YOUNG & Associates has been providing Property Damage Consulting Services to the Insurance Claims Industry for over 25 years. Since our founding by Ray and Linda Young in 1997, YA has grown to over 200 experts nationwide, with locations in key cities across the United States.
Our team of seasoned Building Consultants provides expert Damage Assessments, Scoping, and Estimating of all types of property damage on a multitude of structures types, resulting from a wide array of fortuitous and non-fortuitous events. Beyond preparing Repair Scopes and Estimates, we have the expertise to provide Invoice Analysis and Auditing, expert CPM Schedule Analysis, Builder’s Risk Services, Appraisal Services, and more.
COST ESTIMATING
YA’s Building Consulting team includes professional construction estimators, who prepare detailed, independent Repair Estimates based on unbiased Damage Assessment. Our estimators are fluent in all industry-standard estimating platforms, including:
- CSI
- Sage/Timberline
- Xactimate
- Marshall
- Swift
Additionally, we have in-house estimating experts providing supplemental cost data on specialty items, including mechanical, electrical, and HVAC work. As project needs dictate, we enhance our industry-standing pricing data with local, current-market construction pricing, to result in a fair estimate that can be taken to the marketplace so the restoration process can begin.
REPAIR SCOPE ASSESSMENT
An accurate scope of repairs is the foundation for moving forward towards the restoration process. YA provides Repair Scope Summaries based on our expert Damage Assessment in a variety of formats to suit the project needs. Depending on the project requirements, these can be provided without pricing for bid purposes, in detailed lists, diagrams, or in rolled-up summaries by trade or location.
We have also developed proprietary database systems to collate large volumes of scope data into meaningful and useful reports for projects involving thousands of structures.
CODE UPGRADE ANALYSIS
Existing buildings undergoing repairs for damage are subject to different construction requirements than new buildings. The evaluation of code requirements for repairs begins by reviewing state, county, and local laws and ordinances to determine the relevant repair regulations and their applicability to a particular project. Repairs to existing buildings may require analysis of numerous systems, including accessibility, fire protection, egress, energy, structural integrity, seismic resistance, weather protection, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc.
When building code upgrades are a requirement when repairing damaged structures, they could be minor or cause costs to skyrocket. YA building consultants assess code upgrade requirements for making repairs and track those costs separate from like kind and quality repairs. If detailed analyses are needed, our engineers and architects have extensive experience in navigating the repair requirements of the various existing building codes in jurisdictions throughout the country. Correctly assessing the code required upgrades that apply to a repair project allows us to develop an accurate repair scope for construction or cost estimating purposes.
PROJECT CLERKING
During either the restoration or reconstruction phases, YA provides onsite monitoring services to document labor, equipment, and workforce utilization, as well as validate progress and report any inefficiencies or obstacles. This service helps promote the efficient and expeditious completion of the construction phases.
By providing onsite monitoring, YA documents all activities and makes recommendations to help promote job site operation efficiency and monitor costs. We confirm the equipment and labor cost reductions when appropriate, and provide a detailed and independent audit of other critical onsite activities. These services help facilitate contractor invoice approvals as the project progresses.
INVOICE AUDITING
YA’s understanding of the remediation and reconstruction processes and our expertise in analyzing labor quantities, material, and equipment make us uniquely suited to provide comprehensive audits of repair project invoices. We audit invoices to ensure reasonableness, considering the scope of work performed.
SCHEDULE ANALYSIS
YA construction experts have years of hands-on experience developing and managing construction CPM schedules on projects ranging from limited repairs to billion-dollar new construction. This experience allows our scheduling experts to analyze proposed construction schedules for reconstruction projects, builder’s risk, delay, and surety claims. Our forensic scheduling experts use the latest in scheduling software to develop detailed critical path evaluations, considering the effects of unforeseen changes in scope due to design changes, natural disasters, fortuitous and non-fortuitous damage, and other types of delays.
BUILDER’S RISK SERVICES
Assessing the damage to structures in the course of construction requires a multi-faceted set of skills to analyze the scope of work and validate the associated costs. In addition to preparing a scope of repairs and estimating for the required remediation and restoration work, it’s necessary to have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the materials on hand, construction schedule and delays, and other factors impacting the construction process. YOUNG & Associates has a large team of seasoned construction management professionals available to provide an initial project assessment, completion strategies, estimating services, schedule development, and forensic investigations.
CONTENTS SERVICES
As an added service offering, YOUNG & Associates has experts who deal strictly with building contents. Our team of experts provides an initial site inspection, including a restoration/conservation assessment for residential, high net worth, and light commercial claims. We offer a detailed inventory of total loss items, inclusive of RCV and ACV pricing, as well as an inventory of restorable items. Additionally, we coordinate and monitor restoration services, audit and verify the pricing of services provided, monitor work in progress, audit invoices, coordinate content appraisals as needed, and verify inventory lists and values.
APPRAISAL & DISPUTE RESOLUTION
When an insurance claim is unable to be settled and sent to appraisal, YOUNG & Associates has the expert consultants needed to render an honest and unbiased expert opinion as to the correct scope of work and fair market cost for completing. Our experts are well versed in this complex process and have acted as appraisers for hundreds of projects across the country.
EXPERT TESTIMONY & LITIGATION SUPPORT
YOUNG & Associates has over 200 highly trained consulting professionals across the country, with expertise ranging from restoration, scheduling analysis, project management, cost estimating, environmental services, and damage assessment, supporting our clients involved in property damage litigation. YA personnel are uniquely qualified to provide litigation support services on all projects, including major structural collapses, delay claims, construction defect claims, water & fire damage, natural disaster losses, builder’s risk, and surety claims.
