I guess he wants you to just sling a loop of rope through the doorknob holes and use that? That's the strangest thing I've ever heard of!

That is absolutely asinine. I would be inclined to not use him based on that alone. What else isn't he including? Installing the flusher on the toilet? The doorbell? Switchplates? Sounds like you will be needing a heavy-duty screwdriver if you choose him as your builder. :)