I feel like I have seen this question posted here or in the Arlington List digest, but my searches have come up empty. We are wondering about hiring a consultant/appraiser/architect to evaluate a possible renovation option, but what we would like to get is a completely objective view of what the actual costs would be, and if it is even worth it. For that reason, it seems like an architect is not the way to go, because that is a service we would certainly be looking to hire. Can anyone recommend an independent consultant that provides this type of service? This is for a major renovation - i.e., adding on ~ 1000 square feet to a house, including expanding a kitchen, adding 1-2 bedrooms, and adding a bathroom.