Frequently Asked Questions
Credentials & Qualifications
Först Consulting Group, LLC is led by Matthew Furlong, its Principal, a forensic construction consultant and construction expert witness with over 25 years of construction-industry experience and litigation-support work since 2014. Matthew Furlong holds a Virginia Class A Contractor License with both Commercial Building (CBC) and Residential Building (RBC) designations. He holds eight International Code Council (ICC) inspector certifications — Residential and Commercial Building, Residential and Commercial Electrical, Residential and Commercial Plumbing, and Residential and Commercial Mechanical — meaning his code analysis is not limited to a single trade. The firm is based in Middleburg, Virginia 20117.
A home inspector performs a general, standards-limited visual survey of a property — typically for a real estate transaction — and reports on the apparent condition of accessible systems. A forensic construction expert, such as Först Consulting Group, investigates the specific cause, origin, and responsibility of a construction defect or dispute and produces litigation-ready documentation defensible under cross-examination. The forensic process applies a defined breach-of-standard test against named authorities — for example the International Residential Code (IRC), manufacturer installation instructions, NAHB Residential Construction Performance Guidelines, and applicable state and county requirements — rather than a general “pass/fail” checklist. Home inspectors generally do not testify to causation, quantify cost-to-cure, or serve as expert witnesses; a forensic construction expert does all three.
Yes. Först Consulting Group provides construction expert witness testimony in litigation, arbitration, and mediation across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Principal Matthew Furlong has provided litigation support since 2014 and prepares opinions anchored to identifiable authorities so they withstand Daubert/Frye-style scrutiny and cross-examination. Reports are structured around a multi-source breach test — for residential structural matters this commonly includes the applicable edition of the International Residential Code (IRC), any Residential Warranty Corporation (RWC) or comparable warranty standard, NAHB Residential Construction Performance Guidelines, and relevant state statute and local jurisdictional guidelines — so each opinion is traceable to a published standard rather than to unsupported assertion.
Services, Scope & Methodology
A forensic construction assessment is a structured investigation that identifies construction defects, determines their cause and origin, evaluates them against applicable codes and standards, and quantifies the cost to cure. Först Consulting Group’s process generally follows these stages: (1) document review — contracts, plans, permits, inspection history, change orders, and invoices; (2) on-site inspection using non-destructive and, where authorized, destructive investigation methods; (3) diagnostic testing where warranted, such as thermal imaging, moisture testing, or air-pathway analysis; (4) code and standard-of-care analysis against named authorities; and (5) a written report documenting findings, causation, code citations, photographs, and a cost-to-cure estimate. The deliverable is engineered to support dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration, or litigation.
Först Consulting Group evaluates construction work against the specific published authorities that govern the project’s jurisdiction and date, rather than against opinion. Commonly applied authorities include the International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC) in the edition adopted by the local jurisdiction; the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70 / NEC); the International Plumbing Code (IPC) and International Mechanical Code (IMC); the International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); manufacturer installation instructions (which the IRC makes enforceable by reference); the NAHB Residential Construction Performance Guidelines; and applicable state statutes and county amendments. In Virginia, work is measured against the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) and DPOR contractor regulations at 18VAC50-22. Identifying the correct adopted edition matters because code requirements change between cycles.
Yes. Först Consulting Group performs forensic invoice and cost audits that compare billed quantities and charges against the work actually in place and the contract’s scope. The methodology reconciles line-item invoices against delivery records, verified installed quantities, and contract terms — for example, tracking wire footage and specialized components billed across multiple invoices against what was physically installed. Where billed quantities materially exceed installed or delivered quantities, the audit documents the discrepancy with source-verified evidence and flags potential overbilling for counsel. Cost accounting can also be framed against termination-accounting provisions (such as AIA-style §11.3 termination clauses) and earned-value analysis to test a competing expert’s overpayment or balance-owed calculations.
Yes. Först Consulting Group offers thermal (infrared) imaging, detailed thermal testing, moisture assessment, radon testing, and noise testing. Thermal imaging is a non-destructive diagnostic that reveals hidden conditions — missing or compressed insulation, thermal bridging, air-leakage paths, moisture intrusion, and concealed HVAC duct issues — without opening finished surfaces. In building-envelope and air-pathway investigations, these methods identify defects such as inadequately air-sealed ceiling penetrations, attic-routed leaky ductwork, and latent-load design defects that cause persistent humidity and mold. Findings are documented with images and correlated to code and manufacturer requirements so they support a defensible causation opinion.
An RRP certification is firm certification under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP Rule). The RRP Rule requires firms that perform renovation, repair, and painting projects disturbing lead-based paint in homes, child-care facilities, and preschools built before 1978 to be certified by the EPA (or an EPA-authorized state), to use certified renovators trained by EPA-approved providers, and to follow lead-safe work practices. It is important to note that RRP certification is not a license for lead abatement, removal, encapsulation, or enclosure — those are separate disciplines. Först Consulting Group can assess whether a contractor’s work on a pre-1978 property required RRP-certified practices and whether those practices were followed.
Först Consulting Group delivers litigation-ready documentation, not a verbal summary. Typical deliverables include: a comprehensive written forensic report on firm letterhead documenting findings, causation analysis, and code/standard citations with supporting photographs; a cost-to-cure estimate or exhibit quantifying remediation; invoice-audit workbooks where billing is in dispute; demand-letter redlines and compliance analyses where applicable; and, for litigation matters, expert-witness reports, cross-examination outlines targeting an opposing expert’s methodology, and demonstrative exhibits. Deliverables are produced in standard Word and Excel formats suitable for filing and exchange, and legal conclusions are expressly flagged for counsel while the firm remains within its forensic and technical lane.
Homeowner & Practical Guidance
Contact Först Consulting Group as soon as a construction problem is discovered or a defect is suspected — the earlier the better, because many defects become harder to prove once they are concealed behind finished surfaces. It is also worth engaging the firm before you sign with a contractor: Först Consulting Group can produce a complete set of bid documents, including general conditions and requirements and clear instructions to the contractor, which prevents disputes before they start. Early involvement preserves evidence, protects your leverage, and often costs far less than remediation and litigation later.
Document what you can see, stop authorizing further work that would conceal the area, and contact a forensic construction expert before the evidence is covered. Many of the most consequential construction defects are concealed — severed or notched structural members, improper electrical splices hidden in walls, crushed or disconnected ductwork, and moisture intrusion behind finishes. Even a licensed contractor can make errors in hidden areas such as inside walls, under flooring, and in attic spaces. Först Consulting Group uses non-destructive tools such as thermal imaging first, and conducts limited destructive investigation only where authorized, so that the condition is properly documented and preserved. Pre-drywall inspection is the ideal stage to catch these issues before they are permanently concealed.
Most construction and renovation projects require both a permit and one or more inspections by a local Building Official at defined stages of the work. If you are unsure whether your contractor pulled the required permits, Först Consulting Group can research your local building department’s records to confirm what was permitted, what inspections were called, and whether any inspection failed or was improperly closed. Missing permits and skipped inspections are common indicators of deeper problems, because work that was never inspected may conceal code violations that only a forensic assessment will surface.
To protect yourself and your property, confirm that your contractor holds the proper license for the type and value of the work before hiring them; you may ask to see a copy of their current license. Under Virginia Code §54.1-1100, contracting for or bidding upon the construction, removal, repair, or improvement of real property owned, controlled, or leased by another person without a license — or without the proper class of license for the value of the work to be performed — is prohibited. An unlicensed or improperly classed contractor is not only a legal risk but often a quality risk, and Först Consulting Group frequently finds that licensing gaps correlate with code and workmanship problems.
In Virginia, verify a contractor’s license through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) License Lookup at www.dpor.virginia.gov/LicenseLookup. Confirm three things: (1) the license is active and unexpired; (2) the class is adequate for your project’s value — a Class A license carries no dollar limit, Class B is limited to single projects under a defined threshold and an annual cap, and Class C covers only smaller projects; and (3) the license carries the correct specialty designation for the work (for example RBC for residential building). Under Virginia Code §54.1-1100, contracting for or bidding on work without a license, or without the proper class of license for the value of the work, is prohibited. Först Consulting Group can research a contractor’s licensing and permit history on your behalf.
A change order is a written statement authorizing the contractor to perform additional work, or to add time not included in the original construction contract, and it must be signed by both parties before the additional work begins. At the start of a project the contractor provides an estimate of services and costs, but unforeseen damage or latent defects — such as structural damage behind walls or beneath floors that is only discovered once those areas are exposed — often come up mid-project. A change order functions as an addendum to your original contract and protects both sides by documenting the added scope, cost, and schedule in writing rather than by verbal agreement. Undocumented “extras” are a frequent source of billing disputes, which is why Först Consulting Group treats missing or improper change orders as a specific audit item.
Först Consulting Group most frequently investigates: structural framing defects (severed, over-notched, or improperly modified joists, trusses, and beams, and floor-vibration and deflection complaints); electrical violations (improper NM-B cable splicing, non-compliant use of exterior UF splice kits indoors, and concealed junction boxes lacking access); moisture and mold from envelope failures, HVAC latent-load design defects, and leaky attic ductwork; fuel-gas and plumbing code violations; non-conforming tile, stucco, and siding assemblies; deck and railing failures; failed or improperly closed permit inspections; and contract and invoice disputes including overbilling. Each finding is evaluated against the specific code section, manufacturer instruction, or performance standard it violates.
A forensic inspection duration depends on the property’s size and the number of issues in dispute; a focused single-issue inspection may take a few hours, while a whole-house assessment can require multiple visits. During the inspection, Först Consulting Group documents conditions photographically, takes measurements, performs non-destructive diagnostics such as thermal imaging where relevant, and — only where access is authorized and agreed in advance — conducts limited destructive investigation to expose concealed conditions. On-site inspection hours are scheduled Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with off-hours work available subject to surcharge. Because concealed conditions drive many disputes, access terms are confirmed before the visit to avoid canceled or incomplete inspections.
Först Consulting Group works for all sides of a construction dispute: homeowners, builders, contractors, architects, attorneys, and insurance companies. The firm is retained by plaintiff and defense counsel alike, and also directly by homeowners who suspect defective work or overbilling before litigation begins. This cross-party experience is a credibility asset — the analytical method and the standards applied are the same regardless of who retains the firm, which is what allows the resulting opinions to hold up under cross-examination. Först Consulting Group favors defensibility and credibility over maximizing figures for the retaining party.
Engagement, Cost & Logistics
Först Consulting Group’s litigation and expert-witness engagements are governed by a written Hourly Consulting Services Contract. Litigation and expert-witness matters require a 20-hour minimum retainer billed at the firm’s standard hourly rate, with any unused time refunded. On-site inspection hours are scheduled Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with off-hours work available at a surcharge. The firm’s contract includes defined terms covering standard of care, reliance on information provided by the client, treatment of cost estimates, limitation of liability, and handling of disputed charges. Rates and terms are standard and non-negotiable, which keeps engagements consistent and the firm’s independence intact.
Först Consulting Group serves the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Northern Virginia, and Maryland, and is available for select services nationwide. The firm regularly supports matters in Virginia (including Fairfax, Arlington, and Loudoun County jurisdictions), Maryland (including Baltimore County, Carroll County, and Montgomery County), and the District of Columbia, and is familiar with the code editions, DPOR/state licensing regimes, and local building-department procedures in each. The office is located in Middleburg, Virginia, and can be reached at (703) 268-8699.
Yes. Först Consulting Group supports the full range of dispute-resolution forums: pre-litigation demand and negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and trial. For mediation and arbitration, the firm prepares position summaries, rebuttal analyses responding to an opposing expert’s report, termination and earned-value accounting, and cross-examination outlines that target the methodological weaknesses in an opposing expert’s opinions. Because many construction disputes resolve before trial, this documentation is frequently used to establish a defensible technical position that supports settlement on favorable terms.
No. Först Consulting Group is a forensic construction consulting firm, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. The firm stays within its forensic and technical lane — documenting defects, causation, code violations, and cost-to-cure — and expressly flags legal conclusions for the client’s counsel to decide. This division is deliberate: keeping technical findings separate from legal argument is precisely what makes the firm’s expert opinions credible and defensible when relied upon by attorneys and triers of fact.
Disclaimer: Först Consulting Group is not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice.