Insurance claim support.
Your insurance carrier will not pay what it should without the right drawings. We produce them.
Your insurance carrier will not pay what it should without the right drawings. We produce them.
Insurance carriers settle Eaton Fire claims based on what can be documented. If the scope of loss is vague, the settlement will be vague and usually low. If the scope of loss is documented in construction grade drawings, the settlement reflects the actual value of what was lost.
We produce two sets of drawings for insurance purposes. First, a "scope of loss" set that documents exactly what was there before the fire, sourced from your memory, old plans if they survived, photos, and tax assessor records. Second, the forward looking rebuild drawings that support both the permit and the claim.
Most Eaton Fire policies settle on a "like kind and quality" basis. That means the carrier reimburses the cost to rebuild a home of similar quality to what was lost, not the cost to build any specific rebuild. Understanding the difference between these two numbers is the core of the claim negotiation.
We help by documenting the quality specifications of the lost home: cabinetry grade, flooring material, appliance tier, fixture quality, millwork complexity, roof type, window performance. The carrier cannot credibly settle below the documented quality level. Upgrades beyond that level are paid from your own funds.
In practice, most rebuilds come in slightly above the insurance settlement because code upgrades alone (Title 24 2025, WUI, seismic) push the build up. Extended replacement coverage and code upgrade endorsements fill some of this gap.
If you have engaged a public adjuster or an insurance attorney, we work alongside them. Our drawings become exhibits they use in negotiation. Their dollar expertise plus our design expertise plus your lived knowledge of the house produces the strongest claim.
We are not licensed to negotiate the dollar figure with the carrier directly. That is the adjuster or attorney's role. We produce the documentation they use.
Often yes, at least partially. Most policies include a "design professional fees" line item that covers architectural or design fees up to a percentage of the dwelling coverage. Typical coverage is 5 to 10 percent of dwelling coverage. Check your policy or ask your adjuster.
Document disagreements in writing and escalate through the carrier's appeal process. If that fails, a public adjuster or attorney can take the case. Our drawings support whichever path you choose.
Before debris removal is ideal but often not practical given the speed of the government program. If debris is already gone, we work from photos (yours, neighbors', aerial imagery), tax records, building department permits, and your recollection.
Coverage A is the dwelling itself. Coverage B is other structures on the property (detached garage, ADU, pool house). Each has its own claim and its own settlement. If you had an ADU or separate structure that was also lost, file the Coverage B claim separately.
Ninety minute consultation, no fee. We meet at our Camarillo office, your temporary housing, or your Altadena lot. From there, we decide together whether we are the right match for your rebuild.
David C. Foote, Principal Designer, Associate AIA. 40 years practicing residential design. 1,532 completed homes since 1986.