It is not an uncommon request for clients to say they have a friend or family member in the trades that they would like to use on their project. Motivations for this can be different, but most of the time, it is done to save money. I don’t have a problem with clients asking the question, but please don’t be pushy about it. Sometimes it may work out well. For example, the builder may be having trouble with their current electrician and be looking for a new one to try out. It could turn into a “win win” situation. At Custom Dwellings, our typical response is something along the lines of, “we’ll be happy to talk with them, solicit a bid, verify insurance coverage, and take them into consideration”. More often than not, we wind up using our normal subcontractors.
In general, though, I would shy away from even asking the question. You wouldn’t bring your own steak to a restaurant and ask them to cook it for you to save a few dollars on the meal, would you? That is essentially what you are doing by asking the builder to use “your guy” instead of theirs. Remember, you can’t blame the chef for a bad steak, if you provided it.
If you are using your own friends or business contacts, it will likely disrupt the builder’s flow of work and communication. The builder’s subcontractors and vendors that they work with on a regular basis are part of his or her team. They understand what the builder expects of them with regards to scheduling, professionalism, and quality of work. They are motivated to meet those expectations so they can continue to get more jobs in the future. You may think that your friend or contact will have your best interest in mind, but I can tell you from previous experiences that this isn’t always the case. Well thought out and designed plans may be ignored, schedules delayed, and even quality may suffer. Even the “deal” you are getting may not be what you think it is. I remember years ago, I was preparing an estimate for my boss’s brother and asked how much of a discount she wanted to give him. Her reply was “discount? Charge him double and he’ll happily pay it, thinking he’s getting a discount!” We didn’t, but you get the point.
So, in answer to the starting question, should you use friends as subcontractors? If it’s for a small project on your house, be cautious, because business and friendships don’t always mix well. Just last night, I was talking to an HVAC contractor who was lamenting about a job he did for a friend and wound up giving him a full refund, letting him keep all the equipment, just to save the friendship. If you do choose to use a friend, respect this is what they do to put food on the table and don’t ask for a discount. They’ll provide one without asking if they feel it is appropriate and can afford it. Rather than asking, because you are looking for a deal, ask if your friend could use some more work to help them.
If you are wanting to use friends as subcontractors as part of a larger project that you’ve hired a builder for, my advice would be not to. Instead hire a competent builder to do the building. They will have vendors and subcontractors already in place that they work with on a regular basis. Save your friends for the party when the project is complete.