I should also note for more complex renovations an architect and engineer would be involved in the plan creation process.

I see a lot of vacant office space that used to be people like contractors, home inspectors, architects and engineers that are in the field a lot anyway so they just skip the office and meet clients at he job site or a starbucks.

That task of assigning falls on the architect or engineer. 

I'm not sure a buyer's agent would bother with this low purchase price but are there other folks I could pay for advice on it (architect, zoning expert etc).

I am looking for an investor with access to $1 million to pay for the architect and engineering and legal and finance work.

Give tenants 12 months notice, 24 months if they are disabled or elderlyCreate your architectural documents (unit floor plans, site plan) Create your standard condo docs with an attorney (master deed, declaration of trust)Have a different architect come and provide a 'Statement of Condition' (this is the hardest thing to find - most architects will not be willing to take a small job like this - this is also only required in Somerville as far as I know) Complete an application to the condo board (meets once a month)Attend the condo board approval meeting, or have your attorney attendSubmit $500 fee per unit to the townPrior to closing, separate all utilities with separate meters (electric, gas/oil, even water in Somerville)All-in costs for 2 unit conversion...anywhere from $12k to $18k.

Does one actually need an architect to make this happen?

AutoCAD, Revit/BIM modelling, Chief Architect, etc.Did the designs help expedite the construction project? 

Sumaiya,I am an Architect in Chicago and the simple answer is yes you should hire an expeditor.

A good Designer or Architect would be busy and the Structural Engineers that I work with are swamped.