This is literally the opposite approach to your question, but after reading a few books and devouring BiggerPockets, I decided to go with a real estate agent for my first rental.
I was lucky enough to get introduced to a great one through a client of my wife.
Basically, with my personality, I want someone I can hop on a call with say 5 questions and have them answered in a couple of minutes.
She also hooked me up with a lender that she's known for years. So far, that has been great too.
TL;DR: It's terrific to be a DIY/ autodidact type, but don't shoot yourself in the foot either. Particularly the first time around, when you don't even know what you don't know.
Best of luck!