Finish / Punch-Out Carpenter: New Construction & Warranty
South Oak Homes Knoxville, TN Full-Time
Build the Final Impression.
$27–$30 per hour Monday–Friday, full-time
At South Oak Homes, the difference is in the details. We build high-quality homes across East Tennessee and hold every one to a single standard: flawless the day the homeowner walks in. We're looking for a skilled finish carpenter / punch-out carpenter who takes pride in getting the last 5% right: the part most people never notice, and the part that defines a great home. You'll make each home perfect before closing, stand behind it through the warranty period, and help keep our rental properties in top shape. If you're a true “do-it-all” craftsman or handyman who can fix, finish, and problem-solve across every trade, and you work clean, work independently, and own your work, this role was built for you.
What You'll Do
Your work falls into three areas, in order of priority:
1. New-Construction Punch-Out & Finish Work
- Complete a full punch-out on every home before homeowner orientation and closing, using South Oak's standard checklist, top to bottom, inside and out.
- Perform quality finish work across multiple trades: finish carpentry, trim, caulking, drywall repair, paint touch-ups, cabinet and hardware adjustments, door and window fixes, minor plumbing fixtures, and minor electrical items like swapping fixtures, switches, and outlets (nothing that requires a licensed electrician).
- Jump in on tasks throughout the build that don't fit neatly under a subcontractor (jobsite pickup, small framing or mechanical punch items) so we can keep the schedule moving instead of waiting on a trade to circle back.
- Inspect homes proactively and catch quality issues before the homeowner ever sees them.
2. Homeowner Warranty Service
- Complete warranty work during the homeowner's first year, coordinating with our Warranty Coordinator to schedule and finish items on time and to standard.
- Support our 1-month, 6-month, and 1-year homeowner check-ins, and go above and beyond, handling the small extras that make homeowners glad they bought a South Oak home.
- Communicate professionally and directly with homeowners in their homes, and keep the Warranty Coordinator updated as work is completed.
3. Rental Turnover & Maintenance Support
- Support our property management team on maintenance requests and unit turnovers across our rental portfolio in the Knoxville metro.
- Complete a thorough punch-out on vacated units to get them rent-ready: clean, consistent, and quick.
What We're Looking For
We're open to two kinds of people for this role:
- The seasoned do-it-all tradesman or property-maintenance pro who can fix just about anything and is ready to bring that skill to new-construction homebuilding, or
- The motivated, hard-working up-and-comer who has solid hands-on skills and wants to grow in the construction world. We'll train the right person on our new-construction standards.
Either way, you should bring:
- 3+ years of hands-on experience in construction, remodeling, property maintenance, or a skilled trade.
- Real multi-trade ability: you can troubleshoot and complete repairs across carpentry, drywall, paint, tile, doors/windows, and basic plumbing and electrical fixtures without hand-holding.
- Strong attention to detail and genuine pride in your workmanship.
- Reliability and self-management: you show up, work clean, and get the list done.
- A professional, respectful presence with homeowners and tenants: you're often working in someone's home and representing South Oak.
- A valid driver's license and your own work truck.
- Your own hand tools.
Compensation & Benefits
- $27–$30 per hour, depending on experience.
- Monday–Friday schedule, ~40 hours per week. Your evenings and weekends stay yours.
- $500 performance bonus for every new-construction home sold. With our goal of 10 homes per year, that's up to $5,000 on top of your hourly pay.
- Gas allowance for work-related driving.
- 3% IRA match.
- 10 days paid time off after 90 days of employment.
- Paid holidays: Thanksgiving (Thursday & Friday), Christmas Eve through New Year's Day (full week), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the 4th of July.
Why South Oak Homes
At South Oak, quality isn't just part of the process; it's our culture. We're a growing builder with a clear path forward, a tight team that takes pride in its work, and real opportunity to grow with the company. If you're a craftsman who cares about doing it right and wants to be part of building homes the right way, we'd like to hear from you.
Pay: $27.00 - $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
