How to Talk About Resilience: Scripts for the Conversations That Matter Most

Knowing how to talk about your resilient rebuild, and with whom, matters as much as knowing what to build. For those just beginning the process, this guide offers a roadmap for each of the conversations involved—from architect to builder to lender and beyond—and key points to discuss.

You don't need to be an expert to have these talks. Your job is to ask good questions and establish wildfire resistance as a top building priority. The right partners will meet you there.

How to start the conversation with your contractor or builder:

• Goal: Confirm they’re familiar with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety’s Wildfire Prepared Home Plus standard and are willing to build to it.

• Ask: "Have you built to the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Plus standard before?" and "If not, are you willing to work with it on this project?"

• Key points: You want a contractor who has experience with this designation or is genuinely willing to learn. Consider asking for references from recent projects and find out whether those builds included any fire-resistant construction features. Ideally, your contractor is already thinking about material choices, vent covers, and non-combustible detailing.

• Resources to share: IBHS’s Wildfire Prepared Home Plus standards and the IBHS website.

How to start the conversation with your architect or designer:

• Goal: Make sure resilience is built into the home’s design from the start, not treated as an afterthought or an add-on.

• Ask: “What fire-hardening strategies do you recommend for the exterior for non-combustible assemblies, sections, or layers?” or “What construction materials do you recommend for ember resistance?”

• Key points: Be clear in your conversation that the next version of your home must be better equipped to withstand wildfires. The best architects already care about longevity and intentionality, so talking about wildfire resistance in terms of those values can help them connect to the project. Bringing it up early ideally means decisions get made in the right order: site orientation, roof design, window placement, and material selection could change based on your resilience goals.

• Resources to share: Case Study: Adapt and Marmol-Radziner’s resilient home design as examples of rebuilds that prioritize fire safety without sacrificing curb appeal.

How to start the conversation with your landscaper:

• Goal: Confirm they understand Zone Zero requirements and can help you achieve a yard that is both fire-safe and beautiful.

• Ask: "How have you handled Zone Zero in past projects?" and "Are you familiar with LA County's plant selection guidelines for fire-safe landscaping?"

• Key points: Communicate that Zone Zero is a priority for you. Fire-safe planting and good design aren't opposites; framing the former as a creative challenge can spark ideas instead of feeling like a constraint. Ideally, a landscaper would be familiar with LA County's plant selection guidelines, but someone who is interested in learning how to work within those parameters can be a great partner.

• Resources to share: LA County Plant Selection Guidelines and the IBHS Vegetation in Zone Zero report.

How to start the conversation with your neighbor:

• Goal: Start a conversation about building with resilience without it feeling preachy or alarmist.

• Ask: "I'm focusing on rebuilding with resilience and am finding some great resources on it, especially community resilience. Can I share what I am finding?

• Key points: Nobody wants to be told how to rebuild. Framing resilience as a shared interest can help: "I've been learning a lot about this and wanted to share what I found in case you might be interested, too.” If they're unsure about the expense, acknowledge it honestly: There are upfront costs (range is around $15,000-$35,000) and the long-term benefit on insurance, durability, and resale makes it invaluable. The community angle matters, too, because when more people on a block rebuild to a higher wildfire standard, fire risk drops and insurers take note. Also, the more builders hear the same questions from different clients, the more likely resilient construction starts to become standard.

• Resources to share: Contractor contacts, this Rebuilding vs. Retrofitting article, the PILLAR program, the Resilient LA newsletter.

How to start the conversation with your insurance adjuster:

• Goal: Understand exactly what your policy covers when it comes to home hardening against fire and confidently advocate for yourself.

• Ask: "What does my policy cover for rebuilding above current code?" and "How is rebuilding to the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Plus standard reflected in future premiums?"

• Key points: Come prepared with your declarations page, any prior correspondence and claim numbers, and preliminary contractor estimates, if possible. You want to get a clear explanation of what’s covered now and how resilient upgrades may change your coverage in the future. If you don't get straightforward answers, ask for a follow-up in writing.

• Resources to share: Your Wildfire Prepared Home Plus certificate.

How to start the conversation with your lender:

• Goal: Find out whether your lender has financing options for resilient rebuilding and signal that this matters to you as a borrower.

• Ask: "Do you have loan products or terms designed for homeowners rebuilding to a higher wildfire safety standard?" and "How do you evaluate structural resilience—the use of non-combustible materials (e.g., Type I or II construction) in your risk assessment and underwriting?”

• Key points: If you're rebuilding to a higher standard than your previous home, you need a financial partner who understands the value of that upgrade. If your current lender doesn't have relevant products, that's worth knowing now rather than later.

The questions you ask now can shape what gets built on your lot and on your block. If you need more support getting started, talk to an expert through our PILLAR program.