — fresh paint, new flooring, updated hardware, modern light fixtures, and lands...

A cost-plus contract is a construction agreement where the homeowner pays the actual cost of labor, materials, and subcontractor services plus an agre...

Crawl space encapsulation is the process of sealing a home's crawl space with a heavy-duty vapor barrier across the floor and walls, conditioning the ...

A CRM is software that organizes and manages all business interactions with customers and leads — storing contact details, job history, communication ...

Curb appeal is the visual attractiveness of a property as seen from the street. Strong curb appeal creates a positive first impression and influences ...

Deck repair involves fixing structural or cosmetic issues with outdoor wood or composite decks — replacing rotted boards, tightening fasteners, repair...

Deferred maintenance refers to repairs and upkeep that have been postponed over time. When maintenance is repeatedly delayed, small problems compound ...

Interior demolition is the controlled removal of existing materials, fixtures, and structural components inside a building to prepare for renovation. ...

A digital work order is an electronic version of a paper job ticket containing job description, customer info, instructions, checklists, and sign-off ...

A door jamb is the vertical structural frame lining the interior of a door opening — the two side pieces and the horizontal head jamb that the door cl...

Door repair and adjustment covers fixes to ensure doors open, close, latch, and seal properly. Common issues include sticking, dragging, loose hinges,...

Dryer vent cleaning is the removal of accumulated lint and debris from the duct line connecting a clothes dryer to the home's exterior vent. The U.S. ...

Drywall finishing levels are a standardized 6-step scale (Level 0 through Level 5) defined by the Gypsum Association that describes how smooth and ref...

Drywall repair refers to fixing damaged sections of interior wall or ceiling material made from gypsum board. Damage can range from small nail holes t...

Emergency maintenance refers to urgent repairs that must be addressed immediately due to safety risks or habitability threats — burst pipes, heating f...

Estimate software helps contractors create detailed, professional price quotes with itemized labor, materials, markups, photos, and scope descriptions...

Exterior painting applies weather-resistant paint to the outside surfaces of a home. Surface prep including pressure washing, scraping, and priming is...

Fence repair covers fixing damage to residential fencing — replacing broken boards, straightening leaning posts, repairing gates, and treating or stai...

Field service management software schedules, dispatches, and tracks workers at customer locations. It includes job scheduling, mobile work orders, GPS...

A final walkthrough punch list is a record of outstanding repairs that must be completed before a real estate sale closes, created during the buyer's ...

Flashing is thin sheet metal installed at joints and transitions on a home's exterior to prevent water from penetrating behind siding and around windo...

Framing is the skeleton of a building — the network of wooden studs, joists, beams, and headers that gives a structure its shape and supports everythi...

A general contractor license is a state-issued credential that authorizes a contractor to manage and oversee construction projects involving multiple ...

GPS dispatch and routing shows real-time technician locations on a map and automatically plans the most efficient sequence of job stops, reducing driv...

Grout cleaning and regrouting involves removing stained, crumbling, or failing grout from between tiles and applying fresh grout to restore appearance...

Gutter cleaning and repair removes debris from gutters and downspouts and fixes sagging sections, separated joints, and leaks. Clogged gutters cause w...

Habitability standards are the minimum legal and safety requirements a rental property must meet — functioning heating, plumbing, electrical, weatherp...

Hardwood floor repair covers fixes for solid or engineered wood flooring, including filling scratches, replacing damaged planks, fixing squeaky boards...

Home inspection findings are the documented issues identified by a licensed inspector during a property inspection, ranging from minor maintenance ite...

Insurance claim repair is construction work paid by a homeowner's insurance policy following a covered event. The process involves an adjuster assessm...

Interior painting is the application of paint to walls, ceilings, and trim inside a home. A professional job includes surface prep, cutting in edges, ...

Job costing tracks all expenses for a specific project — labor, materials, subs, and overhead — to determine actual profit or loss and improve future ...

The sill plate is the bottom horizontal piece of wood (typically pressure-treated 2x6 or 2x8) bolted to the foundation, on top of which the floor jois...

A labor rate is the dollar amount charged per hour for a technician on a job. There are two rates: cost rate (what it costs to employ someone) and bil...

Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic product with a high-density fiberboard (HDF) core. It's less expensive than LVP but absorbs moisture and ...

A lead generation service connects homeowners requesting work with vetted contractors in their area. Major U.S. platforms include Google Local Service...

A lien waiver is a signed document where a contractor or subcontractor relinquishes the right to file a mechanic's lien against the property in exchan...

A line-item estimate is a project quote that breaks down every cost individually — labor, materials, permits, and subcontractor fees listed as separat...

Listing-ready refers to the condition a property needs to be in before it is officially listed for sale — cleaned, repaired, staged, and photographed ...

A load-bearing wall is a wall that supports the weight of the structure above it and transfers that load down to the foundation. In a typical two-stor...

LVP is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product designed to look like hardwood while being 100% waterproof. It's currently the most popular flooring c...

A maintenance reserve is a dedicated pool of money set aside for future repair and maintenance costs, providing a financial cushion so unexpected repa...

A maintenance visit report is a structured document delivered after a scheduled service visit, typically including completed task checklist, photos of...

Make-ready refers to getting a rental property cleaned, repaired, and prepared before a new tenant moves in — painting, patching drywall, replacing fi...

Material markup is the percentage added to material costs before charging the client, covering sourcing, purchasing, transporting, and managing materi...

A module-based platform is software designed so that features can be enabled or disabled per customer through admin-controlled toggles. This allows ea...

A moisture barrier is a layer of material — typically 6-mil polyethylene plastic sheeting — installed to block ground moisture and water vapor from mi...

Multi-tenant SaaS is a software architecture where many separate customer organizations share the same application instance, with data strictly isolat...

Multi-unit repair refers to coordinating and completing maintenance tasks across several rental units or buildings, often simultaneously.

Overhead and profit (O&P) is the combined percentage added to estimates to cover indirect business costs and intended profit. Overhead includes rent, ...

Paint sheen refers to the level of gloss or reflectivity in a paint finish, ranging from flat to gloss. There are 5 main levels: flat, eggshell, satin...

Permanent LED lighting is a year-round outdoor lighting system installed under roof eaves and architectural lines, capable of producing programmable s...

A property's permit history is the public record of all building permits filed and finalized for that address. Active or unfinalized ("open") permits ...

Photo documentation is the practice of taking dated, organized photographs at key stages of a job — before, during, and after — creating a visual reco...

Popcorn ceiling removal is the process of scraping off the bumpy, spray-applied acoustic texture popular in homes built before the 1990s. Older ceilin...

A pre-inspection is a home inspection that the seller commissions before listing the property, rather than waiting for the buyer's inspection during e...

Pre-listing repairs are improvements made before putting a property on the market to maximize sale price, reduce buyer objections, and help pass inspe...

Pressure washing uses high-pressure water spray to clean exterior surfaces including siding, driveways, decks, and fences. It removes dirt, mold, mild...

Preventive maintenance is the practice of regularly inspecting and servicing property systems and components before problems occur, catching small iss...

Primer is a preparatory coating applied to a surface before paint to improve adhesion, seal porous materials, and create a uniform base. Skipping prim...

A property inspection is a formal review of a rental unit to assess its condition, typically done at move-in, move-out, and periodically during tenanc...

A property portfolio is the full set of properties under a single property manager's or owner's control. Portfolios are typically organized by region,...

A property record is a structured digital history of a home — including mechanical inventory, paint codes, material SKUs, warranty registrations, and ...

Property turnover is the process of preparing a rental unit for a new tenant after the previous one moves out. It typically involves cleaning, repairs...

A punch list is the to-do list of small remaining tasks that need to be finished or fixed before a construction or remodeling job is officially comple...

A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a website that installs on your phone or computer like a regular app — without the app store. You open it from your hom...

R-value is a measurement of an insulation material's resistance to heat flow — higher R-values mean better insulation. Pacific Northwest energy codes ...

Rent-ready condition means a rental unit has been fully cleaned, repaired, and prepared to meet habitability standards and be presented to prospective...

Retainage is a percentage of each progress payment — typically 5-10% — withheld by the homeowner or property owner until project completion is certifi...

Scope creep is what happens when a project gradually expands beyond its original boundaries — usually through a series of small 'while we're at it' ad...

A scope of work is a written document defining exactly what work will be performed, what materials will be used, what is excluded, and what the client...

A seller concession is a financial credit offered to the buyer instead of completing repairs before closing, typically in response to inspection findi...

A service subscription is a recurring billing arrangement where a homeowner pays monthly, quarterly, or annually for ongoing services rather than per-...

Siding is the exterior wall cladding that protects a home from weather while defining its curb appeal. Fiber cement dominates Clark County renovations...

A skim coat is a thin layer of joint compound — typically 1/16 to ⅛ inch thick — applied over an entire wall surface to create a perfectly smooth, pai...

Smart home monitoring uses connected sensors — water leak, smoke, freeze, door, motion — paired with a central hub to alert homeowners or service prov...

Smart thermostat installation is the replacement of a traditional thermostat with a Wi-Fi-connected unit (Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell Lyric) capable of re...

The soffit is the horizontal underside of a roof overhang, and the fascia is the vertical board running along the roofline where gutters attach. Toget...

Staging repairs are the minor cosmetic fixes completed before a home is professionally staged — patching nail holes, paint touch-ups, fixing squeaky d...

Stripe Connect is a payment infrastructure that lets a software platform process payments on behalf of many separate businesses, with funds flowing di...

Subcontractor markup is the percentage a general contractor adds to a subcontractor's bid to cover coordination, project management, warranty exposure...

The subfloor is the structural layer of flooring nailed or screwed directly to the floor joists. In most Pacific Northwest homes, it's ¾-inch tongue-a...

Subfloor repair involves fixing the structural layer of plywood or OSB beneath finished flooring. A damaged subfloor feels soft, spongy, or squeaky an...

Sump pump service is the inspection, testing, and maintenance of the pump system that removes groundwater from a basement or crawl space sump pit. Ann...

Tenant improvement refers to customizations or renovations made to a rental space to meet a tenant's specific needs, typically in commercial real esta...

Texture matching is the craft of applying new drywall compound or spray texture to a repaired area so it blends seamlessly with the surrounding wall s...

Tile repair involves fixing cracked, chipped, loose, or missing tiles on floors, walls, showers, and backsplashes. Matching existing patterns and grou...

Transition strips are narrow molding pieces installed where two different flooring surfaces meet. They cover expansion gaps and provide a clean, safe ...

Trim and baseboard repair involves fixing or replacing the decorative wood moldings along walls, doors, and windows. Common issues include gaps, crack...

Trim refers to the decorative woodwork installed around doors, windows, ceilings, and floors. Casing specifically frames the perimeter of a door or wi...

A unit turn refers to the specific tasks completed to flip a rental unit from one tenant to the next. It is a condensed version of property turnover, ...

A vapor barrier is a sheet material — typically reinforced polyethylene at 6-mil to 20-mil thickness — installed to prevent moisture migration from so...

Vendor management is the process of selecting, coordinating, and maintaining relationships with contractors and service providers who perform work on ...

A W-9 is an IRS form that contractors and subcontractors complete to provide their legal name and taxpayer ID to clients who will issue 1099 forms at ...

A warranty is a promise that work will remain defect-free for a defined period. A callback is when a client reports a recently completed repair has fa...

Weatherstripping is material applied around door and window edges to create an airtight seal preventing drafts, moisture, and outside air from enterin...

White-label software is a platform that one company operates but allows other businesses to brand and present as their own. For contractors, this mean...

Whole-home leak detection is a smart device installed on the main water supply line that monitors flow patterns, detects leaks anywhere in the home's ...

Window glazing refers to the glass pane(s) installed in a window frame, as well as the compound used to seal glass into that frame. In modern homes, i...

Window repair includes fixing windows that don't open, close, lock, or seal properly. Common repairs include replacing sash cords, fixing stuck window...

A work order is a documented request to complete a specific maintenance or repair task at a property. It includes the job description, location, prior...