Help others buy & sell RE and earn while you learn.Apprentice under a skilled general contractor or other skilled tradesman.

I think your current skill set would help determine which path you would take.

As investors, we gain better understandings of our market and become skilled at negotiating deals, we'll definitely find 30% discounts and 2% gross-rent properties.

Its also unfortunately the case that most buyers agents have zero negotiating skill and even less developed sales skills.

With a little bit of preventative work such as no frills in the apartment (refrigerator with a water dispenser or garbage disposal), a strong lease agreement and a list of skilled tradesmen, you should be able to self-manage.

Furthermore, its more of a way to make sure that they have insurance (and collect a fee) as opposed to verifying their skill level.

We had a licensed general contractor do the skilled work.

Keep in mind that this site has investors of all skill levels and in all different kinds of properties/markets.

Primarily considering it to protect personal assets with having a lot skilled labor needed on job sites, and hopefully many projects.

A good agent will more than pay for him/herself by providing good negotiation skills and connections to solid buyers.