Electrical Trim-Out Checklist: Free PDF Download

This post shares a comprehensive electrical trim-out checklist for contractors and project managers. Below, we’ll provide a link to download the checklist for free and use it in your electrical business. 

However, it’s important to recognize the limitations of PDF checklists. While they’re useful as a quick reference, they have several drawbacks that impede your workflow. For example:

• Inconsistent usage: It’s hard to ensure that a PDF checklist is referenced during every trim-out inspection. Crucial details may be overlooked if a project manager skips using it—leading to costly issues down the line.

• Manual data entry: PDFs don’t integrate with the other apps and software tools you use to run your business. This means inspection results must be manually entered into your project management software, CRM, or other systems—adding unnecessary steps and time.

• Communication bottlenecks: Relaying inspection details between field teams and office staff is often a slow and error-prone process. These delays can stall essential follow-up actions, such as checking warranties, ordering materials, or notifying general contractors and homeowners of any issues.

That’s why, in addition to providing you with our free trim-out checklist, we’ll also walk through how our electrical contractor software, ServiceTitan, solves these challenges and more.

Download Our Electrical Trim-Out Checklist

The form includes the following sections and checklist items for electricians to reference:

Our Electrical Rough-In Checklist Includes:

Job Information

• Technician

• Date

• Job location/address

• Project/Job number

1. General Pre-Trim Tasks

• Verify all necessary materials and fixtures are on-site and organized.

• Ensure the power is off before beginning work.

• Confirm all circuit wiring and boxes are free of debris, dust, or obstructions.

• Label all circuits clearly on the panel for future reference.

• Inspect drywall cuts and boxes for a flush fit and correct placement.

2. Electrical Devices Installation

Outlets (Receptacles)

• Check that all outlets are securely mounted, with no wobbling or looseness.

• Verify the correct orientation of outlets (ground down, per code).

• Ensure GFCI outlets are installed where required (bathrooms, kitchens, garages, etc.).

• Test each outlet using a tester to confirm proper function.

• Confirm that tamper-resistant outlets are installed where required (residential areas).

• Check outlet covers for proper fit and alignment.

Switches

• Install switches (single pole, three-way, dimmer, etc.) in the correct locations.

• Verify switch orientation (ON position is up).

• Test functionality of all switches (including three-way switches).

• Check dimmer switches for smooth operation.

• Ensure switch plates are aligned and secured properly.

3. Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans

Light Fixtures

• Install light fixtures according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Verify the correct bulb type and wattage for each fixture.

• Ensure light fixtures are securely mounted.

• Test all lights to confirm they are wired and functioning properly.

• Check for consistent light operation with switches and dimmers.

Ceiling Fans

• Install ceiling fans securely with appropriate bracing.

• Confirm fan blades are balanced and level.

• Test fan operation at all speed levels.

• Ensure fan light kits (if applicable) are wired correctly and functional.

4. Panel and Circuit Breakers

• Confirm all circuits are labeled properly.

• Verify that arc fault breakers (AFCI) are installed where required (bedrooms, etc.).

• Ensure ground and neutral wires are connected correctly in the panel.

• Confirm no tripped breakers during the trim-out process.

• Check that there is no exposed wire or improper connections in the panel.

5. Specialty Devices

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

• Install smoke detectors in required locations (bedrooms, hallways, etc.).

• Install carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas and any fuel-burning appliances.

• Test each detector for functionality.

• Confirm interconnected detectors (if applicable) communicate properly.

Doorbells/Chimes

• Install doorbells or chimes as per client requirements.

• Verify the functionality of doorbells, including any video or smart doorbell systems.

Thermostats

• Install thermostats in appropriate locations (away from heat sources and drafts).

• Test the thermostat for proper operation with the HVAC/air conditioning system.

6. Grounding and Bonding

• Verify all ground wires are connected properly in all boxes.

• Confirm metal boxes are grounded as per code.

• Ensure all devices with grounding screws have been properly grounded.

• Check the bonding between the water system and the electrical system (if applicable).

7. Final Checks

• Perform final walk-through to ensure all trim-out components are installed and functioning.

• Test each circuit and device to confirm proper operation.

• Ensure all outlet and switch plates are aligned and free of paint, debris, or damage.

• Conduct a full test of the electrical system, including AFCI/GFCI protection devices.

• Verify no exposed electrical wiring or loose connections.

8. Client Sign-off & Handover

• Walk the client through the system, explaining the functionality of outlets, switches, lights, and breakers.

• Provide instructions or documentation for any smart or programmable devices (thermostats, doorbells, etc.).

• Hand over warranties and any manuals for installed devices.

Once final inspections are done and each checklist item has been completed, project managers can contact contractors or office staff to share their findings and ensure any necessary steps are initiated. 

However, conventional methods of communicating these job details — through phone calls, texts, and emails — often lead to familiar frustrations and issues:

• Delays in initiating follow-up actions

• Miscommunications between field teams and office staff

• Loss of critical project information 

• Lack of real-time updates for key stakeholders

This is where construction management software like ServiceTitan can transform operations for electrical contractors and their crews.

In the sections that follow, we’ll walk through how using trim-out checklists within ServiceTitan can simplify these processes, along with other features for optimizing electrical project management.

How Electrical Trim-out Checklists Work in ServiceTitan 

ServiceTitan enables electrical businesses to create highly customizable forms for any type of electrical installation or electrical inspection checklist, adapted to fit the unique needs of each job.

For example, contractors can build electrical rough-in and trim-out checklists from scratch or import existing ones into the project dashboard (more on that below). Once linked to a project, the form is accessible via our mobile app, allowing project managers to complete it on-site in real-time.

Upon completion, all relevant details are immediately accessible to contractors, office staff, and any team members who need them—removing delays and enhancing communication at every level.

ServiceTitan offers over 10 input formats for checklist items, including text, numbers, checkboxes, dropdowns, stoplight buttons, and even photo or video uploads. If a project manager encounters an issue with an electrical penetration, for example, they can add notes, images, and videos to capture the full context of the situation.

With these records securely stored in our cloud-based system, the chance of losing critical inspection data is virtually eliminated, ensuring your team has everything they need to move forward smoothly.

Ensure Checklists Are Used Every Time

In form settings, business owners can select the option to require project managers or crew members to fill out certain forms for certain job phases. 

For example, if the trim-out has been finished, project managers or lead electricians can be required to complete your trim-out inspection checklist before they move on to the next phase of that project.

This fosters accountability through automation, reducing stress on owners and executives, while ensuring standard operating procedures are followed for every job. 

Customize & Adjust Checklists with Ease

Users can modify checklists to perfectly match their needs and preferences. 

For example, any of the following could be added to an electrical trim-out checklist to ensure that project managers make thorough assessments:

• Verify the electrical panel is properly labeled and organized.

• Ensure appropriate 20-amp outlets are used where necessary, especially for high-power areas like kitchens.

• Install ground fault circuit interrupters as required by the local electrical code to enhance safety in moisture-prone areas.

• Verify that light switches are installed according to specifications for smooth operation and adherence to the design plan.

• Ensure pigtail connections are properly installed to ensure safe and efficient electrical connections.

• Verify wiring to water heaters.

• Confirm wire nuts are securely fastened for all connections to prevent loose or hazardous connections.

• Ensure all branch circuits are properly labeled and inspected for correct wiring to meet code requirements.

• Check that receptacles are installed securely and in the correct orientation and that tamper-resistant receptacles are used as required.

While having a flexible digital forms tool is an important asset for solving the challenges of paper or manual forms, this is just scratching the surface of how ServiceTitan can help electricians streamline project management. 

How ServiceTitan Facilitates Electrical Project Management

To demonstrate how our platform can assist electrical contractors in facilitating project management, we’ll walk through some of our construction management features, including:

• Project dashboard

• Estimates

• Purchase orders

• Job costing

• Progress billing

Manage Projects from the Project Overview Dashboard

When a new project is created in ServiceTitan, a project overview page is automatically generated. From this one visible location, contractors and project managers can: 

1. View all of the basic project information (project name, job address, contact information, customer phone number, etc.).

2. View and log tasks for the project. 

3. Access project financials including project job costing and expense details that update automatically throughout a project.

4. Initiate key actions such as generating an estimate, purchase order, application for payment, invoice, and more.

5. View team members involved in the project.

6. Access an audit trail including events, notes, and project documentation.

Build Estimates with Accurate Pricing

Project estimates allow you to build detailed construction estimates by adding all of the specific tasks, equipment, and materials that will be needed to do the work. Users have the option to draw from pre-built job estimate templates or build estimates from scratch. 

Tasks, materials, and equipment can all be tagged with color-coded project labels to organize the project details and make everything easy to visualize. 

In addition, pricing and markups for each line item are automatically calculated based on the most up-to-date prices in your pricebook. 

Once an estimate is complete, it can be printed, emailed, or exported in PDF format and sent to the client. If amendments are made to originally approved plans, estimates can be updated or additional estimates can be created as needed throughout the project.

Initiate Requisition and Purchase Orders

When an estimate is sold, all of the details you’ve set up are automatically integrated into the rest of the project management workflow. For example, you can initiate a requisition of equipment and materials right from within your sold estimate.

Let’s say at the beginning of a project, you want to start the process of ordering your permits and materials for the electrical system — you can select those items right from your estimate, which will lead you through a workflow to create the purchase orders you’ll need. 

In the purchase order workflow, the line items are automatically populated from your estimate. You can simply select your vendors and shipping locations for each material to complete your order details. 

Then, you can save that order to create a transaction and send those purchase orders to your vendors — without ever leaving ServiceTitan. 

Automate Project Financials and Job Costing

As you progress through a job — creating purchase orders, logging labor hours, processing change orders, receiving progress payments, and so on — ServiceTitan keeps your project financials and job costing up to date automatically. 

No more manual updates to countless spreadsheets every time labor or material costs are incurred. ServiceTitan handles this for you in real-time, instantly reflecting the work completed and entered into the system. This ensures that you always have accurate financial insights at your fingertips, allowing you to stay on top of your project’s budget without the hassle of constant data entry.

Continuing with our example from above, when you’ve made your initial purchase order of permits and materials, your project summary table is updated to reflect those expenses:

Furthermore, you can view a more detailed breakdown of your actual costs versus your budgeted costs.

This will automatically update as you accumulate expenses from materials, equipment, and labor hours. It will display your margins in dollar and percent form to help you track job costs and profitability throughout your project. 

You can also access a table breaking down your expenses in further detail:

You can click on any line item and see the exact source of that expense ( which technician logged those hours, or which purchase orders and vendors a given set of materials came from). This allows you to easily check your numbers and feel confident in your data sources.

When it comes time to send applications for payment and invoices at each stage of progress billing, this can also be easily accomplished from the project overview dashboard.

Automate Progress Billing and Invoicing

The initial estimate you created also informs and populates your continuation sheet in your application for payment:

No more recreating documents for every billing cycle. With ServiceTitan, generating a payment application is as simple as selecting the billing period and choosing the percentage of each line item you want to bill for. 

Just a few clicks, and you can generate a PDF payment application with the details automatically filled out, and send it off to your client for review. The detail of the continuation sheet makes for a bill that’s much easier to defend in the event of pushback from construction companies or general contractors. As a result, subcontractors can get paid faster and avoid cash flow issues.

When applications are accepted, it’s just as easy to generate an invoice for that progress payment. And, when payments come in, you can update your accounts receivable through our Viewpoint, Sage, QuickBooks, and CSV accounting integrations. 

Get a Personalized Demo of ServiceTitan Construction Software

What we’ve covered above is just a sampling of the features that ServiceTitan offers for facilitating construction project management. We also offer features for time tracking, inventory management, and more.