I am in the middle of having my loft converted to two rooms. We knew from the outset that it is a professional job and not a DIY project. We contacted the carpenters who were involved in the original build, as they set the loft area out for potential conversion at a later date. The joists are sized correctly, trimmer joists were inserted for a staircase, plumbing pipework and electrical cables for the current installation were run in appropriate places so they wouldn't need to be disturbed etc. If we hadn't had this done at the time it would have added at least another £10k to the current price and taken a lot longer.
If he had told me he was employing subbies he would not have got the job. The electrician and plumber he is using are part of his company, (they too worked on the original build), so he knows their standards are high.
Two others who tended for the work were ridiculous. One guy came in, very brash and arrogant attitude, who didn't 'need' to go in the loft as he knew how they were constructed and said his baseline price was £60k and he would advise as the job progressed if there were going to be financial changes. Not that it matters, but he was from Essex and lost the chance as soon as he opened his mouth. The third guy poked his head through the loft opening, looked around, came down the ladder and promptly said, "I can get a few mates in for the bits and pieces and it will be £10-15k for the complete works". Way, way too low and we knew he couldn't do a proper job for that price.
Listen to the advice you have been given and be honest with your client. If the job is a botch, it will be you they come on to for recompense or to take to court, not the sub-contractors. You are employing them, not the client.
If he had told me he was employing subbies he would not have got the job. The electrician and plumber he is using are part of his company, (they too worked on the original build), so he knows their standards are high.
Two others who tended for the work were ridiculous. One guy came in, very brash and arrogant attitude, who didn't 'need' to go in the loft as he knew how they were constructed and said his baseline price was £60k and he would advise as the job progressed if there were going to be financial changes. Not that it matters, but he was from Essex and lost the chance as soon as he opened his mouth. The third guy poked his head through the loft opening, looked around, came down the ladder and promptly said, "I can get a few mates in for the bits and pieces and it will be £10-15k for the complete works". Way, way too low and we knew he couldn't do a proper job for that price.
Listen to the advice you have been given and be honest with your client. If the job is a botch, it will be you they come on to for recompense or to take to court, not the sub-contractors. You are employing them, not the client.