Building Consulting Services

Independent.
Experienced.
On Site.

When a carrier, adjuster, attorney, contractor, or property owner needs a straight answer on a complicated loss, the right call is a Senior Building Consultant who also holds a general contractor's license — someone who knows how buildings go together and how they fall apart.

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35+
Years in Construction
MN
Licensed Contractor
Midwest
National Travel Common
Services at a Glance
  • Property damage inspection & assessment
  • Xactimate estimating & narrative reports
  • Scope review — carrier & contractor estimates
  • Litigation support & expert testimony
  • 3D structure scanning — Matterport & iGUIDE
  • Independent consulting for any party to a claim
Credentials
  • Senior Building Consultant
  • Minnesota Licensed Contractor
  • CPLAU — P.L.A.N. Certified Appraiser & Umpire
  • Iowa Licensed Appraiser & Umpire
Built Things
Senior Building Consultant with a general contractor's license. Buildings aren't just evaluated here — they were actually built. That combination is rare in this field.
One Person. One Standard.
Every inspection, every estimate, every report — handled personally. The same experience, judgment, and attention to detail on every assignment, every time.
Trusted Source
Carriers, adjusters, attorneys, and property owners rely on an honest, independent assessment they can stand behind. Fair, factual, and defensible — every time.
National Reach
The majority of work is Midwest-based, but national travel is common when the assignment calls for it.
Services

Building Consulting Services

From initial inspection through litigation support, every engagement is handled personally — independent, fact-based, and start to finish. Clients include carriers, adjusters, attorneys, contractors, and property owners.

Property Damage Inspection & Assessment

Boots-on-the-ground inspection of the loss site. Damage is documented, cause is evaluated, and a clear, defensible assessment is provided — whether the loss is fire, water, wind, hail, freeze, or something else entirely.

Xactimate Estimating & Narrative Reports

Detailed, line-item Xactimate estimates — the industry-standard estimating platform used by carriers and adjusters nationwide. Not familiar with Xactimate? It's the software that turns a documented scope of damage into an itemized repair cost, trade by trade. When the estimate alone isn't enough, a written narrative report is available documenting findings, methodology, and conclusions — useful for complex losses, contested claims, and matters headed toward litigation.

RCV estimates standard. Depreciation to ACV available upon request. Narrative reports available when needed.

Scope Review

When the carrier's estimate and the contractor's estimate don't agree, an independent review of either — or both — cuts through the noise. Gaps are identified, unsupported line items are challenged, and a reasoned, impartial analysis of what the repair should actually cost is delivered.

Retained by carriers, adjusters, attorneys, contractors, and homeowners.

Independent Consulting for Carriers & Adjusters

Sometimes a loss is outside an adjuster's wheelhouse — a major fire, significant water damage, a complex structural situation. This is the call adjusters make when they need a trusted expert who can take a fresh look, cut through the noise, and give them a straight answer they can rely on.

3D Structure Scanning & Documentation

Using Matterport and iGUIDE scanning systems, a complete 3D model of the loss site is captured — delivering immersive walkthroughs, accurate measurements, and a permanent visual record that carriers, adjusters, and attorneys can access remotely at any time. This level of documentation is especially valuable for complex losses, disputed claims, and litigation where a picture truly is worth a thousand words.

Matterport and iGUIDE systems owned and operated in-house — no subcontracting.

Litigation Support & Expert Testimony

When a claim goes to litigation, the kind of expert support attorneys need is here. Written expert reports, informed opinions on repair scope and cost, and experience testifying in both depositions and jury trials.

Deposition and trial testimony experience in insurance and construction disputes.

Who We Serve

Built for the Whole Claims Ecosystem

This practice spans the full range of parties involved in a property insurance claim. The common thread is a need for an independent, experienced voice — someone who knows construction, knows estimating, and has no stake in the outcome.

Insurance Carriers & Adjusters

When an adjuster is in over their head on a fire loss, complex water damage, or a contested structural claim, an independent assessment from a Senior Building Consultant with real construction experience is what gets the file resolved.

Attorneys

Coverage and policyholder attorneys retain this practice for expert opinions, scope reviews, and testimony in disputes over repair cost, cause of damage, or scope of coverage.

Contractors

When a contractor's estimate is being challenged by the carrier, an independent scope review helps support a reasonable, defensible position.

Homeowners & Property Owners

Property owners who need an independent voice on their claim — someone to review the carrier's estimate, document the damage, or simply explain what they're entitled to — can reach out directly.

Public Adjusters

Public adjusters working larger or more technical losses benefit from construction expertise and Xactimate estimates that hold up to scrutiny.

National Consulting Firms

This practice also consults on a 1099 basis for several national building consulting companies, providing field expertise and estimating support on assignments nationwide.

Loss Types

Experience Across All Major Perils

Experience spans virtually every peril — from everyday fire and water losses to large-scale natural disasters including hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes. Fire and water losses are a particular strength, as those are the situations where adjusters most often need outside expert support.

Fire
A primary strength — adjusters frequently reach out on fire losses
Water
Pipe breaks, flooding, water intrusion, ice dams
Freeze
Burst pipes, ice dams, freeze-related structural damage
Wind & Hail
Roof systems, exterior damage, structural impacts
Collapse
Snow load, structural failure, impact events
Vehicle & Impact
Vehicle impacts, tree strikes, explosion, structural intrusions
Mold & Biological
Remediation scope, demolition planning, post-restoration review
Hurricane
Wind, rain, storm surge, and structural damage from major storm events
Forest Fire & Wildfire
Structure loss, smoke and heat damage assessment, demolition and rebuild scope
Natural Disasters
Tornado, earthquake, flooding, and large-scale catastrophic loss events
Vandalism & Other
Vandalism, animal/rodent damage, and other less common loss types
Tom Vesel
Credentials & Affiliations
Senior Building Consultant — nationally recognized forensic consulting firms
Minnesota Licensed Contractor
CPLAU — P.L.A.N. Certified Appraiser & Umpire
Iowa State Licensed Appraiser & Umpire
IAUA Member
EPA-Certified Lead Safe Renovator
About Tom

A Senior Building Consultant Who Actually Built Things

Tom Vesel is a Senior Building Consultant who spent over 30 years running a licensed general contracting company focused on residential and commercial insurance restoration. He didn't just estimate repairs — he managed them from first nail to final walkthrough, on losses ranging from routine hail claims to catastrophic fire and structural events.

That hands-on background is what separates this practice from most building consultants, who come up through adjusting or law. He's framed walls, managed subcontractors, and negotiated scopes directly with carriers. When he writes an Xactimate estimate or reviews someone else's, he knows exactly what the work actually costs — and why.

Since 2019, Tom has served as a Senior Building Consultant with nationally recognized forensic consulting firms and consults independently for several national building consulting companies on a 1099 basis. He also serves as a licensed insurance appraisal umpire and appraiser — a full picture of the claims world from every angle.

He maintains his Minnesota Contractor's License — a credential that keeps him grounded in how work actually gets priced and performed in the field. When the situation gets complicated, that's when people call Tom.

Service Area

Midwest-Based. National Travel Common.

Based in Duluth, MN. Most assignments are across the Midwest, with national travel taken on regularly.

Where We Work
Where We Work

Most assignments are Midwest-based, with the bulk of work concentrated in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois — but the work goes wherever it needs to go.

Available Nationwide

Assignments outside the Midwest are common. Reach out to discuss your specific situation.

Midwest service area map

Not Sure If This Is the Right Fit?

Give us a call or send a quick email. You'll get a straight answer on whether this is the right fit — and if it's not, that'll be said too.

Call 218-590-4107 tvesel@gmail.com
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Let's Talk About Your Assignment

Straightforward to work with. Share what you're dealing with and you'll get a direct answer about whether this is the right fit — no pressure, no sales pitch.

Phone
218-590-4107
Based In
Duluth, MN — Midwest-Based, Nationally Available

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