Soft Costs and Professional Fees - Could you share insights on budgeting for architects, engineers, project managers, and legal fees?

Therefore you should speak with a local zoning attorney and architect to determine the viability of a use change.

Also start networking to start buildign your team of find contractors, handymen, private lenders, real estate attorneys, title companies, architects,wholesalers.... 

(Noticed I didn't include architects in that list - from my experience most architects are great at building design but shouldn't try to do land planning.)If you have never done any development like this before than it would make sense to partner with someone who has (or flip it entirely) once you have a site plan of the property's potential.

Hired an architect to alleviate the problems.

Been dealing with NYC DOB, initially as an Expediter, now as a Licensed Architect on behalf of my client's and their projects since 2005. 

If not, hire a professional architect or floor plan designer, or use tools like RoomSketcher, MagicPlan, or Matterport to create them.

As an example, we decided to replace the windows in a house we were renovating and ended up costing us $50,000 extra because we got into issues with permitting and suddenly found ourselves having to hire an architect, speciality contractors, etc.  

I'm literally at a fork in the road with my architect.

That being said, how does one go about getting architect plans for a home to get bids from contractors in a smart way?