New member looking for philly advice

[Kevin Kolling]

Hello everyone.  I have come across this website a few times while researching various real estate topics and finally decided to join.  To give you some background, I have a two unit rental property that I bought back around 2002 in the point breeze section of Philadelphia.  At the time in my mid 20’s it was what I could afford but the neighborhood wasn’t great.  I put some lipstick on the pig and  began renting it out.   Since then as some of you know the neighborhood has improved a lot and property’s values have increased exponentially since then.  My long term renters moved out this past April so I was between selling it and renovating. I decided to renovate and with my friends help we were chugging along.   I had L&I pay a visit on Tuesday afternoon and got a stop work order.   Now I am in the market for a structural engineer and an architect.  Im wondering if anyone’s can recommend  someone.  Most of the firms I found online are in center city with some high rent offices which I would imagine translates into high rates.   I’m also considering getting mundy contractors license in Philadelphia so I can pull my own permits.  Has anyone gone that route?   How bad is it?  I know the stuff they require and it seems pretty straight forward.