Before you hire a General Contractor, Engineer, Architect or Drafter to assist you with planning your remodel, take time to organize your project. This will save you time and money.
Define: What is existing construction?
Do you have as-built plans of the building? If so, get them scanned so they can be easily reviewed by professionals who want to provide you with estimates. Do they accurately depict your property as it is now? If not, you will probably require an as-built field survey.
Define: What is new construction?
If possible draw up some sketches of your projected design changes. If you can draft, great, but even rough drawings are helpful to consultants who really can't read your mind. Scan these too. Design professionals these days prefer to review drawings in PDF format.
Now you are ready to send out your material for estimates
