Property Loss Consulting Services

Among the five common project discriminators – time, cost, quality, performance, and scope – most clients concentrate their efforts on determining and controlling project costs.

MC Consultants recognizes the magnitude of providing detailed cost estimates before the first shovel goes into the ground. Accurate estimates are needed for budgeting, verifying, or modifying design decisions at the various stages of the project development and analyzing the accuracy and fairness of contractor bids.

Our team of professional cost estimators has the credentials and experience to provide estimates that are, on average, accurate to within 5% of contractor bids received.

MC Consultants prepares estimates at the various stages of project development, utilizing a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to code all our estimate items. The WBS allows us to quickly sort and summarize the cost information according to client needs. Our estimates will utilize the latest prevailing wage data with our material and labor productivity costs database. Our cost estimating expertise encompasses a wide variety of solutions.

Cost Estimating Solutions Include:

• Conceptual Estimates
• Pre-Bid Estimates
• Phasing Bid Packages
• Developing Schedules of Values
• Quantity Take-Offs

MC Consultants recognizes the magnitude of documenting the existing site conditions and obtaining a comprehensive scope of work during the site investigation phase. Our professionals utilize extensive industry experience and diverse skills to document the extent of damage caused by the reported loss. Establishing a comprehensive scope of work is the critical component in preparing an accurate cost estimate. We provide this essential site documentation to our team of cost estimators experienced in preparing detailed Property Damage Cost Estimates for the Insurance and Legal industries.

Property Damage Estimating Solutions Include:

• Actual Cash Value (ACV) Determination
• CSI Estimate/16 Division & Master Format
• Xactimate®/XacAnalysis®
• Simsol®

MC consultants possess vast experience in the Appraisal process, having acted impartially in an appraiser capacity numerous times. We will examine all provided previous work products, estimates, expert reports, etc., for reasonableness.

We will then perform a joint site investigation with the opposing Appraiser to establish the scope of work required to return the facility to its pre-loss condition. With the scope-of-work obtained, we can now prepare our estimate including, component-based depreciation, to determine Actual Cash Value (ACV). We employ a collection of estimating systems, including proprietary, RS Means, Simsol, Xactimate, and others. Typically, we prepare our estimate with the same system as the opposing Appraiser to eliminate unit pricing variances between software systems and provide a uniform appearance. Once our estimate is complete, we will provide it to the opposing Appraiser to reach an agreeable resolution without engaging the selected Umpire. If an amicable resolution reaches an impasse, we will provide our work product to the Umpire and attend any inspection(s) the Umpire performs.

Our extensive industry experience with a broad spectrum of projects, including agricultural, commercial, hospitality, industrial, single and multi-family residential, and high-rise multi-family structures, reinforces Structurensics’ ability to provide innovative solutions for complex matters.

MC Consultants provides comprehensive solutions when you need extensive construction experience when confronted with litigation.  In addition to direct litigation support, MC Consultants provides the following Litigation Support Solutions:

• Assist with Document Discovery
• Answers/Preparation of Interrogatories
• Preparation of Deposition Questions and Documents
• Claims and Counterclaims Preparation/Defense
• Expert Testimony Solutions
• Mediation/Arbitration Support
• Trial Preparation/Strategy
• Trial Exhibits and Graphics

Our extensive experience in all phases of the construction industry makes MC Consultants one of the most active construction and surety consultants. We provide a variety of services to the surety and its counsel. Our staff has experience with multiple disciplines and diverse contract arrangements, such as design-build, lump-sum, fixed-fee, reimbursable costs, and variations of each, in both the public and private sectors, which provides MC Consultants with the ability to respond to a variety of complex matters.

Throughout our history, MC Consultants has provided owners, sureties, and their bond principals with sound professional advice and assistance to make the appropriate, critical project decisions that fulfill bond obligations while focusing on the mitigation of damages and accurate exposure analyses and forecasting.

Structurensics’ Surety Solutions are broken down into four main categories:

Underwriting Advisory Solutions, Including:

• Due Diligence
• Bid Evaluation
• Contract Terms Review

Pre-default Project Solutions, Including:

• Change Order Resolution
• Time Extension Requests
• Unbiased Project Status Evaluation
• Payment Bond Claims Investigation/Resolution
• Default Avoidance Negotiations

Post Default Solutions, Including:

• Risk Assessment
• Completion Strategy
• Takeover Negotiations
• Requests for Equitable Adjustments
• Rebid Process Management
• Subcontractors Ratification
• Project Financial Audit
• Principal Financial Audit
• Subcontractors Financial Audit
• Cost-to-Complete Evaluation
• Dynamic Exposure Analysis (“What If” Scenarios)
• Project Monitoring and Clerk of the Works
• Documents Management
• Project Close-Out
• Asset Liquidations/Recovery

Litigation Support Solutions, Including:

• Claims and Counterclaims Preparation/Defense
• Expert Services
• Mediation/ADR Support
• Trial Preparation/Strategy
• Demonstrative Evidence/Trial Exhibits

Not every project goes as expected. For various reasons, projects stall or veer off schedule; costs escalate, unforeseen conditions bring into question whether a project can even be completed, communication ceases, and work grinds to a halt. MC Consultants professionals will get projects moving again so that the contract can be successfully closed out before litigation becomes necessary.

Whether a project is delivered under a traditional contract, design-build, CM-at-risk, unit price, or another arrangement, MC Consultants can quickly assemble our team of specialists, send them to any project location and identify the root cause of the issues stifling a troubled project. MC Consultants provides the leadership necessary to solve complex matters. We are not afraid to deliver bad news; we are not concerned about putting our reputation behind the decisions we make; and most of all, we are responsive and sensitive to the intricacies of troubled projects. We have solved many complex disputes as third-party experts. To get a troubled project successfully restarted, back on track, or completed, MC Consultants provides the following Troubled Project Turnaround and Completion services:

• Snapshot Audits of Project Progress and Procedures
• Evaluation of a Project’s Cost-to-Complete
• Preparation of Completion and Rescue CPM Schedules
• Evaluation and Negotiation of Unresolved Change Orders
• Audits of Approved and Paid Change Orders
• Continuous Progress Monitoring and Reporting
• Resolution of Disputes and Claims
• Final Payment Determination and Negotiation
• Investigation of Post-Occupancy Defects