Quote from @Corby Goade:
Quote from @Patrick Goswitz:
don't make the assumption that a contractor who will only provide their own materials is trying to rip you off, it might be a sign that they have pride and want to stand by their work.
Well Said, I was a contractor for 13+ years and this rings true. When a perspective client wanted a labor only quote it was a red flag and I would avoid working with them. From past experience when an owner supplied material there was low likelihood of getting the right Size, Quantity, type, compatibility etc. I would be left paying for the lost production time. I am not saying you shouldn't seek labor only contractors, If you do go that route you will save money but be prepared for some headache & micromanagement.
In general a competent GC will require control of all aspects of the project as to insure conformance to Quality, Timeline & Budget. A modest markup on material will insure they are still in business the next time you need them.
From my position now as a landlord/investor I will work with labor only contractors for smaller stuff but I expect I will need to provide a certain amount of supervision during and verifying after completion. Quality will be relative to the cost.
