I’m going to be really honest… I LOVE To Do lists!  But, after stepping back and trying to be a bit more objective, I can see that it’s actually possible that you might be able to grow your Rent Roll without a To Do List.

A lot of people will be looking at me and saying “but how will I remember to do everything, if I don’t have a To Do List?”

Let’s be clear, I’m not suggesting that you should remember everything (or anything) that you have to do.  I’m just suggesting that a list you have on a notebook (or in your task bar in Microsoft Outlook) might not always be the most efficient way to manage these things.

Here are some tools I’ve discovered after doing a bit of research:

Property Management Software

When it comes to remembering to do things related to your Rent Roll, you want to have software in place that does most of the “remembering” for you.  You need to select software that is designed to prompt you when certain activities are required (lease renewals, routine inspections, rent arrears, following up maintenance, etc).  This means that most of your Property Management tasks don’t ever need to appear on a To Do List.

Project Management Software

For bigger projects (like starting a Rent Roll, selling your business, taking on a new software program, changing banks, etc), you might like to use Project Management Software, which will oversee all the steps in the process, and show you what order each task needs to be performed in.

CRM Software

If you already have a sales team, you probably have a decent sales CRM software program.  This means that you have software which will track any new business leads, manage your marketing and store all the notes about each potential client.  Again, avoiding needing to put anything related to these activities in a To Do List.

Outcome Lists

This is something I’ve been experimenting with myself – focussing on the outcome I’m looking to achieve, rather than the individual task to go on my To Do List.  I’ve just discovered the Productivity Planner, which simplifies the traditional To Do List.  You can check it out here: www.ProductivityPlanner.com to get one for yourself, or to at least see the concept (no, this post isn’t sponsored, I do actually love this system).

So, what’s the conclusion?  I think ultimately, you need to do what works for you.  If that’s To Do Lists, then use them.  If you love putting lists in Microsoft Outlook and then ticking them “complete”, then do that.  Ultimately, I think the big focus is to ensure that you don’t store anything in your head and you don’t forget anything you need to do.

Remember, just because you have been using one system for years doesn’t mean it’s the best system – be open to trying other systems too.  You might be surprised at how well they can actually work.

For more information on how to select the best option for you when you start your own Rent Roll, you can claim your free 30 minute strategy session by clicking here.

02 7903 9993