There are a lot of things we learn in this business as we go, and there are also a lot of trade secrets we learn from insiders that we meet and do business with along the way.

New investors look for guidance only to find constant ads for courses, coaching, and get-rich-quick strategies.Look at those where you want to be and before you ask them to be your mentor study them, learn from them, and read books about business owners. 

Learning alot along the way.

I'm a beginner in this game and I'm literally learning all about wholesaling on my own.  

I had to learn this lesson myself: The engagement you receive on BiggerPockets will generally be in exact proportion to your contribution to this community!

Lessons learned?

@Lindsey PinkhamRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

Thinking of partnering with them to learn.

How can I learn about looking at a property and knowing the work it needs to make it a viable rental. ie. what needs updating and what doesn't?

Over the years I have done light updates in between tenants Lessons learned?