Recommendations for Home inspector and architect/designer?

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

Hi All,

I will search the archives/tags too, but i don't recall seeing anything go by recently. I find myself in the position of having placed an offer on a house and having it been accepted (yay! and scary!). Now I need to find an inspector. Any recommendations on someone who is thorough? What type of cost should I expect?

I also would like to contact an architect or designer about some remodeling work that will need to be done immediately after closing (if everything goes well, of course). I have no idea where to begin with finding someone who can help design a plan for knocking out several internal walls on the first floor. Any recommendations on people to contact? where to start? what to expect?

Thanks in advance, i'm a total newbie at this. Also, this is in North Cambridge, though I don't think that should effect recommendations...

Comments

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

thank you for the anti recommendation and also for the price estimate info. That's really helpful.

did they leave a column or somehow replace the load bearing wall? one suggestion we've heard is to have a beam run across the entire ceiling in replacement of the load bearing wall.

oh the possibilities, limited only by the imagination and the pocketbook! :)

[greyling.livejournal.com]

They ran a beam of reinforced lumber across the ceiling. It's significant; it's probably 1.5 feet or so deep, in that it sticks out 1.5 feet from the ceiling.

I had originally envisioned some miraculous solution in which there'd be no visible room-divider left, but I'm happy with the beam. It gives me a great place to hang pots and pans from.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

i was wondering about that myself. If you felt inclined or were able to send pictures, I would love to see what it turned out looking like. if you would like, you can email to moodindg (at) gmail