Need Help with Contractor Side of the Business

[Davinder Toor]

Hey Everyone,

I have been investing in Milwaukee / Wisconsin for a few years.  Besides some rentals, I own a few retail businesses, but am looking to put more time into real estate because it simply interests me more.  I find fascinating the business of finding deals, negotiating contracts, managing assets, etc etc.  However, I'm not a construction guy.  I have built commercial properties, but that seems to me to be a different game.  When I build a car wash or a gas station, we go to 3 or 4 large GC firms, bid a job from architectural blueprints, get a NTE, etc.

How do you go about finding contractors to work with.  Can the numbers on flipping work using a gc, or should I be trying to put together lists of "subcontractors", like a flooring guy, a roofer, so on...

Eventually, in my perfect world, I would have one or two guys/companies that I trust, I would bring him in during our initial walk through, we would price the job out, and get the work done...move on to the next deal.  I wouldn't mind supplying design element materials, but I don't think anyone would want me helping to install them.

I realize this is a broad topic without even a really clear question.  Nonetheless, any guidance or experience is greatly appreciated.

Thank you!