About Först Consulting Group

Matthew Furlong founded Först Consulting Group as an advocacy-focused consulting firm dedicated to helping clients navigate construction issues, defects, and disputes.

Since then, Först Consulting Group has grown into a comprehensive resource for contractors, construction companies, attorneys, insurance carriers, condominium associations, HOAs, and homeowners. Our services span consulting, testing, inspections, documentation, litigation support, and expert witness testimony, along with homeowner-focused offerings such as estate management and owner representation.

Först Consulting Group provides expertise in construction defect forensic investigation, litigation support, and building and mechanical inspections. We also provide project oversight, including upper-level project management for inspections and investigative projects, and expert legal support services to clients throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Matthew has served as an expert witness since 2014, helping legal teams and clients represent, support, and succeed in their construction matters.

At Först Consulting Group, we understand how and why construction errors happen – and, more importantly, how to correct them. Drawing on more than 25 years of hands-on field and advisory experience, we consult on a wide range of residential and commercial projects, with a focus on identifying, evaluating, and resolving construction defects and disputes. Every opinion we issue is measured against a published standard—the International Residential Code (IRC), International Building Code (IBC), manufacturer installation instructions, or recognized performance guidelines – so it holds up under scrutiny.

We hold a Virginia Class A Contractor License with both Commercial Building (CBC) and Residential Building (RBC) designations, and eight International Code Council (ICC) inspector certifications spanning residential and commercial Building, Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical disciplines. Matthew Furlong is additionally certified as a Forensic Consultant and holds OSHA and FEMA training, giving our findings a foundation across construction, code, and safety.