First Remodel Project

[Rob Gervais]

Hello everyone. I’m gearing up to do my first remodel project. I‘m redoing the upstairs unit in an old farm house that was converted into a duplex. Not planning to take the place down to the studs, but the remodel will be extensive (moving a wall, adding new rooms, etc). My question is: where do I begin? How do I take the image in my head and turn it into reality? I assume I need to find an architect to make sure I can actually move the wall I need to and to have a plan for contractors to follow. I also know I need to find and hire a general contractor. What am I missing? There has to be more to it than that. I apologize for the total newbie question; I have no intuition when it comes to this kind of thing. Also, if anyone in the Grand Rapids, MI area has any recommendations for an architect or a GC, I’d really appreciate it.