Cohousing-L Mailing List: Choosing a cohousing consulting

[Deryk Wenaus (derykw]

Our forming cohousing group we realize that it's time we choose a cohousing 
consultant to help in all aspects of the project. I'm hoping others on this 
list can assist us about the best way to go about making this decision. 

There is a person in our group that is VERY capable and he is interested in 
organizing the development of our project from site selection through to 
building. Seeing as he has limited cohousing experience, we are thinking he 
would employ the services of one of the more established cohousing companies as 
a mentor to understand best practices and to have expert advice close at hand. 

In order to make this process clear we were going to create a request for 
proposals (RFP) which he and others could then respond to. (The process would 
have to be fair so as not to waste the time of other applicants even though we 
are already leaning towards our member - he will eventually live there).

A few questions:
Do other groups have experience in this process of choosing a cohousing 
consultant? 
Has it worked well that a member of the group organized things? 
Does it make sense that the consultant/developer is local and work closely with 
a more experienced cohousing consulting? 
Any advice about how to look at paying this organizer/consultant?
Lastly, can people recommend very experienced cohousing consultants they have 
worked that resulted in an active cohousing community?

thanks in advance :)
Deryk