Building and Renovation Professionals
As discussed in the previous section, one of your most important decisions will be the degree to which you want to be involved in the planning and implementation of your project. It is always advisable to have an experienced professional available - whether to run the entire job or simply answer the questions you will inevitably have.

There are two people whose primary job responsibilities include helping your project run smoothly: the architect and the general contractor. Each one has specific roles, responsibilities, and liabilities. This section discusses what architects and general contractors bring to a renovation project.

There are also several other professionals you may wish to bring into your project for various reasons. If you are using Historic Tax Credits to help finance your project, particularly if you are doing the renovation as a developer, you may want to consider hiring a tax professional or accountant to advise you on how to best take advantage of the credits. If your building requires major structural renovation or remediation, you may want (or be required) to hire a structural engineer. A lawyer can assist you in negotiating contracts and preparing legal documents for condominiums, easements, evictions, and other legal needs.

For further information about what to look for when hiring a general contractor, see Appendix B.