Alternatives to Spreadsheets for Landlords

Why Spreadsheets Eventually Fail

Spreadsheets are great. Until they're not.

The Spreadsheet Breaking Points

2-3 properties: Still manageable. One sheet, simple formulas.

4-5 properties: Getting messy. Multiple tabs, easy to miss updates.

6+ properties: Chaos. Version control issues, forgotten updates, scattered documents.

Common Problems

1. Manual updates - You have to remember to do it
2. No reminders - Payment due? You better remember
3. Document chaos - "Which folder was that lease in?"
4. No history - What happened last year? Who knows.

What Are the Alternatives?

1. Paper and Notebooks

Old school. Works if you have one property and excellent organization.

Pros: Simple, no technology needed Cons: Not searchable, easy to lose, no backups

2. Note-Taking Apps

Notion, Evernote, etc. Better than paper.

Pros: Searchable, backed up, accessible anywhere Cons: Not built for property management, no automation

3. Generic Project Management Tools

Trello, Asana, Monday.

Pros: Good organization, some automation Cons: Overkill, not designed for landlords, expensive

4. Purpose-Built Landlord Software

Tools designed specifically for rental property management.

Pros: Everything you need, nothing you don't Cons: Monthly cost (though some are free for small portfolios)

Our Take

For landlords with 2-25 properties, purpose-built software makes the most sense. You get:

• Rent tracking that actually tracks rent
• Document storage organized by property
• Maintenance requests with history
• Automatic reminders

Rentigo is one option - free for your first property, designed for small landlords.

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Ready to leave the spreadsheet behind? Try Rentigo free - 1 property, no time limit.