Our Process, How Behan Builders Runs a Project in San Francisco

The short version

Six phases. One contract.

Most contractor frustrations come from things being left vague, what's included, what's not, when the work will start, what happens when something unexpected comes up. We resolve those questions up front, in writing, before any work starts.

What follows is what a typical Behan Builders project looks like, from your first phone call to final sign-off. Every phase has a clear purpose, and you know what comes next before each one ends.

Phase by phase

From first call to final handoff.

Every project moves through these six phases. Some are days. Some are weeks. We tell you the realistic timeline for yours before the contract is signed.

01

Initial call

You call (415) 218-9270 or send a note through the website. Michael calls back, talks through what you're thinking, and confirms whether the project is something we can take on. No pressure, no quote on the spot.

02

On-site walk-through

Michael comes to your home, walks the project with you, photographs anything relevant, and asks the questions that matter. Most walk-throughs take 30–60 minutes. You'll have a clearer picture of scope and feasibility by the end.

03

Written, fixed-price bid

Within a week of the walk-through, you get a written scope and a fixed price. Anything outside scope is called out explicitly. If we recommend an architect or engineer first, we'll tell you that instead of guessing at a number.

04

Permits & pre-construction

Once you've signed, we pull required DBI permits, coordinate with engineers or architects if needed, finalize material selections, and confirm the start date. This phase is usually 4–12 weeks depending on permit complexity.

05

Build

We start on the date in the contract and work until the project is done. Michael is on-site daily. You get a weekly update, what was done, what's next, what (if anything) is at risk of slipping. No silent stretches.

06

Punch list & handoff

Before we leave, we walk every finished detail with you, capture anything that needs adjusting, and resolve every item on the punch list. Final inspections passed, permits signed off, keys back in your hands.

Behan Builders crew installing custom wood slat ceiling during a San Francisco home remodel

What we don't do

The things that go wrong elsewhere.

Most contractor horror stories trace to a handful of patterns we deliberately don't follow.

We don't bill hourly on remodel work. Hourly billing on remodels is a recipe for projects that drag and budgets that double. Fixed-price scope keeps everyone honest.

We don't juggle ten projects. A contractor with ten active projects can't be on any of them. We take the work we can actually staff and finish.

We don't disappear mid-project. Weekly updates are not optional. If you have to chase your contractor for status, something is already going wrong.

We don't pad bids with imaginary work. The bid reflects the work actually needed. If something unexpected comes up mid-project, and on old San Francisco homes, sometimes it does. We document it and discuss it with you before any change in scope or cost.

Start your project →

How a project actually runs.