Where the contractor fits in a claim
The California Department of Insurance tells wildfire survivors they have the right to rebuild with the contractor of their choosing, and it recommends getting at least one licensed contractor's estimate to compare against the insurer's own figures. That estimate is where we come in. We build it from the house you actually had, priced for current Los Angeles County requirements and current local labor and material costs.
We are not a public adjuster or an attorney, and we do not negotiate your claim or interpret your policy. With your permission we can walk an adjuster through our line items, answer construction questions, and supply backup for quantities and pricing. Decisions about coverage stay between you and your insurance company, and you can verify our license with the Contractors State License Board at any time.
A scope built from the house you lost
A rebuild estimate is only as good as the description of what was there. We start with whatever records exist: prior permits, County Assessor data, the property information packet the County provides at its rebuild permit centers, appraisals, and your own photos and videos. The County's rebuild guidance says it uses permit, zoning, and Assessor records plus photographs to establish how much square footage stood on a lot, so those same records anchor the scope.
From there we break the work into the trades a builder would actually hire: site preparation, foundation, framing, roofing, windows and doors, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, insulation, drywall, cabinets, finishes, and exterior work. Each line shows quantities and unit costs, and allowances for items not yet selected are labeled as allowances rather than buried in a lump sum. A scope written this way is easier for an adjuster to review and easier for you to track as selections are made.
Separating code work from like kind replacement
A home built in Altadena decades ago was permitted under far older codes than the ones that apply today. County guidance for fire rebuilds lists requirements that may not have existed in the original house: interior fire sprinklers, wildfire resistant construction and a fuel modification plan when the lot is in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone, solar ready wiring and roof space, and an electric ready design. Reusing a slab can add an engineer's evaluation and new under slab electrical conductors, and removing one can call for a compaction report.
In our estimates we tag each line as like kind replacement, work required by current code, or an owner selected upgrade. The Department of Insurance describes Building Code Upgrade and Extended Replacement Cost as coverages that apply only if they are part of your policy, so whether any tagged item is paid, and under which coverage, is a question for your insurer or advisor. The tags simply make the basis of each cost visible.
Records that keep the claim and the job aligned
The Department of Insurance suggests keeping a claim diary of every conversation with your insurer and adjuster. We keep the construction half of that record for you: dated photos at each stage, signed change orders with the reason for each change, invoices, permit and inspection records, and lien releases from subcontractors and suppliers as they are paid. When an adjuster or a lender asks what has been completed, you can answer with documents instead of estimates.
Draws and payment schedules
Claim payments on a total loss often arrive in more than one installment rather than as a single check, and when there is a mortgage the lender may also be named on the payment and release funds as work is verified. The exact process depends on your policy and your loan, so ask your insurer and your lender how and when funds will be released before construction starts.
We set up our payment schedule around measurable milestones such as foundation, framing, rough inspections, and drywall, so each draw request matches work an inspector or lender representative can see on site. The schedule of values in our contract uses the same line items as the estimate, which keeps the paperwork consistent from bid to final payment.
When the numbers do not match
It is common for a contractor's estimate and an insurer's estimate to differ. The Department of Insurance notes that insurer estimates can contain errors or miss local conditions and demand surge, the price increases that follow a major disaster when contractors and materials are in short supply. When the figures differ, we review the gaps line by line with you so you understand where they come from, whether it is quantity, unit price, or a code item one side left out.
What you do with that comparison is your decision, made with your insurer and, if you choose, your own advisor. The Department of Insurance hotline at (800) 927-4357 is available to policyholders with questions about the claims process.