If you're really serious about doing it, hire an architect as you'll have to file plans.I did rehabs of some properties, and some years back, had to go down to the buildings department to see what they have on me.

While this will cost a good amount of money, the ARV will be good and we got a really good price for it.I will say this, if it wasn't for my girlfriend being an architect, we wouldn't have taken on such a big job as our first property but she does cost estimating as part of her job and knows a good amount of people in the trades.

We have an architect working on the plans now, but at this point it is hard to say. 

Many young architects (like myself) and artist are moving in the neighborhood.

A lot of them have an architect or draftsman that they can refer you to as well (who will have their own engineers/consultants that they work with).There are a ton of house flippers all over town who try to get away with doing big remodels without permits.

I personally suggest you have a consultation with an architect and see about some creative ways to raise the house and not have it looking funny.

I saw the house a few Day after that with the same agent but I brought my dad (architect) and he pointed out many many flaws and he pointed out the foundation was cracked and basically said it would cost at least 10-50k to fix and said don't buy it.

which features does this one offer or who was the architect behind the build?

I contacted several local architects who are ballparking the drawing to be in the $5k-$8k range.

Yes, I know that there are also many women who also don't know, or care about what is "on-trend", and that there are many men who are very design consious, (heck, I used to be an architect and most of them are male and very design savvy) but, in my unscientific, very subjective opinion, let's face it, there is probably a far greater percentage of women who follow (and care about) interior design then men.