As a rental property owner, you have to make decisions every season regarding your Cape Cod vacation rental property. Every decision that you make could potentially impact your income earning potential with your property, so you need to think things through before making a move. One might not think that deciding which window treatments you will use in your property would be a big deal, but it is a choice that needs to be thought through. Just as new sofa would change the look of your property, so would new window treatments.
If you have past guests that come to your property, will a change in your window coverings sit well with them? Window treatments are often overlooked as an important feature of a home, but they can sometimes draw in the attention of new tenants when surfing pictures of potential properties. How well will the window treatments that you choose withstand the wear and tear of a rental season? Here is our guide to choosing between blinds or shades so you can decide which window treatments are right for your Cape Cod vacation rental.
Window Blinds
Window blinds are a popular choice for Cape Cod vacation properties for a variety of reasons. First of all, blinds are a cost effective choice, which is appealing to vacation property owners. They are also very easy to replace and repair, as replacement blinds are often included when you purchase window blinds so if one of the pieces bends or breaks, you can repair it yourself right away. You can find window blinds just about everywhere. In a pinch, you can find them at the Ocean State Job Lot at a low price, or you could go to Bed Bath and Beyond to find a more durable and richer looking product.
Window blinds are for the most part easy to clean, which is appealing to landlords because the cleaners taking care of their properties can dust them and spot clean as necessary between rentals easily. However, when dealing with window blinds you need to keep in mind that you get what you pay for. If you buy the inexpensive window blinds from discount retailers, you are going to get a product that is most likely to break more easily than a more expensive product. Broken window blinds are a reason that tenants would call you as the property owner to repair during their stay in your vacation rental.
Window blinds provide privacy, so if the tenant does not have that privacy it will be an issue that needs to be remedied quickly. If kids, pets or young adults will be staying at your property, which is almost certain that at some point there will be in your property, get a more durable window blind. Are you considering making your rental pet friendly? Check out our blog, “Should You Make Your Cape Cod Vacation Rental Pet Friendly?.” You do not want to spend your money and time replacing blinds throughout the season. Spend the money up front on durable window blinds.
If you decide to purchase window blinds, it is best to choose the more expensive product. Opting for the wooden blinds will give your Cape Cod vacation property an elevated look that will be more appealing to renters. The wooden window blinds will give your home a more polished appearance that tenants will appreciate. While it is still possible to break expensive window blinds, they will withstand more stress before needing repair than the cheaper window blinds because they are made out of a less durable plastic.
Window Shades
Window shades are less popular with vacation property landlords for many reasons but they can be very appealing to potential tenants when looking at properties. Although window blinds provide privacy and block light, they are not nearly as efficient as window shades. Just as with window blinds, you could either purchase the more inexpensive window shades for your Cape Cod vacation property or you could opt for higher end fabric window shades. For more tips on how to make your Cape Cod property pop out to potential tenants, check out our blog, “How to Make Your Cape Cod Vacation Rental Stand Out Among Its Competition.”
The vinyl window shades are less expensive and are easy to care for and clean in between rentals as necessary. Fabric window shades give your home a polished and expensive look that can be hard to match with window blinds. For the kitchen, where privacy and shade from the sun are not of that much concern, window shades that tie up are a popular choice. These window shade ties are visually attractive but still provide a little shade from the sun.
When choosing window shades for your Cape Cod vacation rental, you need to decide first what type of material you want the shades to be made of. Do you want to go with the easily cleaned vinyl shades or the more difficult to clean fabric shades. Fabric window shades give your home a posh appearance, but they can be tricky to clean. Sometimes, depending on how dirty the shades are, you may need to hire a professional steam cleaner to take care of them properly.
Which Window Treatments are Right for Your Cape Cod Vacation Rental
When trying to decide which window treatments are right for your Cape Cod vacation rental, it is important to determine what type of style you would like for your home and decide where to spend the money to make sure that it lasts during your rental season. If you go with window blinds but do not want to spend the money on the expensive wooden product, make sure you purchase blinds that will withstand the season without needing to be replaced throughout the summer. On the other hand if you decide to go with window shades, make sure you are able to keep them clean throughout the season. If you go with fabric shades, have a steam cleaning service number on hand in case they need to be cleaned during the summer months.
Determining which window treatments are right for your Cape Cod vacation rental can be tricky, but you want to make sure that you make the right choice for your property. A Cape Cod rental agency, such as Leighton Rentals can provide helpful insights such as what type of window treatments are right for your Cape Cod vacation rental. To find out more benefits to working with a local agency, check out our blog, “4 Reasons You Should Rent Your Home with a Cape Cod Rental Agency.”
