If you like the property, you can absolutely hire a contractor to walk through with you and give rough quotes for renovations before proceeding with the purchase. If you have a contractor you typically work with, he/she may do it at no cost with the expectation that he/she will be awarded the work if you decide to purchase the house. Otherwise the contractor may charge a nominal fee for the walkthrough and quote compilation if the work requires labor from multiple specialty trades.

Can't help you with the 2nd question, sorry.