Manual Reports vs. Software Reports?

Hi Everyone,

Many people ask me why I have my managers still complete a DAR (Daily Activity Report) vs. simply having them pull the reports directly from Yardi? Well, that is a good question, and the reason is simple. I have found that when a manager completes the DAR they are automatically forced to know their property performance. While, a manager that simply pulls a report from Yardi or any property software is dependent of the information in the system that could had easily been entered by another associate. For example, the assistant would update the rent collections in Yardi, the leasing would add the applications, and the manager might do the payables. So, when that particular manager pulls the report, is he/she seeing what in it before sending, or simply just looking at the ending figures? While by completing the DAR they actually are forced to understand their true operating performance and the reasoning behind it. It makes that manager think and realize how really their asset is performing every day.

Do you guys think that’s overkill? Do you think the DAR is a good way to keep the manager on track? Or Do you think everyone should simply use the software reports? Let me know your thoughts! Thanks!

I agree. The DAR is very helpful with measuring the day to day activities, as opposed to the computerized information that can easily be manipulated. The first company I ever worked for utilized a manual DAR, and I loved the format that it was in, but since then, I can't seem to find a useful format. If anyone has one, I would be interested in seeing it. Thank you.

I think if the Manager does not understand where his property's performance is and is trending, then there is something wrong. Perhaps more training is needed and more emphasis on how to find the information in the system is also necessary. But telling a Manager to complete a DAR is what, as a former teacher I call, "Busy Work." I used to have a really GREEN RPM who had no property experience at all, who could not pull a report in Yardi or Onesite and understand it to save his life. So the DAR was created - for him - because he couldn't figure it out (how the property was performing) without the easy daily report that broke it all down for him. I always thought he should be the one to create the DAR since he needed it, not anyone onsite who already understood it.