We've worked together closely for 20+ years and he's very experienced with coordinated 1031X transactions.

A little about us....my wife Randi has some experience working in transaction coordinating services and title work, so if anyone has questions about any of that we can try and help.

Keep an eye out for the Hartford area BP meetup coordinated by @Salvatore Rondinelli. 

The plumber took more time to get here and coordinate. 

If you have the time to exchange emails with renters, set up deposits, coordinate cleaning, then it's great.  

I learned how to coordinate and deal with multiple contractors, I also learned certain ways to be strict when dealing with a budget.

It is hard for me to get down to OC on those evenings, but do on occassion and if you both are going, do let me know, perhaps I can coordinate to get a lift in a helicopter!

That said, if you find a contractor with whom you feel comfortable, and can assure them that if you get the project, they get the project, then you might find someone willing (think similarly to the agreement a buyer's agent may have with their client).It's one thing to do a quick walk-through and give you their take on the project, it's another to invest hours into preparing a bid for a project that they may not get (simply because you did not get it), or later have to bid against other contractors to get once you do own it.As for hiring a GC for your initial project or two... that depends a lot on your construction knowledge, your network of subcontractors, available time to do the scope clarification for each and every trade, coordinate their activities with one another, etc.  

Buildertrend also has a solid system built for project scheduling and coordination.

I was sold on it by a number of successful business people who use it and I also purchased Nancy Neville's book as well.But man I just kept making a mess of things- I could not coordinate my two multi-families in a coherent way and I found it to be extraordinarily inflexible!