Jacob Construction renovates homes for homeowners in San Francisco, and across the Bay Area from Oakland and the East Bay to San Rafael and the North Bay, from our office in Sausalito. We manage the design and layout, pull the permits, and run the construction, with one person as your contact from the first visit to the final walkthrough. You get a free assessment, a written quote, and financing options, subject to credit approval.
A complete home renovation in San Francisco is a different job from a single-room update. The houses are older, the lots are tight, and almost any real renovation goes through the city's building department. This guide explains who to hire for that kind of project, what to expect with permits, and how to compare quotes.
At a glance
- We renovate homes in San Francisco and across the Bay Area, from our Sausalito office at 1 Harbor Dr, Suite 300.
- One contractor for the whole project: design and layout, permits, construction and inspections.
- We handle permits and paperwork on roughly 90% of our jobs, so you don't have to deal with the city.
- One point of contact: the person who quotes your renovation is your project manager until it's finished.
- Financing is available, subject to credit approval.
Who to Hire for a Complete Home Renovation in San Francisco
For a renovation that touches several rooms, moves walls or replaces plumbing and wiring, you want one general contractor who owns the whole process, not a set of separate trades you have to coordinate yourself. When the cabinet installer, the plumber, the electrician and the person handling permits all work independently, the homeowner ends up being the project manager: deciding whose plan wins, chasing the next step and answering the inspector.
That's the job we take on. When you request a free assessment, our project manager visits, walks the house with you and talks through what you want to change. We put together the layout and a written scope. If you go ahead, we file the permits, schedule the work, coordinate inspections, and the same person stays your contact through the final walkthrough.
Jacob Construction has been doing this since 2021. We hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and are licensed in California (License #1073757). One Pacifica homeowner wrote: "They kept a clean, organized, professional work site. The overall workmanship was excellent."
What Makes San Francisco Renovations Different
Older houses. A large share of San Francisco homes were built before World War II. Behind the plaster you may find knob-and-tube or mixed-era wiring, old galvanized or cast-iron plumbing, framing altered by earlier remodels, and the occasional addition that was never permitted. None of this stops a renovation, but it should shape how a contractor assesses your home and writes your quote.
Tight, attached buildings. Many homes share walls or sit close to neighbors, with limited parking and access. Material delivery, debris removal and work hours all need planning, and they belong in the scope.
Permits for most real work. Moving walls, changing plumbing or electrical, rebuilding bathrooms and kitchens, and structural work typically need permits and inspections through the city's building department. Plan review can involve back-and-forth with the city, and the schedule depends on it.
Lead paint. Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint, and federal lead-safe work rules apply when a renovation disturbs it. The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting program explains the requirements.
Permits: Who Should Handle Them
"Permits included" can mean very different things. With some contractors it means filling out an application and leaving you to handle the corrections and inspections. Before you sign, ask each contractor:
- Who prepares and submits the permit application?
- Who answers the city's questions or correction requests during plan review?
- Who schedules inspections and handles any items the inspector flags?
- What work has to wait for approval, and how does that affect the schedule?
On our renovations, we handle that process: the application, the paperwork, the follow-up with the city and the inspections. We do this on roughly 90% of our jobs. We explain how it works from start to finish in Full home remodels in the Bay Area: permits, paperwork and everything in between.
How to Compare Renovation Quotes
Give every contractor the same brief: the rooms you want to change, any layout changes, known problems, and your priorities. Then compare the written quotes line by line. Each should spell out:
- Scope by room, including demolition and finish work
- Design and layout: whether it's included and how decisions are recorded
- Permits and inspections: who files and who handles the city
- Allowances for cabinets, tile and fixtures, with the amounts
- Exclusions: anything you'd need to arrange separately
- Change orders: how hidden conditions are documented and approved before work proceeds
- Site logistics: protection of the rest of the house, access, debris removal
- Point of contact after you sign
- License number, which you can look up on the CSLB license check
A lower total that leaves out permits, layout work or realistic allowances isn't really cheaper. In an older San Francisco house, change orders can happen, because some conditions only show up once walls are open. What matters is how they're handled: when we find something, we show you, explain the options and the cost, and get your approval in writing before doing the work.
If your renovation centers on the kitchen, our guide on how to choose a kitchen remodeler in the Bay Area covers the questions to ask.
Renovations in Oakland, the East Bay and the North Bay
We do the same kind of work outside the city. In Oakland and the East Bay, many homeowners are renovating older homes with similar wiring and plumbing questions. In San Rafael and the rest of Marin and the North Bay, our Sausalito office is close by. The process is the same everywhere: one assessment, one written scope, permits handled, and one project manager through completion.
Financing a Whole-Home Renovation
A complete renovation is a large expense, and many Bay Area homeowners pay for it over time. Financing is available for approved homeowners, with payments set up to fit a household budget. Financing isn't free and is subject to approval. We'll go through the options with you during the assessment.
For more detail, read how to afford a whole-house renovation in the Bay Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Jacob Construction handle complete home renovations in San Francisco?
Yes. We renovate homes in San Francisco and manage the whole project: design and layout, permits, construction and inspections, with one project manager from start to finish.
Do you manage the permits for a San Francisco renovation?
Yes. We handle permits and paperwork on roughly 90% of our jobs, including the application, the city's follow-up questions and the inspections.
Do you also renovate homes in Oakland and San Rafael?
Yes. We work across the Bay Area, including Oakland and the East Bay, and San Rafael and the North Bay.
Can I finance a whole-home renovation?
Yes, for approved homeowners. Financing is available, so you can pay over time. Financing isn't free and is subject to approval.
What happens if you find a problem behind the walls?
We show you what we found, explain your options and the added cost in writing, and only proceed once you approve.
Get a Renovation Assessment in San Francisco
If you're planning a complete home renovation in San Francisco or elsewhere in the Bay Area, request a free assessment, contact us, or call Jacob Construction at (415) 779-8958. We'll walk through your home, explain what we find, and give you a written scope with financing options. Financing is subject to approval.
