The hardware should not be installed until after the cabinets are installed. The holes for the hardware can be drilled by the cabinet manufacturer, the cabinet distributer, the cabinet retailer, the cabinet installer, the home owner, or anyone the home owner chooses that is willing to perform the task. Each of those entities determine their own normal. The cabinet manufacturer I worked for years ago drilled the holes if the hardware was known at the time.

Our builder had the cabinet maker/installer install most of our cabinet hardware. Some of the hardware was delayed due to supply chain issues and my builder's handyman guy installed the rest ... except for 2 finger pulls that needed to have the top of the cabinet door routed and the handyman guy did not feel comfortable doing those. My builder's best finish carpenter did those 2 when he was at the house finishing up some other stuff.

All of them asked me where exactly I wanted the knobs/pulls positioned and we marked the locations ... which is the most important part!

My cabinet maker required me to choose my pulls during the specification of the cabinets. But his crew didn't install them until after they'd hung the cabinets on the wall. According to him, cabinets without pulls are easier to transport and less likely to be damaged during transport.

Perhaps your cabinet maker is not installing the cabinets? That would explain why he is not responsible for installing the pulls. I do wonder why your GC doesn't contract a cabinet installation crew that includes someone competent to install hardware. But each to their own.

A new home builder wants you to install your own cabinet hardware?! I've never heard of such a thing! Whoever installs the cabinets should install the cabinet hardware. This is typically done after the installation of the cabinets, but sometimes done before the cabinets are delivered. Installing cabinet hardware should not be DIY if you have no experience.

Thank you all for your comments and experience!

We're at that same stage. Our cabinets were installed a few weeks ago, and we're purchasing our own hardware, that is finally all here. The cabinet installer is coming back to install them in a week or two. My builder waits to install them until the last minute to protect the handles while the flooring and other work is done, appliances are installed, etc. He also waits so he can keep the cabinets protected as long as possible. The day they were installed they were covered with foam boards and ramboard.

Our cabinet installer, drilled and installed the handles after the cabinets were installed.