I paid for a site visit to assess a load bearing wall removal.
What I liked:
The engineer arrived on time. We spent over an hour talking about different parts of the house. I had lots of follow-up questions, and altogether he spent over an hour on the phone with me on more than one occasion. He answered all my questions. Because of our detailed discussions, the 2-page report contained all the details I needed. In the end, I feel I got good value for my money.
What can be improved:
I've never hired an engineer before. I was expecting the inspection to be more thorough. I hired them to confirm things 100%, but unless the ceiling beams are exposed or someone climbed into the attic, he could only guess. I was informed only at the visit that engineers typically don't go into attics. The process should have been clarified at booking, so me and the engineer could make the most of it.
In my case, the structure later turned out to be very different than what we expected. I was lucky to have an experienced contractor in my home later to climb in the attic and provide concrete solutions. The final solution I received from my contractor was more practical. I wished the engineer provided the ultimate solution. That said, the engineer was available at the office to receive my updates, and I am very satisfied with the service and the final report and approval of the plan. He consistently came across as friendly and helpful on the phone.
