Setting Up Default Options

Before you start to use RPM, you should set up Options. Options provide customized data for you to select when you create Properties, Planners, Assets, Dimensions, and Categories. The values you enter here appear in drop-down menus for you. In addition, Options also enable default functions, especially regarding rent payments and overdue notices.

Instructions

In the Tools menu, click Options.
The Options screen displays.
There are value tabs in the Options screen. To open a tab, click on its name in the Options screen sidebar. In each tab, you can set up RPM option values for the following areas. Click the item to view the Options values:

General
Planner
Custom Fields
Asset Categories
Dimension Categories
Inspection Categories
Other Categories
Invoice Layout
Receipt Layout
Default Fees

Enter data into the data fields. For some items, you may need to select a related Category, or click a check box to activate or deactivate an option. See the table below for definitions of the Options values.
For the Asset, Dimension, Inspection Category, and Other Category tabs, you can enter and delete items. Use the Add Category button to add a new category. Use the Delete Category button to delete a category. For items in a category, use the Add Item and Delete Item buttons.
When you have finished entering the values you need, click OK.
The Options will be applied throughout RPM and are available for your use.

Options Screen Values

General Tab
Calculate rent on startup	Check this box to have RPM perform this function.
Calculate rent in advance	Enter the number of days that RPM should use in advance rent calculations.
Flag tenant when overdue	Check this box to have RPM notify you when a tenant's payments are overdue.
Display usage tips	Check this box to have RPM display useful help tip messages automatically.
Reset Tips button	The tip messages rotate from 1 to 100. To start the messages displaying at message 1, click this button.
Show text on Toolbar buttons	Check this box to include text on toolbar buttons. If this is not checked, the toolbar buttons only display icons.
Defaults	This frame contains default values that are applied throughout RPM.
Rent Payment Period	Select a rent payment frequency from the drop-down menu. This will be applied as the default rent payment frequency for all new Tenants.
Rent payments in advance	Select a number for the standard weeks of rent in advance that you want as the default advance payment from Tenants.
Rent rate	Enter an average rent rate. This value is not required. Managers with many similar units may find this useful.
Financial Year	This frame contains the default value for entering the start date of your Financial Year.
Planner
Show rent due dates in Planner	Check this box to display the dates when rents are due in the Planner.
Show rent due alarms	Check this box to display alarms for overdue rent.
Show unpaid rent alarms	Check this box to display alarms for rent that has not been paid.
Show alarm after X days.	Enter the number of days after which alarms for unpaid rent will display.
Show rent reviews in Planner	Check this box to display when rents should be reviewed in the Planner.
Show rent review alarms	Check this box to display alarms indicating that it is time to review rents.
First review due after	Enter the number of weeks that will pass before the first rent review.
Show inspections due in Planner	Check this box to display when inspections are due for properties in the Planner.
Show inspection alarms	Check this box to display alarms for overdue inspections.
Inspection due every	Enter the number of weeks that will pass between inspections. A year is 52 weeks; six months is 26 weeks.
Show tenancy end dates in Planner	Check this box to display when tenancies are due to end in the Planner.
Show tenancy end alarms	Check this box to display alarms for tenancies reaching their end.
Edit System Events
Custom Fields - See the instructions for Creating Custom Fields.
Asset Categories
Category	Enter a general category of property Assets. Examples include: Furnishing Appliances Parking
Asset for Category	Select an Asset Category from the drop-down menu, then enter specific assets for that Category. For example, for the asset Appliances, enter Dishwasher, Washing Machine, Dryer, Refrigerator, etc. If the asset will depreciate in value, check the Depreciable box.
Dimension Categories
Category	Enter a general category for property Dimensions. Examples include: Bedroom Kitchen Bathroom
Asset for category	Select a Dimension Category from the drop-down menu, then enter specific dimensions for that Category. For example, for the dimension Bedroom, enter Floors, Walls, Windows, Wardrobes, etc.
Inspection Categories
Category	Enter a general category of Inspection category and Category Type. Items entered here will be used against properties being inspected. Examples include: Bedroom 1 - type: Bedroom Bathroom 1 - type: Bathroom Parking Area - type: Outdoors
Category Type	Select an Inspection Category from the drop-down menu, then enter specific inspection items for that Category. For example, for the category Bedroom, note for inspection Closets, Light Fixtures, Walls, Windows, Floor, etc.
Other Categories
Section	Select the Section where you want to add the new category: Contacts, Income, Expense, or Notes.
Category	To enter a new Category, click Add and then type the new Category name in this field.
Category List	This list shows all the active Categories for this Section. For Income and Expense, check the box if a category item is Taxable or Deductible. To delete a category, select it and click the Delete button.
Invoice Layout - see the instructions for Invoice and Receipt Layout.
Receipt Layout - see the instructions for Invoice and Receipt Layout.
Default Fees
Late Fees	Late Fees are normally applied to late tenant rental payments. Each Late Fee has the following values: Fee Type - Type of fee: daily, once only, or no fee. Fee Amount - The amount of the fee. Day Due - Enter the number of days after the original payment is due when this late fee is applied.
Custom Fees	To enter a new Custom Fee category, click Add and then type the new custom fee name. Each Custom Fee has the following values: Name - Name of the Custom Fee. Category - Select a fee category from the drop-down menu. Fee - Fee amount.