How to build rental balance sheets in Google Docs & Excel

### OverviewA rental property balance sheet template in Excel is more than a spreadsheet; it is a live snapshot of your portfolio’s health. Below are three practical ways to build and maintain it, from manual to fully AI-driven, with Google Docs supporting the narrative and documentation.---## 1. Traditional manual methods in Excel (and Google Docs)### 1.1 Build a simple rental balance sheet in Excel1. Open Excel and create a new workbook.2. Rename Sheet1 to Assets, Sheet2 to Liabilities, or keep a single sheet with three sections.3. In rows, list asset lines: Property market value, Cash accounts, CapEx reserve, Prepaid expenses.4. In another block, list liabilities: Mortgage principal, Credit cards, Taxes payable, Security deposits.5. Add an Equity section with a single formula: - In the Equity cell, use `=SUM(AssetRange)-SUM(LiabilityRange)`.6. Format as a template so you can reuse it for each property. Microsoft’s guide on creating templates walks through saving it as an .xltx file: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-template-5ae3b7ff-0b1e-4e9d-9a98-36c0c07e4540### 1.2 Track multiple properties1. Option A: One workbook per property using the same template.2. Option B: One workbook with a separate sheet per property, plus a Portfolio Summary sheet that references each property’s totals using formulas like `='Property 1'!C20`.3. On the Portfolio Summary, sum total assets, liabilities, and equity across all properties to see your net worth.### 1.3 Add narrative context in Google Docs1. In Google Docs, create a Property File for each address.2. Use headings for sections like Acquisition, Financing, Major Repairs, Tenant Notes.3. Link directly to the Excel file (if in OneDrive or SharePoint) or to a Google Drive version.4. When you change your template structure, document the reasoning here so future you (or partners, lenders, buyers) understands the story behind the numbers.5. If you want to standardize the Doc structure, use a custom template as described here: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/6282736**Pros (manual):**- Maximum control over structure and formulas.- Easy to understand and explain to lenders or partners.**Cons (manual):**- You must log in to each bank, lender, and portal to update numbers.- Error-prone copy-paste and outdated snapshots.---## 2. No-code automation around your Excel templateThe next level is to keep your core template in Excel but use automation tools to feed it.### 2.1 Use Excel tables and named ranges1. Convert your asset and liability lists to Tables (Ctrl+T) so formulas expand automatically.2. Use named ranges like Assets_Total and Liabilities_Total so summary calculations remain stable even as rows change.3. Microsoft’s overview of Excel tables: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-and-format-tables-0b8a6b49-17fc-4e36-8f28-533f4a37673a### 2.2 Connect bank feeds via Excel add-ins or CSV automation1. Many bank portals export monthly statements as CSV.2. Use a dedicated sheet, e.g., Raw_Bank, where you paste or import each new CSV.3. Build SUMIFS formulas on your balance sheet to pull current balances based on latest date.4. If you use Power Query (built into modern Excel), set up a query against a folder of CSV files and refresh with one click.5. Learn Power Query basics here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/what-is-power-query-7104fbee-9e62-4cb9-a02e-5bfb1a6c536a### 2.3 Sync narrative with Google Docs using no-code tools1. Use a no-code automation tool (Zapier, Make, etc.) to trigger when an Excel file in OneDrive is updated.2. The automation can append a note into a Google Doc, like: - “Updated mortgage balance for 123 Main St on 2026-01-13.”3. This keeps a change-log in Google Docs without you touching the keyboard.**Pros (no-code):**- Cuts down recurring manual updates.- Still transparent and easy to audit; Excel remains your source of truth.**Cons (no-code):**- Set-up takes time and can be brittle if banks or file structures change.- You still orchestrate the workflow; nothing truly thinks for you.---## 3. Scaling with an AI computer agent (desktop, browser, cloud)Now imagine the balance sheet maintenance itself delegated. An AI computer agent like Simular Pro can operate your desktop, browser, Google Docs, and Excel just like a skilled assistant.### 3.1 Agent-driven data collection and entry**Workflow:**1. The agent starts on a schedule (e.g., first business day of each month).2. It opens your browser, logs into bank and lender portals, handles 2FA where needed, and navigates to balances.3. It copies updated mortgage principals, bank balances, and tax escrows.4. It opens your Excel rental balance sheet template, finds the right cells or named ranges, and pastes values or inserts new rows.5. It then opens the matching Google Doc and writes a short summary of changes: e.g., “Equity increased by 4.2% this month due to principal paydown and market value update.”**Pros:**- End-to-end delegation of a multi-step, multi-app workflow.- Feels like a human bookkeeper running a checklist across web and desktop.**Cons:**- Requires clear onboarding: logins, file locations, naming conventions.- First run takes supervision to verify everything is wired correctly.### 3.2 Agent as real-time balance sheet auditor**Workflow:**1. Any time you or your team edits the Excel template, the agent can be triggered.2. It reviews formulas, flags broken references, and checks that Assets = Liabilities + Equity still holds.3. If something is off, it adds a red-highlighted comment in Excel and posts a short explanation in the linked Google Doc.**Pros:**- Reduces silent spreadsheet errors before they hit lenders or partners.- Lets non-finance team members edit sheets without fear.**Cons:**- You must decide which corrections the agent can auto-fix vs only flag.### 3.3 Agent to scale across dozens of propertiesIf you manage many units or multiple owners:1. Store a standard folder structure per property: an Excel balance sheet file and a Google Doc file.2. The AI agent loops through each folder, repeating the same login, extract, update, and document steps.3. Because Simular-style agents support thousands to millions of steps, you can scale this monthly close process without hiring another analyst.**Pros:**- Linear growth in properties without linear growth in headcount.- Every balance sheet, every month, kept fresh and audit-ready.**Cons:**- You must invest upfront in designing the standard template and folder system.- Governance matters: decide who approves changes before the agent rolls them to all files.By layering these approaches—manual clarity, no-code plumbing, and an AI computer agent to click, type, and navigate for you—you turn your rental property balance sheet template in Excel, with narrative in Google Docs, into an always-current command center rather than a scramble at tax time.