Ok - I'm going to be confrontational to the extent of saying of saying
that the construction sector is shot through with professional
parasites.

Surveyors, architects, strucural engineers - all will remove large
chunks of cash, not do very much and not take responsibility for their
actions.

There's good and bad in every profession, but particularly where the
people above work on domestic projects - I think taking the client for
a ride is rife.

It's much like the motor trade used to be (and sometimes still is). But
now many service centres will give fixed prices, do the work promised,
do it right - and stand by the warranty on their work. Those places
aren't cheap but do what they claim. Then there's the family businesses
that are also decent.

But IME the same can't be generally said of building trade
professionals - they play on FUD (fear/uncertainty/doubt) - respectable
family businesses or partnerships are less common - I have a much
higher level of satifaction with solicitors - expensive but at least
they completed the requested work correctly and on time.