Coding Ledger for Budgeting Repairs/Vacancy

[Andrew Hamlett]

Hi, I have a duplex currently rented and finally chose a management/accounting system. Very interested in Quickbooks but don't want to spend the money yet. I choose Stessa and it looks like a great free program but trying to understand the mechanics of how I would account for budgeted items going forward (escrow accounts). For example, I set aside 5% for repairs, capex and vacancy in escrow or holding. Additionally, I want to set aside funds for property tax, insurance. How would I go about making that entry on a ledger. Do I treat this as a prepayment or escrow type account, crediting cash and debiting the prepay?  Then when I pay a repair costs or property tax, I make an entry reducing that account. We all need the stash accounts to deal with rainy days but how do you account for that on a ledger for landlords?

Andrew