Printing Checks

The easy-to-use check printing feature of Rentec Direct property management software is compatible with the most popular check types available. The Print Check option is available for entries made in Properties, Banking, or Tenant Security Deposit ledgers.

Note: Hover over the "?" to see more details for each setting

This article reviews:

1. Configuring Accounting Defaults for check printing
2. Setting up Check Printing options in bank accounts
3. Post Expense for Print Check
4. Printing Checks 

Pro Tips:

• Printing checks from your Rentec Direct account requires a laser printer
• Checks can be printed from a mobile device, but it is much easier to print from a tablet or desktop.
• To have the memo, category and/or check number displayed on Account Ledger reports, update the advanced settings under Program Default Settings | Preferences
• All check and reference fields can hold up to 45 characters

1)  Configure Settings or Adjust Check Alignment

Configuring Settings for printing checks in Accounting Defaults is a one-time setup step most commonly completed when the account is first set up. If you are just starting to use the Print Check feature or need to update your check preference or print alignment, the following instructions will walk you through the steps.

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Settings 
2. Under Financial, click on Accounting Defaults
3. Under Printing Preferences,
   1. Select your check style from the drop-down menu 
   2. Check Yes or No for the payee address to print on the check 
   3. Adjust check-printer alignment is a tool to adjust the alignment of where information prints on checks. 
4. Click on Save Changes

2) Setting up Check Printing Options in a Bank Account

Each Bank Account used to print checks can quickly be configured to your preference. The following steps walk through how to edit an existing Bank Account to allow check printing.

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Banking
2. Right-click on the Bank Account and select Edit Account
3. Under Check Printing - (hover over the "?" to see more details for each options)
   1. If using unformatted checks, select Blank Stock
   2. Enter the number of days the check becomes Void
   3. When using Blank Stock, enter the Name and Address to display on the checks. Information entered here will print in the upper-left corner of the (The most common information entered is a company name, address, and phone number up to 4 lines)

Note: Learn more about how to Add Banking Ledgers

3) Post Expense for Print Check Options

The Print Check option in Rentec Direct provides flexibility in printing checks as needed and is most beneficial to you. The most common uses of Print Check are:

• Print a check for one expense as needed, such as a check to Return a Tenant Deposit
• Print one check for multiple transactions to the same payee from the bank using the Batch Income and Expense Transaction Tool, such as to pay a vendor for multiple services
• Print multiple checks for various expenses
• Print a Recurring Check. As a recurring event renews, the system automatically creates a new check to print. This is quite useful for vendors who have a fixed payment due each month (landscaping, utilities, etc.).

The following step-by-step details walk through how to post an expense or payment that is to be printed as a check. Instructions below walk through creating a check to be printed in the Property or Bank Account ledger.

In your Rentec Direct account: 

1. Click on Properties or Banking  
2. Right-click on the Property or Bank Account and choose Post Expense 
3. Select the Payment Type Print Check to flag the transaction for when you're ready to print
4. Check # will be indicated when Printing a Check in the next step
5. Start typing the first few letters of the Payee to select the matching vendor or owner listed in your account, and the Mailing Address will auto-fill from their profile
   
   System Note: If a Payee isn't listed with Vendors and Owners, enter their name and it will automatically be added to your Vendor list. Learn more about how to Add Vendors and Payees and Add Owners
6. Fill in the details of the check to be printed:
   1. Bank - The bank will auto-populate from the Expense Account indicated in the property 
   2. Select the Category where the expense should be reflected in financial reports
   3. Enter a Memo, which will show on the check memo line if you wish
   4. Enter the Amount of the payment
7. Options
   1. Property Ledger - If expenses to a property ledger should also be charged to a tenant, use the dropdown to select the tenant
   2. Bank Ledger - If expenses to a bank ledger should also reflect on a property, use the dropdown to select which property 
8. Attach Files as needed
9. Options
   1. Property Ledger - 
      1. Recurring
         
      2. Depreciate (Depreciable Improvements)
   2. Bank Ledger - Split Transaction
10. Click on Post Expense 

4) Printing Checks

Expenses that have been entered with a Payment Type of Print Check can be printed individually, selected transactions, or all transactions. The steps below walk through how to identify, select, and print checks/

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Banking 
2. Click the Check Icon to view the list of transactions 
   
   

   

3. Check the box next to the check/checks you wish to print (or check the box in the upper left to select all). 
4. Enter the First Check # to be applied (When using 3-per-page checks, specify how many checks are available on your first available page of checks)
    
   
5. Click on Preview Checks
6. Click on the Printer Icon to print the checks
   
   1. If the checks appear correctly
      1. Click on the Green "The printed checks look great! Close this window" to save the action
   2. If the checks don't appear correctly
      1. Click on the Red "Not Perfect, Go back a Step"
      2. Make any needed corrections and repeat the Printing Checks steps

Additional considerations and recommendations:

• Each printer acts differently and may be set to collate pages; whereas some are not. After clicking the printer icon below and before clicking OK to send to the printer, you may need to choose the 'Reverse Pages' option, if available, to have the checks printed in the correct order. 
• Please create some sample checks and print them on blank paper or disposable checks for practice before printing on actual checks.
• In order to ensure the text prints on the checks where it is supposed to, your checks are created in PDF (Portable Document Format). The PDF will show on the page, as in the screenshot below, with a preview of what the printer will print. Note: if nothing shows, you may need to install Adobe Reader, or if you are using Google's Chrome browser, read the special Chrome notice at the bottom of the page).  
• When the check is sent to your printer, your computer may open a print dialog window; at that point, select Actual Size. This will ensure the accurate placement of the values on your checks.