A: In most areas, you would need to get a building permit to make such a change to your home, and have it inspected upon completion to make sure it was constructed according to local building codes. If you neglect to get the necessary permits and inspections, you could encounter major problems when you try to sell the house in the future.

When applying for a building permit, a building department usually requires certain documentation, including drawings, a list of materials and a scope of work. Since you are altering a load bearing wall, I am certain most building departments would require your drawings to be stamped by an architect or structural engineer.

If you intend to hire a general contractor to do this project for you, I recommend you leave it to him/her to take all the steps necessary to apply for the permit and be responsible that the project meets code.

But if you intend to do the actual construction yourself, you need to contact your local building department, see what the requirements are, and then contact the appropriate professional to draw the plans.

To locate reputable professionals, visit Home Advisor, submit a service request for the type of professional you need, and be matched with the ideal service professional in your area.

by Kathy Maynard, reprinted courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com