Rebuilding After Disaster: How to Navigate Insurance, Permits & Design Costs

What this episode covers

Show Notes:Discussions about the complex realities of rebuilding after natural disasters — including fires, hurricanes, and floods — in places like California, Hawaii, and the Florida coast. With 32 years of experience helping families design and build their homes, Steve offers expert insights into navigating difficult insurance claims, understanding local permit and zoning changes, working with tight budgets, and reimagining fire- and weather-resilient homes. He shares real stories of homeowners rising from tragedy with renewed purpose — including one Landmark home that survived the devastating Paradise, CA fire. For anyone facing recovery, insurance confusion, or structural rebuilding, this episode is a must-listen blueprint on surviving setbacks and turning loss into a long-term opportunity. Transcript: Steve Tuma: These developers are going in and buying two or three lots to put up bigger houses. Something’s going to happen economically with the comeback of these homes. It’s an opportunity in a way. Interviewer: Hey everyone and welcome to episode 68 of the Panelized Prefab Kit Home Building Show. With me today as usual is the president and founder of Landmark Home and Land Company, a company which has been helping people build their new homes where they want, exactly as they want, nationwide and around the globe since 1993 — Mr. Steve Tuma. Steve, how are you doing? Steve Tuma: I’m doing great. It’s been a great time. You know something interesting — I just remembered it — Landmark turned 32 years old last Monday. Interviewer: How could you just remember that? That’s an important date. Steve Tuma: Well, we celebrated a little last Monday and here it is, you know, it’s just a busy day today. But yeah, it’s pretty amazing. Thirty-two years of helping people design their home, build their home, work to find out if their land is easy to work with or a little harder — you know, get over the challenges of land, work through details with the building departments — you know, just making sure we give our customers what they need so that they have a successful build. You know, owner-builders — they have a different set of needs, and we’re completely set up to help them through the process, as are we with contractors, if they want to go use our services for plans and building department issues and the panelized package. It’s just a lot more control and understanding and makes it easier for our customers. Interviewer: 32 years — it’s a long time. So congratulations anyway. Steve Tuma: It’s amazing. You look back at all — just all the changes in the building industry, the ups and downs of things going on in the world. But one thing’s constant — have a good time, take care of customers, help people build a better house than they could get anywhere else. And it keeps on working. So if I live another 32 years — we’re going to be here. Interviewer: That’s reassuring. Interviewer: Today I thought we’d address some of the issues facing those who have, you know, such as the devastating fires and hurricanes we’ve seen in the U.S. over the past few years — and including the Southeast and Los Angeles and Hawaii. And I know with your knowledge, you’re the one person who can help us weed through all the information and misinformation and give us some insight into the ins and outs of building and rebuilding in these areas. Can you dive into that? Steve Tuma: Oh yeah. The disasters — you know, whether it’s a flood, a hurricane, a fire,