"Source materials directly, bypassing general contractor markups When investors hand a general contractor a labor-and-materials bid, they often unknowingly pay a significant markup on every item the contractor sources. Dave Meyer explains that buying flooring directly from warehouses instead of big-box stores means "if you're saving 50 cents a square foot on flooring for an entire house, that's thousands of dollars on renovations." Henry adds that sourcing countertops directly from a countertop supplier "will save you a ton of money than going to a third party," and that trading surplus materials — cabinets, appliances, carpet — with other investors or contractors can eliminate costs entirely. Spending even a few hours sourcing key finishes independently on a single project can recover $2,000–$5,000 that would otherwise disappear into contractor overhead. Source: Dave Meyer & Henry Washington, BiggerPockets Podcast, 7 Ways to Save Money When Buying Real Estate in 2025"