Newbie trying to help father with CRE - where to start?
My dad is getting older and I know he is worried about someone else having an understanding of his portfolio.  He owns about 10 properties and I would like to know about tools and knowledge I need to get a good understanding of how to run things if I need to take over operations. 

Right now everything is done with paper notebooks and folders of legal documents. 

How do you stay organized? What should I be doing so I have a full brain dump and nothing is lost?

Thank you for the advice. 
[{"id": "d59mjxh", "text": "You will need to spend some time with him to get up to speed on each of the properties.\n\nI would take the opportunity to digitize all the records. You don't even necessarily need to go through each document of really old paperwork, but just scan it all en masse and drop it in a digital folder for that property, so if you ever need to go back to it, you can.\n\nThe key info you need for each property that you should get current info on (depending on product type) and have easily accessible:\n\nCurrent survey / floorplans.\n\nCurrent tax id numbers, tax bills and who is responsible for paying them. NNN leases?\n\nCurrent rent rolls and leases including renewals, expirations, increases and security deposit amounts.\n\nFull contact info for all property managers, brokers, contractors, tenants, attorneys, appraisers, consultants\n\nMarketing / lease up plans. Is there a broker(s) used? Is that done in house? Copies of all these contracts.\n\nAny website/login info and physical keys/alarm codes for the various buildings as needed.\n\nThere's much more to know, such as history of certain buildings physical work, or work that will be needed. Tenant histories. Upcoming changes to the market that may make each property more or less valuable, financing options/expirations - which bank(s) do you use, are there any other investors involved, tax/estate planning, etc. But at least organizing these things will be a good place to start!", "replies": [{"id": "d5a4k8g", "text": "Thank you - this detail is helpful.  I had half of what you said started in a spreadsheet, and the other half is new!", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "d59q45o", "text": "Excel dude", "replies": [{"id": "d5aaak0", "text": "If you could share a little about what you think belongs in a spreadsheet or share a template that would be wonderful.  Thanks!", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "d5bzxcj", "text": "What kinds of properties? Yardi is sort of the industry-standard for bookkeeping, check writing, etc. regardless, but if the properties are smaller or single-tenant commercial, for example, you probably don't need to shell out the cash for software like that.\n\nIf I were you, I'd get started digitizing records, starting with current copies of leases for the properties. Then, once that's done, I'd create rent rolls for each property to understand who's paying what, when people expire, when their notices are due for renewal, etc., and then sort of take it from there. ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]