Managing properties or real estate transactions means juggling rent collections, repairs, commissions, and client trust accounts - all while keeping your books accurate and compliant.

Whether you manage a handful of properties or close deals every week, strong bookkeeping is what keeps your business profitable and stress-free.

In this new 10-part series, I’ll share practical bookkeeping and financial tips tailored specifically for Property Managers and Realtors - helping you: ✔️ Track income and expenses by property or listing ✔️ Stay compliant with trust accounting and tax rules ✔️ Improve cash flow and reduce costly errors ✔️ Gain clarity and confidence in your financial reports

Each post will focus on a real-world challenge and show you how to turn it into an opportunity for better financial control and smarter decisions.

Because when your books are organized, your business can truly grow — one property at a time.

✨ Follow along to learn how to manage your finances like a pro -

and make every transaction count!

Security deposits don’t belong to you—they belong to the tenant until they move out. Mixing them into your operating account is one of the fastest ways to create compliance issues.

- Open a dedicated trust account just for security deposits.

- Record each deposit with the tenant’s name in your books.

- When the tenant moves out, make sure any deductions (repairs, cleaning, unpaid rent) are documented and the remainder is returned on time.

✅ Why it matters: Mismanaging deposits can lead to fines, lawsuits, or losing your management license.

Commissions can get messy when your brokerage takes a cut. Always record the full commission earned (gross) and the brokerage split/fees (expense) instead of just booking the net deposit. - Example: You sell a house and earn $10,000. The brokerage keeps $2,000. Record $10,000 income and $2,000 expense, not just $8,000 income. ✅ Why it matters: This shows your true production volume and helps you negotiate better splits or prove your value when switching brokerages.

That “just one coffee” or quick gas stop on your personal card may seem harmless - but it turns into a bookkeeping mess fast.

Open a dedicated bank account and credit card just for your business.

If you ever pay a business expense personally, record it as an owner contribution.

✅ Why it matters: Keeping things separate makes tax time smoother, protects you in an IRS audit, and saves you from hours of sorting later.