As an investor, I value an agent coming to me with deals based on their in depth knowledge of the real estate landscape, networking, connections, and additional information they might be privy to. 

This is why the GC should be responsible for ordering, accepting delivery on and installing every single piece of product on the jobsite including the nails and screws.

Building a trusted network of contractors will save time and ensure consistency as you scale.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend 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.

I was at a networking event over the summer and an attendee mentioned he Co-GP's apartment syndications and described his role as providing the escrow funds which I found to be comical.

welcome. great place to start. dont be afraid to network. put yourself out there. find local events to go. be a sponge then take action

If so, I would be very clear and upfront about that when you're networking with private lenders.

This platform offers excellent networking opportunities.

I don’t have a ton of experience, 4 units right now and actively looking for more however I would be willing to try and host something if we can get some traction to get some networking going.

Networking with other local investors or joining a real estate meetup can also help you find great lenders, property managers, and contractors.