System and method for automated management of replacement building projects in a disaster relief area

• US 20070288269A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HouseRaising, Inc.
• Original Assignee: HouseRaising, Inc.
• Inventors: Carriker, Christine, McLemore, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/729,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20070288269A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for using a database to rebuild a damaged or destroyed building. In particular, user contact information is received and stored in a database that represents a party owning the damaged or destroyed building. Further, pre-damaged discovery information is stored that represents features of the damaged or destroyed building and features of a building site of the damaged or destroyed building. Replacement building information is also received and stored that represents features for a replacement building that correspond with the damaged or destroyed building. In addition, foundation upgrade information is collected that represents a desired modification to be made to the building site. Thereafter, site inspection information is received that represents observations made during a physical inspection of the building site of the damaged or destroyed building, and the replacement building information can be modified according to foundation upgrade information, the site inspection information, and financial information that is received and stored. Replacement building plans are generated and a binding sales contract for the party and a builder is also generated for the replacement building.

Claims

1. A method for using a database to rebuild a damaged or destroyed building, the method comprising:

receiving from a user contact information representing a party owning the damaged or destroyed building, and storing the contact information in the database;

receiving from the user pre-damaged discovery information representing features of the damaged or destroyed building and features of a building site of the damaged or destroyed building, and storing the pre-damaged discovery information in the database;

receiving from the user replacement building information representing features for a replacement building that correspond with the damaged or destroyed building, and storing the replacement building information in the database;

receiving from the user foundation upgrade information representing a modification to the building site in case the party desires to modify the building site, and storing the foundation upgrade information in the database;

receiving from the user site inspection information representing observations made during a physical inspection of the building site of the damaged or destroyed building, and storing the site inspection information in the database;

receiving from the user financial information representing the financial status of the party and storing the financial information in the database;

modifying the replacement building information in the database representing a modified replacement building as a function of the foundation upgrade information, the site inspection information, and the financial information;

generating replacement building plan requirements as a function of the modified replacement building information; and

automatically generating a binding sales contract for the party and a builder for the replacement building.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising submitting an insurance claim to an insurer for the damaged or destroyed building as a function of at least one of the pre-damaged discovery information, the replacement building information and the financial information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically calculating financial costs associated with building the replacement building as a function of the pre-damaged discovery information, the foundation upgrade information, the financial information and the modified replacement building information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing building code information in the database representing building codes and determining whether the modified replacement building and the desired modification to the building site comply with building codes as a function of the building code information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising reviewing options representing costs of the replacement building, outstanding financial obligations of the party, insurance proceeds entitled to the party, cash proceeds of the party and funding options available to the party, and modifying the replacement building information as a function of the options.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying the replacement building information includes selecting a portfolio model corresponding to the pre-damaged discovery information.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising designing a plan upgrade and applying the plan upgrade to the selected portfolio model.

8. A system for using a database to rebuild a damaged or destroyed building, the system comprising:

a contact module operable to receive from a user contact information representing a party owning the damaged or destroyed building, and to store the contact information in the database;

a pre-damaged discovery module operable to receive from the user pre-damaged discovery information representing features of the damaged or destroyed building and features of a building site of the damaged or destroyed building, and to store the pre-damaged discovery information in the database;

a replacement building module operable to receive from the user replacement building information representing features for a replacement building that correspond with the damaged or destroyed building, and to store the replacement building information in the database;

a user foundation upgrade module operable to receive from the user foundation upgrade information representing a desired modification to be made to the building site and to store the foundation upgrade information in the database;

a site inspection module operable to receive from the user site inspection information representing observations made during a physical inspection of the building site of the damaged or destroyed building, and to store the site inspection information in the database;

a financial information module operable to receive from the user financial information representing the financial condition of the party and to store the financial information in the database;

a modification module operable to modify the replacement building information in the database representing a modified replacement building as a function of the foundation upgrade information, the site inspection information, and the financial information;

a replacement building plans generator that generates replacement building plans as a function of the modified replacement building information; and

a binding sales contract generator operable to generate a sales contract for the party and a builder for the replacement building.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising an insurance claim submission module operable to submit an insurance claim to an insurer for the damaged or destroyed building as a function of at least one of the pre-damaged discovery information, the replacement building information and the financial information.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a cost calculation module operable to calculate financial costs associated with building the replacement building as a function of the pre-damaged discovery information, the foundation upgrade information, the financial information and the modified replacement building information.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a building code module operable to store building code information in the database representing building codes and to determine whether the modified replacement building and the desired modification to the building site comply with building codes as a function of the building code information.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a review options module operable for reviewing options representing costs of the replacement building, outstanding financial obligations of the party, insurance proceeds entitled to the party, cash proceeds of the party and funding options available to the party, and for modifying the replacement building information as a function of the options.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the modification module is further operable to select a portfolio model corresponding to the pre-damaged discovery information.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the modification module is further operable to enable a user to design a plan upgrade and to apply the plan upgrade to the portfolio model.

15. A method for managing insurance proceeds for a party owning a damaged or destroyed building that was damaged or destroyed in connection with a damaged, the method comprising:

receiving from a user contact information representing the party owning the damaged or destroyed building, and storing the contact information in the database;

receiving from the user pre-damaged discovery information representing features of the damaged or destroyed building and features of a building site of the damaged or destroyed building, and storing the pre-damaged discovery information in the database;

receiving from the party insurance policy information representing an insurance policy associated with the damaged or destroyed building and issued by an insurance company, and storing the insurance policy information in the database;

submitting to the insurance company an insurance claim as a function of the contact information, the pre-damaged discovery information and the insurance policy information; and

receiving proceeds in connection with the claim and forwarding the proceeds to the party.