Excel alternative for rental management
Do you keep track of your rentals in Excel? For many landlords that works well, until it becomes too much work. Houz is becoming an alternative for those who want a clearer overview. Houz is not available yet: this page explains what it is meant for.
Why landlords start with Excel
Excel is familiar, flexible and usually already on your computer. For one or two homes, a spreadsheet is often a perfectly good start.
You may recognise this
- You check your bank statements to see which rent has come in.
- Details about tenants, leases and payments are spread over several files.
- You remember what needs following up yourself.
- A tenant reports a problem by email or message and you have to find it again later.
- The more homes you have, the more work your spreadsheet takes.
Track it yourself or let it be matched
On the left a typical spreadsheet with sample data, on the right what Houz aims to do. Houz is not available yet.
Usually in Excel
You check your bank statement yourself and type in the result.
In Houz, as intended
Excel and Houz side by side
This is how they differ, broadly. Houz is not available yet: what is listed under Houz is what we are building.
Getting started
- Usually in Excel
- You set up your columns and type in every lease yourself.
- In Houz, as intended
- An AI assistant reads your existing leases or tenant list and proposes the entries. You check them before anything is saved.
Following up on rent payments
- Usually in Excel
- You compare your bank statements and your spreadsheet yourself.
- In Houz, as intended
- You import your bank file and Houz matches the payments to your leases.
Keeping details
- Usually in Excel
- Spread over tabs and files that you structure yourself.
- In Houz, as intended
- Properties, tenants and leases in one place.
Following up
- Usually in Excel
- You put reminders in your calendar yourself.
- In Houz, as intended
- Reminders by email.
Overview
- Usually in Excel
- You build your own overviews and formulas.
- In Houz, as intended
- Exports for your accountant.
Problems reported by tenants
- Usually in Excel
- Usually by email or message, outside your spreadsheet.
- In Houz, as intended
- Reports with photos, contractors and costs per property.
When Excel is enough
Do you have one home and an overview that works for you? Then you do not need to change anything. Houz is meant for people who want a clearer overview, not for those who are already happy with a spreadsheet.