After the Palisades Fires Revealed a Gap Between Estimates and Real Rebuild Costs, Local Builders and Tech Founders Built a Construction-Focused Solution

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — In the aftermath of the devastating 2025 Palisades fires, local residents faced a frustrating reality: the estimates they received often didn't match what contractors said it would actually cost to rebuild their homes.

"We kept hearing the same story from neighbors. Adjuster estimates that appeared to be off by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Contractor quotes running 40% higher than policy estimates. But no detailed, construction-grade documentation to show where the numbers diverged."

That gap led Kamdar and his PaliBuilds co-founder Frank Renfro, a software developer and entrepreneur, to team up with Mike Furnari to create ClaimArchitect—an independent construction cost estimating service that provides homeowners with architect-level, builder-verified rebuild valuations.

Built by Builders, Powered by Technology

The ClaimArchitect team brings together deep construction expertise and technical capability. Kamdar's family has been building homes in Los Angeles for four generations, and he currently serves on the Palisades Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Renfro has built community-focused apps including Naybur and SoNeighborly, and serves on the Palisades Rebuild Council, helping guide local recovery efforts.

"We're not outsiders trying to capitalize on a disaster. We live here. Our kids go to school here. We're rebuilding here ourselves. We built this tool because our community needed it."

A Builder's Perspective on Rebuild Costs

ClaimArchitect combines AI document analysis with professional construction estimating. The service digitally reconstructs homes in CAD, runs detailed takeoffs, applies local labor and material pricing, and has every valuation reviewed and signed off by a licensed general contractor.

The result is a 55-75 page rebuild valuation report that homeowners can share with their own adjusters, public adjusters, or attorneys.

"We're not claims professionals. We're builders and estimators. Our job is to show what it may cost to reconstruct a home—nothing more, nothing less. What homeowners do with that information is up to them and their advisors."

Early Case Results

In ClaimArchitect's early cases from local fire losses, valuations have differed from initial estimates by $700,000 to $1.7 million. These figures represent differences in construction cost estimates, not claim outcomes. Every home, policy, and situation is unique, and results are not guaranteed.

"The gap isn't just in dollars—it's in detail. Standard estimates often use national averages. We rebuild the home digitally, room by room, and price it using local construction costs. Sometimes the numbers align. Sometimes they're significantly different."

Service Details

ClaimArchitect offers a flat-fee service with reports typically delivered within 7-10 business days. The service includes a money-back guarantee: if the rebuild valuation does not exceed the adjuster's estimate, the homeowner receives a full refund.

The service is designed for high-value homes where potential rebuild costs are in the high six figures to multi-millions. Homeowners must have a written estimate from their carrier to use the service.