Looking for general contractor?!

[Michael Tompkins]

So I recently joined this site and noticed a lot of investors inquiring about contractors, which got me thinking. Often times a big expense of buying an investment property is that generally it needs work done to it. What if the investor partners up with a general contractor who's willing to do the work for "free" in return for a percentage of the cash flow and/or a percentage of the equity?! That would eliminate a big portion of the financing that it takes to acquire a property and get it up and running. What's everyone's thoughts? 

[Kevin S.]

How would you put a price on "free work"?  After all it is not really free.  Your work is worth a "dollar amount" to be credited towards equity.  

How would you calculate that?  

How would you avoid conflict of interest/double dipping?

I was approached by someone who has the resources (men and material as he was in roofing business) to partner up and buy MFs.  I did not take up the offer because I have zero knowledge in construction wouldn't know if he made money off our own co-owned property right under my nose. You brought up a topic I wanted answers myself.  

How would you, as a contractor, do this?  Let's see what others has to say.