Look, if you're in Seattle and you need an engineering service, open your wallet wide. Structural inspections start at $500-$900, and that’s just to get them to step on site. Residential projects? Expect to dish out anywhere from $3k to a whopping $10k, especially if you're dealing with complex seismic load calculations, thanks to our shaky grounds here. Here’s the cold hard truth: high-quality services are not cheap, but they keep your building from kissing the ground when the wind blows or the earth shakes.

Seattle’s got a whole buffet of engineers, but you better know what you’re ordering. Structural PEs hold the keys to your building’s skeleton. MEP specialists (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) ensure your building can breathe, see, and stay dry. Got zoning headaches? Civil engineers weave through that maze. Oh, and don’t get me started on the PAPER-STAMPERS – those unqualified draftsmen who can’t tell a soil report from a shopping list.

Here’s a secret tool for ya: Professional Engineering Licensing Board databases. Want something faster? Call up other local PEs; they've got networks tighter than a steel beam connection. Just make sure whoever you’re hiring knows their way around a job site and isn’t just glued to a CAD screen.

I've seen big names dominate the scene, but don’t sleep on the smaller firms. They’re hungry, they’re gritty, and they’re not gonna charge you like they’re building a skyscraper when you just need a simple residential audit. Look out for firms with decades under their belts, though; experience trumps theoretical knowledge every time.

Residential projects are a whole different beast. Here’s why: they’re personal, they’re intimate, and sometimes, they're tangled with family emotions. Commercial services? All about the numbers, all about the deadlines. Residential might seem smaller, but don't underestimate the complexity of dealing with foundation settling in our beloved expansive clay.

On paper, it sounds quick. In reality, expect months. Why? The permit office nightmare, for starters. PAPER-STAMPERS dragging their feet. Then factor in the Seattle weather (oh, that rain!) and unpredictable soil conditions. A simple blueprint audit might just be a week, but full projects? Buckle up for three to six months, easily.

Straight talk: Nothing’s really free. Sure, they say 'consultation,' but it’s usually a chat to vet your project and see if it’s worth their time. Sometimes, you’ll find firms that’ll give you a little peek under the hood without charging. It’s rare, though, so don’t hold your breath. You're gonna pay, one way or another.