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Updated almost 4 years ago, 02/23/2021

User Stats

52
Posts
27
Votes
Brandon Handel
  • Fort Wayne IN, USA
27
Votes |
52
Posts

How do you organize all your paperwork?

Brandon Handel
  • Fort Wayne IN, USA
Posted

How do you guys choose to organize all your paperwork? Old fashion file cabinet for everything? Evernote? Another computer program? A hybrid of both electronic and paper copy of everything? Would love to know what you guys do to give me more options to choose from. TIA! 

User Stats

2,325
Posts
911
Votes
Antoine Martel
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Miami, FL
911
Votes |
2,325
Posts
Antoine Martel
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Miami, FL
Replied

Don't fuss around with the paperwork. Get a CRM.

User Stats

530
Posts
397
Votes
Bjorik Mutize
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Minneapolis, MN
397
Votes |
530
Posts
Bjorik Mutize
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Minneapolis, MN
Replied

I would say keep everything organized to quick Access! I have all leases on paper and electronically. Accounting and management docs electronically. Vendor docs electronically

I rely on iCloud and iScanner heavily. I like how i can reference my lease or any other docs from my phone

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Account Closed
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Miami, FL
26
Votes |
72
Posts
Account Closed
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Miami, FL
Replied

I like to store everything digitally by property / folders. Just scan and store and you have quick access whenever. Don't really know how scalable this system is, but for the time being it works just fine.

User Stats

1,252
Posts
1,067
Votes
Steve Rozenberg
Pro Member
  • Specialist
  • Houston, TX
1,067
Votes |
1,252
Posts
Steve Rozenberg
Pro Member
  • Specialist
  • Houston, TX
Replied

I use both evernote and google drive for my whole company storage. Just starting to use Asana for project management things 

  • Steve Rozenberg
  • User Stats

    1,848
    Posts
    2,303
    Votes
    Wesley W.
    • Rental Property Investor
    • The Vampire State
    2,303
    Votes |
    1,848
    Posts
    Wesley W.
    • Rental Property Investor
    • The Vampire State
    Replied

    I scan all documentation (unsigned saved as PDF).  I have a file cabinet for the hard copies and the digital copies are on my PC.  The next step for me will be to pay for more Google drive space and upload everything to the cloud.  I already have a portion of important docs saved there (door key info, floorplans, maintenance manuals, paint colors, sku #s for materials, business docs like articles of incorporation, blank rental apps, estoppels, other info) so I have access to them remotely.

    User Stats

    2,053
    Posts
    1,591
    Votes
    Daniel Hyman
    Tax & Financial Services
    Pro Member
    • CPA
    • Milwaukee, WI
    1,591
    Votes |
    2,053
    Posts
    Daniel Hyman
    Tax & Financial Services
    Pro Member
    • CPA
    • Milwaukee, WI
    Replied

    Brandon Handel

    Evernote
    Dropbox
    Right Signature

    • Daniel Hyman
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    5.0 stars
    70 Reviews

    User Stats

    9,999
    Posts
    18,557
    Votes
    Joe Splitrock
    Pro Member
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Sioux Falls, SD
    18,557
    Votes |
    9,999
    Posts
    Joe Splitrock
    Pro Member
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Sioux Falls, SD
    ModeratorReplied
    Originally posted by @Brandon Handel:

    How do you guys choose to organize all your paperwork? Old fashion file cabinet for everything? Evernote? Another computer program? A hybrid of both electronic and paper copy of everything? Would love to know what you guys do to give me more options to choose from. TIA! 

    I keep copies of original documents and receipts in a file cabinet, then track the expenses and mileage in Excel. I do scan lease documents to send a copy to the tenant. You can also choose to keep only scanned copies of receipts if you want, which is fine for IRS record keeping standards.

  • Joe Splitrock
  • User Stats

    7
    Posts
    3
    Votes
    Doneshia Marinnie
    • Specialist
    • Greater Philadelphia Area
    3
    Votes |
    7
    Posts
    Doneshia Marinnie
    • Specialist
    • Greater Philadelphia Area
    Replied

    A property management software such as AppFolio or even AMSI are really good with consolidating all of the information, keeps track of service  repairs, allots for accounting and maintaining resident ledgers, can keep record of correspondences and of course store archived information from previous residents. 

    Some states do have laws that specify how and for how long documents should be kept, I I'd look into that before deciding to go paperless and throwing all your hardcopies away. However, I do recommend that if you decide to store documents electronically, that it is backed up to some sort of cloud as a precaution. For my clients, I use dropbox and google docs - incredibly user friendly and affordable.

    User Stats

    1,285
    Posts
    491
    Votes
    Frankie Woods
    • Investor
    • Arlington, VA
    491
    Votes |
    1,285
    Posts
    Frankie Woods
    • Investor
    • Arlington, VA
    Replied

    I copy all receipts and put it in the cloud, marked under folders for the particular property and year.

    User Stats

    52
    Posts
    27
    Votes
    Brandon Handel
    • Fort Wayne IN, USA
    27
    Votes |
    52
    Posts
    Brandon Handel
    • Fort Wayne IN, USA
    Replied

    @Antoine Martel what's a CRM?

    User Stats

    1,285
    Posts
    491
    Votes
    Frankie Woods
    • Investor
    • Arlington, VA
    491
    Votes |
    1,285
    Posts
    Frankie Woods
    • Investor
    • Arlington, VA
    Replied

    Customer relationship management  (CRM).  It manages all business interactions.  There are a lot of programs that are amazing (e.g., Buildium)

    User Stats

    176
    Posts
    58
    Votes
    Keith Weigand
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Cleveland, TN
    58
    Votes |
    176
    Posts
    Keith Weigand
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Cleveland, TN
    Replied

    We store every thing digitally. Since we do, I can pull up any document remotely from anywhere. I used to have to go back to the office to look at files. Technology has help the real estate business in so many ways. Gives us more time to invest and look for new deals

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