Spreadsheet, software or manager: which to choose?
A small building does not have the same needs as a large complex. Here are the three most common options, without bias.
The spreadsheet
Free and flexible, it suits a very organised committee. Its limits: often only one person keeps it up to date, residents do not always see it, and reminders stay manual.
Online software
It shares the same information with everyone: charges, invoices, votes. It takes a little getting used to and the committee's agreement to adopt it. Resid.ai belongs to this category.
The professional manager
They handle day-to-day follow-up and bring expertise. In return, there is a cost and the committee delegates part of its decisions.
How to decide
Look at who has time to handle it, what residents want to see, and what your rules require. These options can also be combined: a manager can work with shared software.
There is no single right answer. Tell us about your building and we will say honestly whether Resid.ai fits.
Contact usThree ways to manage a small building
A small building can be managed with a spreadsheet, with online software, or with a professional property manager. No single solution is best in every circumstance: the right choice depends on the number of units, the time available to volunteers, and the level of transparency expected by residents.
The spreadsheet: simple, free, fragile
A spreadsheet costs little and everyone knows how to use it. It works well for a very small building with few transactions. Its limitations quickly become clear: only one person maintains it, versions multiply, invoices are stored elsewhere, residents cannot see their own balance, and no one knows who edited what. When the volunteer managing it leaves the building, the history leaves with them.
Online software: a shared space
Online software brings together dues, invoices, votes, and requests into a single space where each resident can view their own balance. It takes a little time to get used to, but it reduces reminders and repeated questions. It is ideal for buildings where the building committee wants to stay in control of management while saving time.
The professional property manager: trading fees for time
A property manager takes care of accounting, general meetings, vendor relations, and supervising work. It frees up the building committee, but management fees add to building dues and the building committee retains less control over day-to-day operations. Choosing one calls for a careful comparison of what is included and what is billed as an extra.
How to choose
Ask yourself four questions: how many units are in the building, how many hours per month can the building committee dedicate to it, what level of transparency do residents expect, and what budget can be allocated? A building with just a few units and an available building committee can manage comfortably with software; a larger or more contentious building may prefer a property manager.
Combining approaches
Nothing forces you to choose just one solution. A building committee can use online software to track dues, votes, and maintenance reports, while delegating accounting or major work to a professional. A property management company can also use software to manage multiple buildings and provide greater visibility to residents.
What Resid.ai offers
Resid.ai is an online software solution for building committees, advisory boards, and property management companies: building fees, invoices, votes, incident reports, and Artisan interventions all in one place. The price depends on the number of registered residents, with a monthly minimum; residents pay nothing. Details can be found on the Pricing page.
Before deciding
Run a trial on a single topic, such as building fees or votes, before migrating everything. Gather feedback from residents. Check where data is hosted and how to export it if you switch solutions. A good solution is one that the building committee and residents actually use.
One final tip: put the decision and its date in writing, even for a simple trial. When a solution no longer fits, the building committee can switch without losing its data, provided you keep exports up to date. Review your choice once a year, when reviewing the building's annual accounts.
Rules depend on your country and your building bylaws.