Use this advanced spreadsheet to model and estimate how much capital expenses (CapEx) will be on your rental property.
Then use the estimated CapEx in The World’s Greatest Real Estate Deal Analysis Spreadsheet™.
Basic Version
This is an ADVANCED spreadsheet for modeling CapEx. We also have a BASIC version: CapEx Estimator for Rental Property - Basic.
What’s the difference between the basic and advanced CapEx estimator spreadsheets?
The basic version assumes everything is brand new when you buy the property. The advanced version allows you to enter how old each item is when you buy it. This allows you to model, for example, a roof that is nearing end of life when you buy a rental property. You don’t have the full lifespan of the roof to save for a new roof… you have the remaining lifespan of the roof to save for a new roof.
The basic version does not allow you to set up an initial budget for known capital improvements. The advanced version allows you to “set aside” money at the start to fund your initial capital expenses account.
The basic version does not account for inflation. The advanced version recognizes that a $20,000 roof in today’s dollars in not $20,000 in 20 years. It is a lot more. And, so you need to be saving for an INFLATED cost of a roof in 20 years.
The basic version does a simple calculation of how much you need to set aside each year and each month for capital expenses. The advanced version does a much more advanced calculation including allowing you to increase how much you set aside—especially as rents and cash flow likely improve over time.
The basic version does not allow you to model that you can earn some money on your capital expense account while waiting for capital expenses to be spent. The advanced version allows you to define the return you’re earning on your capital expense account while waiting to spend it.
The basic version does not model cash flow related to your capital expenses (if you’re likely to run out of money and by how much). The advanced version shows you visually when you’ll see capital expenses and see how the balance of your capital expenses account performs over your ownership period. This also allows you to visually see when you are likely to have a lot of capital expenses and maybe sell your property before you realize those expenses.
License
This spreadsheet—and all the others on this website unless explicitly stated otherwise—is provided to current, active subscribers under the very limited Don’t Steal My Stuff license. Basically, you can use it for your own personal use only.
Spreadsheet Download
Download the latest version of the CapEx Estimator for Rental Property - Advanced spreadsheet below.
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