I learned a lot and got a chance to be exposed to several local vendors along the way - some very good and reliable that I'll be able to leverage for next time.  

I do send a little bonus around Christmas time for my regular contractors who have proven to be reliable over the years.  

But if you can increase your ROI/reliability in the long run I would consider it.

I have 25 units I manage, I haven't been able to find someone reliable. 

You wouldn't ask a podiatrist to operate on your back just because he has a license on the wall...and, you wouldn't take the first back surgeon you find either.  

I just talked a to a cardiac surgeon who teamed up with a real estate agent and a financial services expert to raise money for multifamily investments in Berkeley.

When i got my portfolio past 10 properties life got a lot easier... better systems for management, had enough maintenance work to find 1-2 reliable guys, and wasnt so concerned when 1 would go vacant as i still had 9 others cash flowing. 

Otherwise I would rather just place the money in funds that reliably return 12-14%. 

In my opinion, it's a secure and reliable way to get started in the real estate field while starting to build some nice equity.

My question is how do I go about getting a reliable person in my first duplex?