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Strategy
Advisory
Rebuild smarter. Recover faster.
THE PROBLEM (WHY THIS EXISTS)
Rebuilding after a wildfire is not a construction problem.
It’s a sequencing, strategy, and decision problem
Most homeowners face:
Insurance estimates that are 15–40% below real rebuild costs
Builders quoting wildly different numbers with no way to compare
Undisclosed kickbacks and referral relationships between GC's and Architects
Permitting delays no one explains until it’s too late
Utility and underground issues discovered after plans are finished
Lot decisions that permanently change financial outcomes
Home design decisions with inaccurate insurability implications
One wrong early decision can cost:
$200,000+ in overruns and overpayment
6–12 months in delays
Lost resale value
Or a forced scope reduction mid-build
The hardest part isn’t building.
It’s knowing what to do first, second, and third.
WHO THIS IS FOR
This service is for homeowners who:
Lost a home in the Palisades fire
Don't know who to hire or trust
Prefer transparent pricing rather than kickback driven advice
Are unsure whether to rebuild, sell, or buy elsewhere
Have an insurance estimate they don’t fully trust
Are overwhelmed choosing architects, builders, and consultants
Want a clear plan before committing millions of dollars
If you’re making decisions that affect $1–$3 million of value,
you deserve more than guesswork and generic advice.
WHO I AM
I don’t just advise on rebuilding.
I operate inside the rebuild system every day.
I’m the founder of:
Pali Builds — tracking every rebuild permit, builder, and project in the Palisades
Bidsy — where general contractors and subcontractors exchange live construction bids
Claim Architect — comparing insurance estimates against real rebuild costs
Through this work, I have direct visibility into:
Hundreds of active rebuild permits
Daily subcontractor and GC pricing across all major trades
Insurance estimates from multiple carriers
Builder capacity, timelines, and bottlenecks
Lot sales and investor activity
I also work directly with:
25+ GC's and Architects
City permitting leadership
DWP and under-grounding teams
City Council and Mayor’s office
IBHS Leadership and fire-hardening standards
Insurance underwriters and brokers
This gives me a rare system-level view of rebuilding — from insurance to permits to bids to resale.
Most Advisors see one piece.
I see the entire machine.
WHAT THIS SERVICE IS
Rebuild Strategy & Hiring Navigation
This is not project management.
This is not design.
This is not construction supervision.
This is strategic advisory — helping you make the right decisions, in the right order, at the right time.
You get:
A personalized rebuild roadmap
Insurance positioning and cost validation
Builder and architect hiring strategy
Permitting and utility sequencing
Budget risk analysis and scope strategy
Market strategy: rebuild vs sell vs buy
And ongoing guidance as new decisions arise.
My job is to make sure you don’t lock in a bad path early — because those mistakes are almost impossible to unwind later.
EXAMPLES OF WHAT I HELP WITH
Leverage relationships and cost data to negotiate best rates and contracts
Lock in home owners insurance premiums for new build
Is your insurance estimate realistic for today’s market?
Requesting and comparing dozens of bids to save money
Understand differences between budget and premium builders
How do you design to IBHS standards to obtain certification?
When should you start undergrounding and utility coordination?
Which trades are most likely to cause cost overruns?
How do you avoid bid traps and false low pricing?
Explore various building fee models and partnerships available
When does it make sense to simplify design to protect timeline?
These are not theoretical questions.
They determine outcomes.
Apply for Advisory Access
Limited capacity. Applications reviewed personally.
PRICING
Rebuild Strategy Advisory
$5,000 per month
Minimum 2-month engagement
Includes:
Personalized rebuild roadmap
Weekly strategy sessions
Unlimited async questions between sessions
Insurance estimate and cost positioning
Builder and architect hiring guidance
Introductions to vetted professionals
Ongoing risk and sequencing management
This is designed for a small number of homeowners at a time to ensure deep involvement.
Apply for Advisory Access
Limited capacity. Applications reviewed personally.
WHY THIS PAYS FOR ITSELF
Rebuild Strategy Advisory
One early mistake can cost:
Poorly negotiated building contracts
$150k–$300k in overruns
6–12 months in lost time
Reduced resale value
Forced redesign mid-project
Most homeowners make irreversible decisions before they fully understand the consequences.
This service exists to prevent that.
If this advisory helps you avoid even one major mistake, it pays for itself many times over.
Apply for Advisory Access
Limited capacity. Applications reviewed personally.
Frank Renfro
Advisor
Insider Access. Trusted Leadership.
Over 20 years leading complex project management teams. Founder of Pali Builds, Bidsy, Claim Architect, member of LTRG Construction Council. Deep relationships with local officials, insurance specialists, and building professionals.
Frank brings clients behind the scenes into the real decision rooms—offering clarity, leverage, and calm expertise at every turn.
Apply for Advisory Access
Other Ventures
Premium Advisory Service
My advisory service provides comprehensive, data-driven support at every step of your rebuild journey. We decode permitting, accelerate claims, prequalify architects, and identify risks before they block progress.
No generic advice—every recommendation is tailored to your parcel, insurance, and family needs.
How It Works
Step 1 — Rebuild Assessment
Answer a short set of questions about your lot, budget, insurance, and goals.
Step 2 — Strategy Session
We review:
Your insurance position
Your lot constraints
Your design and builder readiness
Primary objectives both near and long term
You leave with:
A recommended path
A priority order of actions
A list of key risks to manage early