Tenant Asking for Blinds

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Tenant Asking for Blinds

George Kopp
Rental Property Investor · Darien, CT · Member since 2021 · 20 posts · 32 votes

I have a warehouse type apartment that doesn't have any blinds and no one can really look directly into the apartment without a telescope or something. I have a female tenant who is moving in in two weeks and she's asking me if I plan to put up blinds. This was never mentioned before. I'm estimating blinds would cost $500 - $700 and while they might enhance the apartment, it's also one more thing that will break. 

Have you guys dealt with this type of request before? How did you or would you handle. I can obviously tell her that if she wants blinds, she needs to buy them, but I don't want to get off on the wrong foot either. I'm considering telling her I'll split the cost with her provided I choose the blinds. Either that or just no. I don't really want to invest a lot of money in this particular apartment right now.

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Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
4y

You should provide a home that ensures security and privacy. If you don't put up blinds, she'll put something up and it may cause damage or look like crap (e.g. blankets in the windows). There are cheap blinds from Walmart.com for most sizes. If your house is A or B class, you should definitely spring for something nicer like selectblinds.com but you don't need top-dollar, 2-inch plantation blinds in custom colors.

If tenants ruin them, you deduct from their deposit just like you will for flooring, paint, appliances, landscaping, etc.

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  • Daniel SmythPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Rockford, IL · Member since 2019 · 471 posts · 342 votes
    4y

    @George Kopp

    While it is expensive, the blinds are one more thing a renter needs to purchase. The next thing to buy are drapes to cover the blinds.

    What ever you provide, is what you will be expected to maintain. As well, those blinds will be broken or out of fashion when the lease runs out. Broken blinds will not be something you can take out of the deposit either.

    So, my rule is that I put blinds up in some rentals when it suits me. Sometimes the blinds are left by the previous tenant.

    I also stipulate in the lease that window coverings are the responsibility of the tenant.

    I have no problem replacing a blinds or two to get a place filled, but I do so if it will make the sale.

    Without looking at your property and getting a feel of your tenants, it's hard to make that call.

    Just understand that this is money out of your pocket that will not be returned. Do so in generosity instead of business sense. It's OK to be generous.

    This is probably a case by case issue for most.

    Unless I have blinds and drapes installed at the showing, I usually never add them at my expense. My Carpenter can install them inexpensively, but they pay for materials, labor, and maintenance of anything they install.

    I also require that if drapes and such are installed by tenants, that they remove the items and properly fill holes and paint as they exit the lease. I just don't need them ripping out cabinets and drapes with he's in my walls and woodwork.

    Good luck.

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  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    4y

    I was gonna say no, let them supply them, but I guess that makes me a horrible person.... :-)

    If you think you have to do it, at least maintain control over the end product so you get a look befitting the place.

    0Reply
  • Michael Williams
    Rental Property Investor · Sacramento, CA · Member since 2017 · 202 posts · 82 votes
    4y

    @George Kopp She can choose the type of blinds she wants to install and tell her she has to pay for them herself. It’ll make her feel like it is more of her home and maybe she will will stay longer after her initial lease has expired. And when she decides to leave you’ll hopefully have a nice set of blinds in your rental that’ll attract another class A tenant.

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  • Michael Williams
    Rental Property Investor · Sacramento, CA · Member since 2017 · 202 posts · 82 votes
    4y

    @George Kopp Also, make sure you agree on the type of blinds she puts in. Hopefully they’re not blinds that depict anything that would offend anyone that sees them.

    0Reply
  • Josue Vargas
    Real Estate Agent · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2017 · 814 posts · 466 votes
    4y

    I learned the lesson, no "frisking" blinds or curtains for tenants. Last time I heard privacy is not something required for protecting individuals or class or anything like this; there are areas or spaces where must be private (i.e. bathrooms).  I assume most of private areas within the inside of the property are without outside straight sight view.  However, they are lucky if there are some blinds or window coverings in place.

    Whatever you do, make sure to have that in the lease/contract: "Window coverings stays with the property".  

    I had a very nice tenant, moving company took rods and curtains (like 12 of them).  Then after they moved out, I could not contact them... until their received their deposit with way less amount as they were expecting.

    Following up, a lot of calls from them, curtains in Pittsburgh, my property in San Antonio, who pays for the curtains?  Yeah...

    If you rent without window coverings, then the property is without window coverings.  Expect to have some wholes in the walls when they leave.  In my experience this is some typical expense I have to deduct from deposits when it comes to it. 

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  • Gail K.
    Augusta, GA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    I've got a bit of a different take on blinds.  I like them (and use them in many rentals) but this rental we replaced all the windows and took quite a bit of time building frames, etc. around them.  Normally I put on blinds to avoid tenants standing on wobbly chairs nailing curtains into the walls but this time I hung rod curtains using spring loaded rods so no screwing/nailing to the frames were required.  Just signed a lease with new tenant who mentioned changing the curtains to blinds.  When I explained my rationale for not doing  this she understood and said she had some "rod" curtains that she would use in place of what I had up.

    0Reply
  • Mary M.
    Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    4y

    @George Kopp

    you can get no string blinds - no chocking hazard ;0

    Also, having lived in live/work warehouses with massive windows, you might consider just doing half the window - so maybe the bottom half using blinds that can go up or down....  but 700 does sound spendy....(depending on size ad quantity of widows0 

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  • Mary M.
    Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @George Kopp:

    It has seven windows, so this will be like $1000 on a unit renting for $1650. It's fine. 

    think  of it long term....  blinds are a 15 year depreciable item so really only cost you $12/month.... ad you got good ones so they should last long term too.  ;) 

    0Reply
  • Mary M.
    Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    4y

    @George Kopp regarding listing the price of the blinds in your lease - we, in Portland, must provide an inventory of every item that is a potential charge for a tenant if they damage/steal/etc it (its written into the law) . So everything gets listed - blinds, flooring, appliances, faucets, tubs, sinks, etc etc.   We need to list the purchase date, brand, model, serial number, the cost, the years it is depreciated, and the years of life left so the tenant knows what the charge will be. So,  if say, they break a blind that is brand new they know they would be charged full price, whereas if they broke a 15 year old blind they would not be charged anything (because its lived its useful life)  Its a pain to do the inventory initially but I really believe it is a good way to go as tenants wont get overcharged for damage. 

    0Reply
  • Karen Bickford
    Investor · Bolton, MA · Member since 2012 · 133 posts · 72 votes
    4y

    @George Kopp I agree about the blinds ruining the aesthetic of the windows so with you there. An alternative would maybe be a curtain?

    I have a slider in a rental that I refuse to put up those heinous vertical blinds so I bought a simple white almost sheer curtain. They were 14$ on Amazon and look really nice. Each panel is 55 “ wide so plenty of coverage with two panels. You can purchase longer than you need and mount them higher for some drama. Light filtering and offer privacy.

    Also most binds today are cordless which is what you would want any NICETOWN Sheer Curtains for Living Room - Grommet Top Faux Linen Semitransparent Curtains 84 inches Long for Patio Sliding Glass Door

    (White, 1 Pair, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BNBWL9C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_DBUAZvBu17Cr3 way. Good luck 😊

    0Reply
  • James Hamling
    Real Estate Broker · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2011 · 5k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    4y

    @George Kopp I have not seen anyone mention, or any consideration of alternative privacy options than blinds.

    There is some amazing items, for very cheap, that a person can find online now that is rather easy to apply to glass that can make it obscure, obscure with patterns, recreate stained glass that's obscure, prismatic to make some rather cool light affects. Again, for less than cost of blinds some times but certainly a lot less maintenance than blinds and, as mentioned, for some stylings blinds just are not the right fit and glass treatment can be a nice improvement, and improved showing/ user experience = $$$$. 

    1Reply
  • William CollinsPro Member
    Investor · Rocky Hill, CT · Member since 2013 · 373 posts · 299 votes
    4y

    I always put up curtain rods, and point people to where they can buy curtains that match their decor. 

    1Reply
  • Taylor Rhodes
    Real Estate Agent · Portland, OR · Member since 2020 · 25 posts · 10 votes
    4y

    I think @Daniel Smyth is on point when he says,

    "So, my rule is that I put blinds up in some rentals when it suits me. Sometimes the blinds are left by the previous tenant.

    I also stipulate in the lease that window coverings are the responsibility of the tenant.

    I have no problem replacing a blinds or two to get a place filled, but I do so if it will make the sale."

    With the key being that he stipulates in the lease that the window coverings are a tenant responsibility.

    0Reply
  • Lydia BarPro Member
    Member since 2021 · 30 posts · 10 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Jeremy Komer:

    @George Kopp

    1) $700 for blinds?!?!?

    Unless the windows are massive I think your buying the from someplace with a big Markup

    Just got 5 windows done with roller blinds for $140 cut to size from home home Depot.

    Yes you need to buy them blinds and or curtains, if they break them it comes out of their security deposit. You gave them working blinds you expect to get working blinds back.

    Hi Jeremy,
    Resurrecting this post as I am looking to install about 5 or 7 blinds. I see that you had them installed from HD, are those the cordless ones? Can you please attach a link or something? Also 140$ includes labor and materials? or just material? thank you!
    0Reply
  • Paul Sweetman
    Rental Property Investor · Lebanon, OH · Member since 2016 · 45 posts · 47 votes
    4y
    Quote from @George Kopp:

    I have a warehouse type apartment that doesn't have any blinds and no one can really look directly into the apartment without a telescope or something. I have a female tenant who is moving in in two weeks and she's asking me if I plan to put up blinds. This was never mentioned before. I'm estimating blinds would cost $500 - $700 and while they might enhance the apartment, it's also one more thing that will break. 

    Have you guys dealt with this type of request before? How did you or would you handle. I can obviously tell her that if she wants blinds, she needs to buy them, but I don't want to get off on the wrong foot either. I'm considering telling her I'll split the cost with her provided I choose the blinds. Either that or just no. I don't really want to invest a lot of money in this particular apartment right now.

    0Reply
  • Dwayne Poster
    Investor · Van Isle · Member since 2021 · 455 posts · 226 votes
    4y

    I’ll bet you are wishing you had stated, no window coverings provided, in your initial walk through.

    But yea, my wife’s business for 25 years has been window coverings. We often discuss how to serve newer safety regulations. Our properties all have cordless blinds, thanks to her deep discounts. We marvel at new home owners that spend 25k on a window set, and then another 10k to cover them.

    0Reply
  • George Kopp
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Darien, CT · Member since 2021 · 20 posts · 32 votes
    4y

    Ha. Very true. Windows + Blinds = Crazy Expensive (At least it can). I finally succumbed to the notion that people deserve privacy, I got a great deal on some without cords (in case a family with children ever rents the place) and with a lifetime warranty, so, hopefully, it was one and done. 

    Ironically, thanks to the backorders on everything, they just came in this weekend, and I'm installing them tomorrow. Fun

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