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!

@Brian Keyser Whatever you do it should co-ordinate with your flooring and trim especially if the trim is wood.

I do have an on site guy at one of my apartment buildings who coordinates with them if I am not available, which has helped a lot.

We'll DM to coordinate.

Send out the mailers to buyers and sellers, answer the calls, coordinate the deal and collect your check!

They had a very detailed scope of work provided and they were acting as the GC, by coordinating all the trade skills.

Good Luck, before she had to retire my mother was a wedding coordinator and for those who may not know that's probably up there with the most stressful jobs on earth so compared to that Real Estate will be easy.