https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/ Practical, independent guides for small landlords: rental bookkeeping, tenant screening, Schedule E organization, maintenance reserves, inspections and the tools that make it easier. en-US Mon, 05 Oct 2026 19:40:38 +0000 https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/stessa-vs-baselane-vs-spreadsheet/ https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/stessa-vs-baselane-vs-spreadsheet/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Bookkeeping A side-by-side look at Stessa, Baselane and a plain spreadsheet for small-landlord bookkeeping: what each does well, where each gets in the way, and how to choose. https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/how-to-screen-tenants/ https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/how-to-screen-tenants/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Tenants A repeatable tenant screening process, from written criteria to the adverse action notice, with the documents to keep and the fair housing traps to avoid. https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/best-landlord-apps-tools-2026/ https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/best-landlord-apps-tools-2026/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Tools A job-by-job look at landlord apps and tools for 1–10 units: listing and screening, rent collection, bookkeeping, documents, communication and mileage, with free options first. https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/schedule-e-line-by-line/ https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/schedule-e-line-by-line/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Taxes & Records What goes on each line of Schedule E Part I, which records support it, and the common mix-ups (repairs vs. improvements, principal vs. interest) to flag for your tax preparer. https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/move-in-move-out-inspection-checklist/ https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/move-in-move-out-inspection-checklist/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Tenants How to run a move-in and move-out inspection that holds up later: a room-by-room printable checklist, photo rules, what counts as normal wear, and how to store the evidence. https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/organize-rental-receipts-records/ https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/organize-rental-receipts-records/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Taxes & Records A simple, durable records system for landlords: folder structure, file naming, what to keep and for how long, a 20-minute monthly routine, and the few physical supplies worth buying. https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/first-rental-property-starter-kit/ https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/first-rental-property-starter-kit/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Tools The safety gear, access tools, leak detection and spare parts that prevent the most common (and most expensive) first-year landlord problems, with what to check before you buy. https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/how-to-collect-rent-online/ https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/how-to-collect-rent-online/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Rent & Operations Landlord rent platforms vs. Zelle, payment apps and checks: who pays the fees, how fast money arrives, what gets recorded automatically, and how to move existing tenants over. https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/maintenance-capex-reserves/ https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/maintenance-capex-reserves/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Rent & Operations Rules of thumb for rental repair reserves, why they fail for older properties, and a component-by-component capex worksheet you can copy, worked through on an example single-family rental. https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/security-deposit-basics/ https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/security-deposit-basics/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Tenants How security deposits work from lease signing to return: what varies by state, how to hold the money, how to write an itemized deduction statement, and the records that protect you. https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/landlord-mileage-expense-tracking/ https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/landlord-mileage-expense-tracking/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Taxes & Records What a landlord's mileage log needs to show, the 2026 IRS standard mileage rates (which changed mid-year), the commuting rule many landlords miss, and a simple weekly expense-tracking routine. https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/year-end-landlord-tax-prep-checklist/ https://ledgerlane.pages.dev/year-end-landlord-tax-prep-checklist/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Taxes & Records A month-by-month year-end checklist for small landlords, covering what to reconcile in December, which forms arrive in January, the 1099s you may need to send, and the one-folder packet that makes tax prep fast.