How to pay for a remodel.
A Bay Area kitchen or bath is a significant investment, and how you fund it matters as much as who builds it. Here are the routes our clients actually use — and how our staged payment schedule protects you regardless of which one you choose.
Home equity line of credit (HELOC)
The most common way our clients fund a remodel. You borrow against equity as work progresses, pay interest only on what you draw, and Bay Area homeowners typically have substantial equity to work with. Best for projects in the $50k–$250k range.
Cash-out refinance
Replace your mortgage with a larger one and take the difference in cash. Makes sense when rates are favorable relative to your current loan, or for larger projects like additions and ADUs where a HELOC limit falls short.
Renovation loans
Loans underwritten on the value of your home after the remodel, not before it. Useful when the project is large relative to current equity — common for major additions and whole-home remodels.
Construction loans
For ground-up new construction and large ADUs, a construction loan funds the build in stages and typically converts to a standard mortgage at completion.
Cash and savings
Many clients fund smaller projects — hall baths, kitchen refreshes — directly. Our staged payment schedule means you never pay ahead of completed work, so funds stay in your account as long as possible.
We're a licensed contractor (CSLB #975092), not a financial advisor or lender — treat this page as orientation, and confirm terms with your bank, credit union, or a fiduciary advisor.
Capped down payment
California caps our down payment at $1,000 or 10%, whichever is less. Anyone asking for half up front is breaking the law.
Milestone billing
Payments map to completed, inspectable work — framing done, rough-in passed, tile set. You always see what you’re paying for.
Fixed-price contract
Design-build means the price is set before construction starts. Changes only happen through written change orders you approve.
Do you offer in-house financing?
We are builders, not lenders — we intentionally stay out of the loan business so our only incentive is building your project right. Your bank or credit union will almost always offer better terms than contractor-arranged financing.
How do payments work during the project?
California law caps a contractor down payment at $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less — and we follow it. After that, payments are staged against completed milestones spelled out in your contract. You never pay ahead of the work.
Can we phase the project to spread out cost?
Often, yes. A whole-home scope can be sequenced across phases, and our design-build process prices each phase up front so you can decide with real numbers rather than guesses.
Not sure what your project would even cost? Grab the free budget worksheet or use the estimator below.
Instant estimate
What will your project cost?
Three questions, honest 2026 Bay Area ranges — no email required.
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Ready to build something that lasts?
One team handles design, permits, and build — from concept to finished space.