With your handyman skills you can buy a fixer upper.  

You can buy spray guards and just cut in with a brush once you get good, cuts down on masking, but that skill takes a WHILE to develop.I clean my tips in paint thinner regardless of what I spray, after I flush the system with water.

Then, as you approach potential partners, you can bring something of value to the table that will help get the deal done, in addition to your knowledge and skills.

New investors or people who lack skills need to be much more cautious so they should put inspection contingencies in place but know if it is a great property in a great area, you're not the only person making an offer. 

(you should get to the point where an inspection is a waste of money unless you don’t have the time to look yourself) By knowing what needs to be done you’ll have a better knowledge of pricing, and skill of your contractors.

I’m new to the real estate investment world and have been determining the skill gaps that I should fill for myself.

If its developing new skills do that.

If you are going to be an active REI, you may consider sharpening your accounting and bookkeeping skills.

Thanks in advance for clicking this far, as I greatly appreciate your insight no matter your skill level or experience. 

She appreciated that I respected her business and her employees, my healthcare background, and strong finance/accounting/business skill (thanks to Bigger Pocket and real estate investing!).